The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics sold in the US. It has laid down strict labeling rules to ensure that products provide consumers with accurate information they need to stay safe and healthy. Regardless of the size of your business, it’s your responsibility to comply with the regulations and labeling requirements outlined by the FDA.
In this article, we share useful information that can help you understand FDA cosmetics labeling requirements and how to display them on your product correctly. If you need a thorough explanation of cosmetic labeling regulations, you should see the FDA’s Cosmetic Labeling Guide, where you can find examples and answers to common questions.
FDA regulates cosmetic labeling under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FP&L Act). These laws and related regulations were issued to protect consumers from unsafe or deceptively labeled or packaged products and help them make informed purchasing decisions.
How do you know if your product is regulated as cosmetics and not as another product category? It depends on a product’s intended use, determined by product claims, consumer expectations, and certain ingredients.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act gives a legal definition of “cosmetics.” In section 201(i) of the FD&C Act, cosmetic is defined as a product intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions.
Products marketed as cosmetics include skin creams, lotions, lipsticks, perfumes, fingernail polishes, eye and facial make-up preparations, shampoos, hair colors, permanent waves, toothpastes, and deodorants. The raw materials used as ingredients of cosmetic products are also cosmetics by law.
And what about soap—is it a cosmetic? Traditional soap products that consist primarily of an alkali salt of fatty acid are not considered cosmetics under the law if their label statements refer only to cleansing the human body. If you make cosmetic claims on the label, for example, use such words as moisturizing, deodorizing, skin softening, etc., the product is a cosmetic. Cleansing products with active ingredients that are synthetic detergents are also considered cosmetics, although they may be labeled as “soap.”
Cosmetic products are also legally considered drugs when they are intended to cleanse, beautify, or promote attractiveness, treat or prevent disease, or otherwise affect the structure or function of the human body. For example, antidandruff shampoos and anticaries toothpaste are drugs and cosmetics. Cosmetics that are also drugs must comply with both the drug and cosmetic provisions of the law.
Remember that solid shampoo bars, eco-friendly alternatives to traditional liquid shampoos, are also cosmetics. They are popular among consumers who want to reduce plastic waste in their beauty routine. Of course, not all these cosmetic products are created equal—some shampoo bars may contain SLS and other harsh chemicals that leave the scalp dry and strip hair of its natural oils. That is why it’s always important to read the ingredient list and choose well-formulated shampoo bars that are gentle for hair and safe for the environment.
All cosmetic products distributed in the United States must comply with the labeling regulations published by the FDA under the authority of the FD&C Act and the FP&L Act.
It’s important to note that the label statements required under the authority of the FD&C Act must appear on the inside and any outside container or wrapper. As to the FP&L Act requirements, such as, for example, ingredient labeling and statement of the net quantity of contents on the principal display panel, they only apply to the label of the outer container.
The FDA’s comprehensive cosmetic labeling guide includes detailed information about the placement of information on labels and label content, as well as prominence, type size, and ingredient lists. Here, you’ll find a summary of the FDA cosmetic labeling requirements, including some of the most important points.
All labeling information required by US law or regulation must be written in English. The exception to this rule is only for cosmetics distributed solely in a US territory where a different language is predominant, such as Puerto Rico.
So, what labeling information is required?
The principal display panel (PDP)—the part of a label that the consumer sees or examines when the product is displayed for retail sale—must include:
The information panel (a panel other than the PDP that can accommodate label information where the consumer is likely to see it) must include:
As you see, cosmetic labeling requirements are stricter and more extensive than the labeling requirements applicable to soaps. Still, you must comply with them to provide consumers with accurate product information. Failure to comply with these rules will lead to the FDA labeling your product “misbranded.” Since the FD&C Act prohibits the distribution of cosmetics considered misbranded, incorrectly labeling your product can land you in a host of legal problems.
[posts]misc/is-soap-a-cosmetic,misc/soap-labeling-requirements,product-faq/what-is-natural-soap[/posts]
]]>But some people seem biased against bar soap and think it's unhygienic. They believe soap bars are contaminated with germs after use and can be a source of infection.
Unlike liquid soap or body wash that you dispense from a container, bar soap sits out in the open, where it is repeatedly touched and comes in contact with water, a known habitat for some bacteria. So, does bar soap hold bacteria? Read on to find out what science has to say about this.
Regular bar soap or cleanser does not actually kill germs but removes them from your skin with the help of running water. Soap binds with dirt, grime, and bacteria to lift them off the skin surface, allowing them to be rinsed down the drain more easily.
