Apricot Kernel Oil: Obtained from the dried kernels of the apricot tree, this is a light but rich oil which absorbs readily into the skin with no oily feel. It is known for its mildness and ability to soothe irritated skin and calm inflammation. High in vitamins A and E, it softens and conditions the skin while helping it to retain its suppleness and elasticity. It is particularly beneficial to dry, sensitive, or mature skin.

Bentonite Clay: A medicinal powdered clay used to produce the silky feeling in our shaving soap.

Candelilla Wax: A vegetable wax used as a texturizer in our lip balm and body butter, this is a vegetable substitute for beeswax.

Castor Oil: Obtained from the castor bean, it attracts and retains moisture to the skin. Its conditioning properties make it particularly suited for shampoo and skin care products. It is also used medicinally.

Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil: Obtained from cinnamon leaves, this oil has a warm, spicy clove-like scent. It is reputed to have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and insect repellant qualities.

Cocoa Butter: Obtained from cocoa beans, it smells likes chocolate and has moisturizing qualities. We use it to add firmness to our lip balm as well as for its moisturizing and conditioning properties.

Coconut Oil: One of the main soap making oils. Obtained from the coconut fruit, this moisturizing oil is a solid at room temperature. It produces a hard bar with fluffy, creamy lather and a cleansing quality.

Cold Process Method: The traditional method for making handmade soap. No external heat is applied to speed up the process. Glycerin, a natural by-product, is retained in the soap.

Continuous Process Method: The manufacturing process for commercial soap, where raw ingredients are continuously added to one end of a vat while soap is removed from the other. Glycerin is extracted during the process and sold to other industries.

Emollient: An ingredient that has a soothing, softening, and moisturizing effect to the skin.

Emulsifying Wax: A vegetable derived wax used to make stable blends of water and oil.

Essential Oils: Natural, highly concentrated oils extracted from plants.

Fillers: Ingredients which add bulk to the product, but do not necessarily provide any skin care benefits. They can significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of the product. Our skin care products do not contain any fillers.

Fragrance Oils: Synthetic oils that are used to produce scents that are not available in an essential oil.

Glycerin: A moisturizing ingredient that softens your skin and helps it to attract and retain moisture. It is a natural by-product of the soap making process.

Lavender Essential Oil: Obtained from lavender flowers, this oil has numerous skin care benefits. It is said to be helpful for acne, psoriasis, eczema, burns, cuts, scars, and dandruff. It is also reported to relieve headaches, migraines, and insomnia. Its insect repellent qualities help to keep mosquitoes at bay. Lavender essential oil has a fresh herbal-floral aroma with woody undertones.

Lemongrass Essential Oil: Obtained from lemongrass leaves, this oil has a clean, refreshing citrus scent. It is said to be helpful for oily skin and lackluster hair. It also helps to repel insects.

Lye: A common term for sodium hydroxide, the alkali used to make soap. Also known as caustic soda.

Palm Oil: One of the main soap making oils. Obtained from the fruit of the oil palm, it is a solid at room temperature. Palm oil adds firmness to the soap and produces a mild bar with stable and conditioning lather.

Peppermint Essential Oil: This oil has a sweet, minty aroma resembling a candy cane. It has a cooling effect during hot weather and a warming effect during cold weather. It is helpful for keeping mosquitoes, ants, and other insects at bay.

Rice Bran Oil: One of the main soap making oils. Obtained from brown rice, this oil is high in unsaponifiables, rich in vitamin E, and has anti-oxidizing properties. It is good for sensitive, mature or delicate skin due to its softening and moisturizing properties.

Rosemary Essential Oil: Obtained from rosemary leaves, this oil has a refreshing herbal scent. It is believed to stimulate the scalp, relieve dandruff, reduce hair loss, and promote hair growth.

Saponification: The chemical reaction that takes place when fats/oils are combined with lye, resulting in five parts soap and one part glycerin.

Shea Butter: Obtained from the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree which grows in west Africa, this butter is high in unsaponifiables which contribute to its moisturizing and conditioning qualities. It is reported to be helpful for many skin conditions including eczema, stretch marks, wrinkles, scars, insect bites, burns, itching, and skin allergies. It also has natural sunscreen and anti-inflammatory agents.

Soap: The product which is formed when an acid (the oils) reacts with an alkali (the lye).

Superfatted: Term used to describe that extra moisturizing ingredients are present in the soap to make it extra mild and gentle. All of our soaps and shampoo bars are superfatted.

Tea Tree Essential Oil: This oil has a clean fresh scent and is reputed to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. It is reported to be helpful for many skin problems including acne, cold sores, dandruff, oily skin, itching, rashes, athlete's foot, nail fungus, insect bites, blisters, burns, and cuts.

Turmeric: A spice from the root of a plant in the ginger family. It is believed to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Unsaponifiables: Components of the fat/oil that do not combine with the lye to form soap. They remain in their original state within the soap, and thus are able to moisturize and condition the skin.