Herbs, Flowers, Plants I draw from

• Aloe Vera Juice
• Calendula
• Comfrey
• Lemon Balm
• Lavender
• Sandalwood
• Frankencense
• Myrrh
• Peppermint
• Eucalyptus
• Poppy Seeds

Choosing nature’s butters, oils & minerals

• Olive oil
• Sweet almond butter
• Shea butter
• Capaucu butter
• Mango butter
• Kokum butter
• Coconut oil
• Cocoa butter
• Castor OIl
• Jojoba Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Avocado Butter / Oil
• Hemp Seed Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Karanja Oil
• Rosehip Oil
• Pumpkin Seed Oil
• Sodium Hydroxide – aka lye and is necessary for the saponification of making soap
• Himalayan Pink Rock Salt
• Himalayan Black Sea Salt
• Epsom salt
• Tussah Silk

Natural Colorants

• Brazilian Clay
• Calamine Clay
• Paprika
• Rose Clay
• Annatto Seed Powder
• Alkanet Root Powder
• Cambrian Blue Clay
• Indigo Powder
• French Green Clay
• Spirulina
• Zinc Oxide

Technical Terms Used in this Site

• IFRA – International Fragrance Association sets the standards & guidelines for artisans and makers to follow. There are certain percentages suggested per batch when making soap and candle type products.
• Sustainabiity – I shrink wrap with Biolefin – a wrap which mineral salt additives have been added so the film can absorb water and microbial organisms can break down within 2-3 years
• Paraben, Phalate & Toxin free – chemicals added to cosmetics to either act as a preservative to extend shelf life, or as a solvent to fragrances.
• Fragrance Oils (FO) vs. Essential Oils (EO), what’s the difference? – EO are 100% naturally distilled or cold-pressed oils from plants; FO can be a blend of different essential oils and some are manufactured to include synthetic aroma molecules, natural isolates, or a blend of both; such as a coffee or cake aroma.  FO have more predictable results, where EO vary with harvests. In some cases I will choose a fragrance oil over an essential oil, depending on the desired end product. 
• Molecules & Isolates: aroma molecules are fully synthetic scent compounds created in a lab, where natural isolates are specific aromatic components separated from a natural source.  For exampe, isolating linalool from lavender.
• Linalool – a naturally occuring aromatic compound that gives plants their scent.  It has a soft floral, slightly sweet aroma. It is considered a natural isolate.
• Saponification – the chemical reaction that happens when oils or fats combine with lye (Sodium hydroxide) to form soap and glycerin. The lye breaks down the oils and the two transform into actual soap. This reaction is what turns liuid oils into a solid, cured Bar of SOAP!

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