Some soaps are antimicrobial or antibacterial, meaning they contain active ingredients that kill bacteria and other germs and can sometimes inhibit their future growth. But, no significant evidence suggests that antibacterial soaps are more effective than plain soap in preventing infection. There are also concerns about the safety of using antibacterial soaps in the long term. For example, some studies have shown that using antibacterial soap may contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Since studies have not shown any added health benefit from using antibacterial soap, in 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter sale of antibacterial soaps containing certain active ingredients. When it comes to reducing or preventing the risk of spreading infection, the CDC suggests that plain soap is adequate to remove germs for the general public. Antibacterial soaps can be used by healthcare professionals and people working in childcare and food preparation settings.
CDC suggests that both bar and liquid soap work well to remove germs, but not all soaps are created equal. Many commercially manufactured solid soaps are syndet bars made of blends of synthetic surfactants. At Botanie Soap, we are committed to natural ingredients and use a traditional cold-process method of soap making. Explore our bar soap collection for private-label use and choose perfect products made from organic plant-based oils and scented with essential oils and plant extracts.
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Like all surfaces, bar soap can hold some bacteira. When we wash our hands, we transfer a thin film of bacteria, skin flakes, and oils to the soap bar. But you don't need to worry about it because bar soap does not appear to transmit diseases. Although bar soap holds bacteria and other germs and can live and grow on all soap bars, it's very unlikely they will make you sick or cause a skin infection.
The bulk of germs on your bar soap are probably from your own skin. These germs are a part of your skin microbiome, which is essential to your immune system because it helps protect you from invading pathogens and illnesses. Your germs are harmless because your body has already adapted to fight them. If you're sharing the soap bar with family members, you also have nothing to worry about because you probably share many of the same microorganisms anyway. And even when it comes to other bacteria, your bar soap may pick up, most of them will not make you sick.
Studies also show that routine handwashing with contaminated soap bars is unlikely to transfer bacteria. In 1988, scientists inoculated soap bars with pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas, and 16 volunteers washed their hands with these bars. Although the test bars contained 70 times the contaminants that would typically be found in used soap bars, none of the volunteers had detectable bacteria levels on their hands.
These findings show that routine handwashing with previously used bar soap does not lead to the transfer of bacteria from the bar to the skin. Also, none of the occasional studies that have documented the presence of environmental bacteria on bar soap have shown that bar soap can be a source of infection.
Both liquid and bar soaps are made of the same essential components—alkali salts of fatty acids that have detergent properties and help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. But for consumers who are basing their purchases on environmental benefits, all-natural bar soap would be the "greener" of the two, so selling it can be profitable. If you need bar soap in higher volumes or want to launch your own soap line, contact us to learn more about custom manufacturing.
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Like all surfaces, the surface of the soap bar can be hold bacteria, but when you work it with water into a lather, it traps germs and helps remove them from your hands when you rinse them with running water. Just make sure to wash your hands well for 20-30 seconds. You may also rinse off the bar in running water before lathering up to wash away the germs. And you should always store bar soap out of the water so it can dry between uses. Doing these simple things helps ensure that the germs are of no consequence to you.
[posts]misc/what-soap-is-antibacterial,misc/is-castile-soap-antibacterial,misc/syndet-soap,misc/sulfate-free-soap[/posts]
]]>In this article, we'll talk about the requirements you need to meet to sell beauty products on Amazon and give you some tips on optimizing your listings to increase visibility and win customers.
Amazon's beauty and personal care category is divided into several subcategories, including makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrance, foot, hand & nail care, tools & accessories, shave & hair removal, personal care, and oral care. You can also dig deeper into each subcategory to get more specific.
Before 2017, the beauty category was gated, and sellers needed to apply for special accounts and go through a tedious process to get approval and list their products. But now, the beauty and personal care category is no longer restricted to new Amazon sellers.
Still, certain items in this category require approval from Amazon before they can be sold, such as cosmetics and skin care products in gated subcategories. Amazon has strict guidelines to ensure customers' safety and protect its reputation. By requiring sellers to get approval before listing certain beauty products, Amazon can ensure that all products on their platform are safe and meet all applicable standards.
The approval process can differ depending on the item, but in general, sellers must provide supporting documentation about the products, such as invoices, safety assessments, and other documents.
Remember that as a seller, you need to understand and comply with Amazon's guidelines and policies on product safety and compliance. This can help you avoid practices that could lead to blocked listings.
