Q: What is cold-processed soap?
A: When handmade soap is made by heating the oils just enough to liquefy them, then mixed with sodium hydroxide and water, stirred until thickened then poured into a mold.
Q: What is the difference between your soap and commercial soap?
A: First, check the label of your store brought commercial "soap". Does it say soap? Most likely it doesn't. Most likely, it will say, "beauty bar", "moisture bar", "deodorizing bar" or "body wash". If it uses any phrase other than soap, then it is not soap! They are detergents made with artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, animal fats, cheap oils, thickeners, stabilizers and synthetic preservatives. These ingredients irritate and create many kinds of skin conditions, such as: dry skin, itching, and eczema amongst many skin irritations. Ever wonder what the film or residue left on your skin is after showering with commercial "soap"? It is the chemical residue of all those synthetic ingredients that have absorbed and are left behind on your skin. It also leaves its residue in your shower aka "soap scum".
Q: What is sodium hydroxide?
A: It is also known as “lye”, it is a caustic, alkaline chemical, yet no REAL bar soap could be made without it. When it reacts with the oils and water it goes through a chemical process and turns into soap and glycerin. Therefore creating a moisturizing bar of soap and contains no traces of lye. If your "soap" does not contain this ingredient, then it is NOT soap!
Q: How long will my soap last?
A: It depends on how often you use it. Also, proper storage is necessary. Store your soap in a slotted dish with drainage. This allows the soap to dry after each use. Do not let it sit in water!
Q: Why is my soap sweating?
A: In warmer climates the natural glycerin in handmade soap attracts moisture from the air.
Q: The scent of my soap is fading?
A: We use only essential oils to scent our soap. They are volatile and quickly evaporate in pure form when exposed to air, heat or sunlight. However, when diluted in a oil or base this slows the evaporation process. This would explain why the smell may fade over time in some bars.
Q: How should I store my soap?
A: Always use a soap dish with drainage and allow your soap to dry after each use.
Q: Are your organic oils certified organic?
A: Some of our oils are USDA certified organic, such as our: Organic Virgin Avocado Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil, Organic Rice Bran Oil and Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil. Our other organic oils are not certified organic, but they have been grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Also, our Amazonian oils are wild harvested from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. So, technically they are organic.
Q: What are unrefined oils?
A: Unrefined oils are lightly filtered to remove large particles. Some oils may appear cloudy or have visible sediment after sitting, this does not compromise quality. Unrefined oils are true to their flavor, color and fragrance and are more nutritious than refined oils, yet have a shorter storage life. Refining reduces the nutrient level and flavor. Refining, deodorizing and bleaching oils renders the natural taste, fragrance, appearance and especially nutritional quality.
Q: What is this sediment at the bottom of my oil?
A: This is normal and natural in unrefined oils because they are lightly filtered to remove large particles. Besides having visible sediment, they also may appear cloudy after sitting.
Q: My body butter has decreased in volume.
A: Our body butters are whipped, which makes them increase in volume. If it melts the air bubbles that form from the whipping process will deflate, creating a decrease in volume. This, however does not affect the product.
Q: How should I store my body butter?
A: Store in a dry and cool area away from direct sunlight. We do not use stabilizers in our body butters, so if it is exposed to temperatures above 75° it will melt. Always use clean and dry hands when applying, to avoid bacteria growth.
Q: What is Rosemary Extract and why do you use it?
A: Rosemary extract is not the same as rosemary essential oil. Rosemary extract is an antioxidant which helps to stabilize the shelf life of products. It also reduces the damage that stress, free radicals, and other toxins can do to skin cells.
Q: What are essential oils? Why are they different from fragrance oils?
A: An essential oil is a concentrated, "oil of" the plant from which it was extracted by steam distillation, cold-pressing or sometimes solvent extraction. Essential oils have medicinal properties unlike fragrance oils. Fragrance oil, are blended synthetic aroma compounds derived from petroleum. Many of these compounds are known skin irritants, yet you will never know what is in them. Companies are not required to list the ingredients and they don't!
Q: Are your products vegan friendly?
A: Many of them are but, it depends on one's definition of vegan. In some of our products we use honey and beeswax. Insects are animals, and so insect products, such as honey or beeswax are not traditionally considered vegan. However, it is not clear that the production of honey involves any more pain for insects. We do use goats milk in some of our soap, which is also not considered to be vegan friendly. We do list all of our ingredients, so before you decide to purchase make sure you read them.
Q: My skin is sensitive; can I use your products?
A: What kind of sensitivity do you suffer from? Let us know and we can guide you towards a product that may be good for you. Also, many believe they have sensitive skin, but really are sensitive to the chemicals most companies add to their products. Many skin care products can clog pores, leading to white heads and blackheads contributing to acne. Those who suffer from Rosacea should avoid products that contain alcohol for example. Often people who complain of allergies or burning and itching are commonly allergic to synthetic fragrance oils, preservatives or artificial colors. Be careful when identifying your sensitivity. Always read the ingredients, because it may contain an ingredient your body is sensitive to.
Q: Why do you avoid artificial colors?
A: These dyes are as labeled as FD&C or D&C they are known to cause hyperactivity, migraines, allergic reactions, tumors, linked to cancer, urinary obstructions, and the list goes on. Yet, these chemicals are added to just about anything we ingest or apply onto our bodies. The skin is the largest organ; therefore everytime you use a product that contains these dyes your skin is absorbing it into your body.