Selling soap on the platform doesn't require approval from Amazon, but you must comply with all federal laws and regulations applicable to soap products. True soap that meets the definition of the term in the FDA's regulations is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). You may want to check out our blog article to learn more about soap labeling requirements.
The FDA's interpretation outlines the following requirements that a product needs to meet to be regulated as "soap":
In the US, cosmetics and drugs are regulated by FDA. You should also note that the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by including the definition of a "cosmetic product" as "a preparation of cosmetic ingredients with a qualitatively and quantitatively set composition for use in a finished product." This means that if the product contains ingredients commonly recognized as having cosmetic properties, it may be classified as a cosmetic even if no cosmetic claims are made.
If you want to start selling soap on Amazon, traditional all-natural soaps like those that we make at Botanie Soap and offer for private-label use are perfect. Explore our collection and choose products that you could sell under your brand. You can also order a sample set that includes all our bar soap varieties and samples of our different liquid, unscented, and scented soaps.
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Amazon defines cosmetics as products that are usually rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed onto the body for cleansing, beautifying, or changing the body's appearance. Amazon establishes requirements for packaging, labeling, product detail pages, and ingredient disclosure of cosmetic products listed on the platform in accordance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and other applicable regulations.
Amazon provides a compliance checklist that includes information about requirements for packaging, labeling, product detail pages, and ingredients. You should use this checklist to ensure that your beauty products are compliant with Amazon's policies.
Cosmetics labels and detail pages must include the following information in English:
Cosmetic labels and detail pages must not:
Amazon also recommends that sellers visit the US Food and Drug Administration's resources for more information about cosmetics labeling requirements.
Cosmetic products must be safe for use and must not be named in an FDA recall or safety alert. They must not contain prohibited ingredients, substances the FDA classifies as posing a risk of harm or illness, and controlled substances. Cosmetics must not require a prescription or a medical professional's supervision or direction.
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Selling beauty products on Amazon can be very profitable if you price your products competitively and invest time and effort in optimizing your listings and marketing. Remember that Amazon works as a search engine, so it's crucial to take advantage of its algorithm to increase the chances that your beauty products can appear at the top of Amazon's search results. Here are some tips on optimizing your Amazon product listing to increase visibility and drive sales.
Ensure your titles contain at least 100 characters and accurately describe your beauty products. Do detailed keyword research to find keywords that people use when searching for products related to your niche, and include them in your titles to help potential customers find your products. But remember that titles should sound pleasant and natural, so don't stuff them with keywords.
A well-written product description can help you convince potential buyers that your product can make a difference in their daily lives. You need to give descriptive and factual information and highlight the unique selling points of your beauty product. Using relevant keywords in the product description also improves the chances that shoppers will find your listing.
Visuals are critical when it comes to selling beauty products on Amazon. Some customers may decide based on what they see in the images. That's why you should use high-resolution photos that accurately show your products from multiple angles and entice your customers. Ensure the images are large enough to allow the zoom function to work to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.
Having high ratings and positive reviews is essential for any Amazon seller. Most consumers read online reviews before they make a buying decision, so you should encourage buyers to leave feedback. Ensure your product claims are accurate and honest, provide excellent customer service, and respond quickly to inquiries and complaints. This will increase your chances of getting more favorable reviews and ratings.
Selling beauty products on Amazon can be a great way to make money. Still, you should understand how the Amazon marketplace works and be familiar with the requirements and regulations to ensure compliance. You should also optimize your product listings to match the Amazon search algorithms and stand out among competitors. However, delivering high-quality beauty products and exceptional customer service is the key to success.
[posts]misc/soap-labeling-requirements,misc/is-soap-a-cosmetic,soap-business/license-sell-soap,soap-business/making-vs-outsourcing-soap[/posts]
]]>To be protected against bacteria and potential illnesses, many people seek to buy soap, body wash, or shower gel with antibacterial compounds. But are antibacterial soaps more effective at killing the bad germs than regular soap?
Let's find out what soap is antibacterial and whether it truly offers additional protection against germs.
Antibacterial soaps are also sometimes called antimicrobial or antiseptic soaps. They have the same properties as regular soap but contain certain chemicals intended to kill or reduce the growth of bacteria and prevent infection. These ingredients with antibacterial properties that prevent or stop bacterial growth and contamination are not found in plain soap.
How do you tell if a soap is antibacterial? Antibacterial products generally have the word "antibacterial" on the label. A Drug Facts label on a product is another sign that a soap contains antibacterial ingredients.
While antibacterial soaps are marketed as effective by their manufacturers, experts say that the ingredients they contain have not been shown to have any additional benefit at preventing illness than plain soap. In addition, some studies suggest that these chemicals may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and disrupt the natural balance of microbial communities on the skin and in the environment.
In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned companies from using certain active ingredients previously common in consumer antiseptic wash products, including liquid, foam, gel hand soaps, bar soaps, and body washes.
The FDA instituted the ban because the manufacturers had failed to prove that those ingredients were safe for daily use over a long time. Also, the manufacturers haven't shown that these ingredients are more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illnesses and spreading certain infections.
The FDA's final rule covers only consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes. It does not apply to antibacterial soaps used in healthcare settings by healthcare professionals.
FDA also supports the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to use plain soap and running water to wash hands frequently as a part of daily hygiene. That's one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and prevent spreading germs.
Still, plain soaps are not created equal. While most commercially manufactured soaps are not actually true soaps because they are made of synthetic detergents and other harsh chemicals, at Botanie Soap, we are committed to natural ingredients. The soaps we offer for private-label use are made from a perfect blend of organic vegetable oils and natural essential oils using a traditional cold-process method. Explore our all-natural liquid and bar soap collections and choose products your customers will love.
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Comparing antibacterial soap vs. regular soap, we see that they differ in composition. Antibacterial soap contains active chemicals that are added to kill or reduce bacteria on the skin. Still, research revealed that antibacterial and plain soap are equally effective at removing bacteria from the hands and body.
So, if regular soap is not designed to kill bacteria or stop them from replicating, how does it work? Soap molecules are amphipathic—they have both polar and non-polar properties. Their non-polar tails adhere to the dirt on the skin, and polar groups are soluble in water, helping lift the dirt (and bacteria living there) away from the skin. The role of regular soap is to loosen and lift dirt and germs so they can be washed away with water more efficiently.
Antibacterial soap also has this effect and has an extra ingredient intended to further protect the hand-washer from harmful bacteria. However, no scientific evidence has suggested that consumer soaps marketed as antibacterial are better at reducing germs and infection chances than plain soaps.
This means antibacterial ingredients are unnecessary to clean your hands and body and prevent bacterial infection. Additionally, if you regularly wash your hands with antibacterial soap, you expose yourself and the environment to increased amounts of these unnecessary chemicals without any measurable benefit.
Although the all-natural cold-process soap we make at Botanie Soap is not antibacterial, it is highly effective in removing dirt and harmful germs. Our SLS-free soaps are made using only certified organic base oils and are scented with essential oils and plant extracts.
True liquid and bar soaps made from natural ingredients are very popular among environmentally conscious consumers, so selling these personal care products can be profitable. If you need bar or liquid soap in higher volumes or want to launch your own soap line, contact us to tell us about your custom manufacturing project and learn how we can develop the right product for you.
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According to the FDA, antibacterial soap is not more effective for killing disease-causing germs and preventing infection than regular soap and water. It's also unknown how active ingredients used to make antibacterial soap will affect human health in the long term.
That's why antibacterial soap is not needed in most homes and may be recommended only in healthcare settings. You should also remember that antibacterial soap must remain on the skin for about 2 minutes to have any effect on bacteria. The plain natural soap is generally safe and effective at removing and reducing bacteria if used properly.
[posts]misc/soap-labeling-requirements,misc/is-soap-a-cosmetic,misc/is-castile-soap-antibacterial[/posts]
]]>Both soap- and syndet-based cleansers contain at least one surfactant (a surface active agent that is amphiphilic and has polar and non-polar properties). Due to surfactants' unique chemistry and characteristics, both soap- and syndet-based cleansers help lift the dirt away from the skin so it can be easier washed away with water.
But while soaps and syndets are similar in that, they cleanse dirt and impurities from the skin's surface, if we compare syndet vs soap, we'll notice significant differences between these two types of cleansers in composition, structure, uses, and properties.
The major difference between soap and synthetic detergent is that soap is made from natural ingredients such as vegetable oils and animal fats, and syndet is made from synthetic sources, such as petroleum fractions.
Today, soap is a basic personal hygiene product used for daily cleansing. Thanks to its amphiphilic structure, soap also can interact with the lipid membranes of microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, and inactivate them.
When making regular soap, fats or oils from animal or vegetable sources are degraded into free fatty acids, which combine with alkali, such as lye. The reaction is called saponification, and the result is alkali salts of fatty acids—emulsifying and foaming substances, which determine the product's detergent properties.
Commercially produced soaps may also contain added chemicals, such as artificial colorants and fragrances. Commercial soap manufacturers also often remove the natural glycerin and add synthetic ingredients not found in natural soap, like chemical preservatives to increase shelf life.