A: When handmade soap is made by heating the oils just enough to liquefy them, then mixed with sodium hydroxide and water, stirred until thickened then poured into a mold.
Q: What is the difference between your soap and commercial soap?
A: First, check the label of your store brought commercial "soap". Does it say soap? Most likely it doesn't. Most likely, it will say, "beauty bar", "moisture bar", "deodorizing bar" or "body wash". If it uses any phrase other than soap, then it is not soap! They are detergents made with artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, animal fats, cheap oils, thickeners, stabilizers and synthetic preservatives. These ingredients irritate and create many kinds of skin conditions, such as: dry skin, itching, and eczema amongst many skin irritations. Ever wonder what the film or residue left on your skin is after showering with commercial "soap"? It is the chemical residue of all those synthetic ingredients that have absorbed and are left behind on your skin. It also leaves its residue in your shower aka "soap scum".
Q: What is sodium hydroxide?
A: It is also known as “lye”, it is a caustic, alkaline chemical, yet no REAL bar soap could be made without it. When it reacts with the oils and water it goes through a chemical process and turns into soap and glycerin. Therefore creating a moisturizing bar of soap and contains no traces of lye. If your "soap" does not contain this ingredient, then it is NOT soap!
Q: How long will my soap last?
A: It depends on how often you use it. Also, proper storage is necessary. Store your soap in a slotted dish with drainage. This allows the soap to dry after each use. Do not let it sit in water!
Q: Why is my soap sweating?
A: In warmer climates the natural glycerin in handmade soap attracts moisture from the air.
Q: The scent of my soap is fading?
A: We use only essential oils to scent our soap. They are volatile and quickly evaporate in pure form when exposed to air, heat or sunlight. However, when diluted in a oil or base this slows the evaporation process. This would explain why the smell may fade over time in some bars.
Q: How should I store my soap?
A: Always use a soap dish with drainage and allow your soap to dry after each use.
Q: Are your organic oils certified organic?
A: Some of our oils are USDA certified organic, such as our: Organic Virgin Avocado Oil, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil, Organic Rice Bran Oil and Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil. Our other organic oils are not certified organic, but they have been grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Also, our Amazonian oils are wild harvested from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. So, technically they are organic.
Q: What are unrefined oils?
A: Unrefined oils are lightly filtered to remove large particles. Some oils may appear cloudy or have visible sediment after sitting, this does not compromise quality. Unrefined oils are true to their flavor, color and fragrance and are more nutritious than refined oils, yet have a shorter storage life. Refining reduces the nutrient level and flavor. Refining, deodorizing and bleaching oils renders the natural taste, fragrance, appearance and especially nutritional quality.
Q: What is this sediment at the bottom of my oil?
A: This is normal and natural in unrefined oils because they are lightly filtered to remove large particles. Besides having visible sediment, they also may appear cloudy after sitting.
Q: My body butter has decreased in volume.
A: Our body butters are whipped, which makes them increase in volume. If it melts the air bubbles that form from the whipping process will deflate, creating a decrease in volume. This, however does not affect the product.
Q: How should I store my body butter?
A: Store in a dry and cool area away from direct sunlight. We do not use stabilizers in our body butters, so if it is exposed to temperatures above 75° it will melt. Always use clean and dry hands when applying, to avoid bacteria growth.
Q: What is Rosemary Extract and why do you use it?
A: Rosemary extract is not the same as rosemary essential oil. Rosemary extract is an antioxidant which helps to stabilize the shelf life of products. It also reduces the damage that stress, free radicals, and other toxins can do to skin cells.
Q: What are essential oils? Why are they different from fragrance oils?
A: An essential oil is a concentrated, "oil of" the plant from which it was extracted by steam distillation, cold-pressing or sometimes solvent extraction. Essential oils have medicinal properties unlike fragrance oils. Fragrance oil, are blended synthetic aroma compounds derived from petroleum. Many of these compounds are known skin irritants, yet you will never know what is in them. Companies are not required to list the ingredients and they don't!
Q: Are your products vegan friendly?
A: Many of them are but, it depends on one's definition of vegan. In some of our products we use honey and beeswax. Insects are animals, and so insect products, such as honey or beeswax are not traditionally considered vegan. However, it is not clear that the production of honey involves any more pain for insects. We do use goats milk in some of our soap, which is also not considered to be vegan friendly. We do list all of our ingredients, so before you decide to purchase make sure you read them.
Q: My skin is sensitive; can I use your products?
A: What kind of sensitivity do you suffer from? Let us know and we can guide you towards a product that may be good for you. Also, many believe they have sensitive skin, but really are sensitive to the chemicals most companies add to their products. Many skin care products can clog pores, leading to white heads and blackheads contributing to acne. Those who suffer from Rosacea should avoid products that contain alcohol for example. Often people who complain of allergies or burning and itching are commonly allergic to synthetic fragrance oils, preservatives or artificial colors. Be careful when identifying your sensitivity. Always read the ingredients, because it may contain an ingredient your body is sensitive to.
Q: Why do you avoid artificial colors?
A: These dyes are as labeled as FD&C or D&C they are known to cause hyperactivity, migraines, allergic reactions, tumors, linked to cancer, urinary obstructions, and the list goes on. Yet, these chemicals are added to just about anything we ingest or apply onto our bodies. The skin is the largest organ; therefore everytime you use a product that contains these dyes your skin is absorbing it into your body.