At Botanie Soap, we never add chemicals and use only natural ingredients, such as vegetable oils, essential oils, and plant extracts to make traditional cold-process soap for private-label use. Our soap bars and liquid soaps are perfect for skin care and friendly to the environment.
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Although some syndet cleansers are marketed as "soap," they do not meet the FDA's definition of the term and are regulated as cosmetic. Syndets contain synthetic surfactants chemically synthesized from fats, petroleum/petrochemicals, or oil-based products (oleochemicals) and an alkali. Manufacturers use a combination of chemical processes, such as sulfonation, ethoxylation, alkylation, and esterification.
The history of synthetic detergents began only in 1916. They were first produced in Germany because of the shortage of animal fats caused by World War I as a substitute for fat-based soap to meet the demand for cleaning products. After World War II, their development gradually gained major importance in personal hygiene and laundry products. By the 1950s, syndets had developed into sophisticated products, overtaking traditional soap products in the US and Europe. Currently, syndets account for 60% of the global production of surfactants.
Syndet soap manufacturers claim their products are better for skin care because they are pH-balanced—neutral to slightly acidic (5.5 – 7.0), while true soap is alkaline (8.5 – 10.0). But the truth is that the pH of soap doesn't directly relate to how harsh or gentle a specific cleansing product is.
Remember that pH-balanced syndet body wash is still a cleansing agent designed to remove the oily layer that holds dirt on your skin. Natural skin oils (sebum) are an important component of the acid mantle that protects the skin. Besides, synthetic surfactants, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), that are common in syndets, may leave your skin dry and irritated and can even cause allergies and skin inflammation.
At the same time, properly formulated all-natural soaps and body washes like those we make at Botanie Soap don't contain harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin. Instead, they contain retained glycerin, a natural humectant with moisturizing properties. We use only certified organic plant-based and essential oils and never use artificial substances that may add to potential health or environmental risks.
With a trend toward more organic and green products, personal care products made from natural ingredients are growing in popularity among environmentally conscious consumers, so selling all-natural soap can be profitable. If you are interested in wholesale private-label soap, you can order our wholesale soap sample set with free delivery to see what we offer and choose products you could sell under your brand.
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What Is Syndet Shampoo Bar?
These solid cleansing bars are specifically formulated to clean hair and scalp. Syndet shampoo bars contain the same ingredients—synthetic surfactants used to make commercial liquid shampoo, just without the water or plastic bottle. That's why they appeal to many consumers who care about the environment and want to adopt a more sustainable beauty routine and go plastic-free.
The best shampoo bars are made with natural ingredients and contain gentle plant-derived surfactants like Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) and fatty alcohols, such as stearyl, cetearyl, or cetyl alcohol, that have hydrating properties and soften the skin.
[posts]misc/sulfate-free-soap,misc/soap-vs-detergent,misc/propylene-glycol-in-soap[/posts]
]]>Products that people call "soap" can be many things—true soaps regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), cosmetics, or drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It depends on how soap is made, its intended use, and what claims are made about it.
According to the FDA regulatory definition, the term "soap" can only be applied when
In other words, true soap is made with oils and lye and doesn't contain any synthetic detergents. If soap contains synthetic detergents or other ingredients, it's not a true soap. Usually, it's a cosmetic. For example, most, if not all, melt-and-pour soaps are not true soaps and are considered cosmetics based on their ingredients.
Remember that the only claims that can be made about a true soap are that it is soap and that it cleanses. If you make other claims about it, it can become a different product type—a cosmetic or drug.
True soap is what we make at Botanie Soap, using time-tested recipes, and offer for private label use. Explore our collections of all-natural cold-process bar soap and liquid soap to see what we offer and order samples to choose products that your customers will love.
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The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) defines cosmetics by their intended use as "articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body...for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance."
According to this definition, a product marketed as soap that isn't a true soap is automatically considered cosmetic if it's used on the human body. But a true soap can also be a cosmetic if cosmetic claims are made about the entire product or one of its ingredients. For example, if you say your soap "contains moisturizing shea butter," it's a cosmetic. And if you say it's a "moisturizing soap," it's a cosmetic as well.
The FD&C Act also provides a definition of drugs as "articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease … and articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals." Remember that making certain claims can cause your soap to qualify as a drug subject to FDA drug approval and labeling regulations. Some examples of common drug claims for soap are that it "treats acne," "cures eczema," "kills fungi," "antibacterial," "prevents aging, "etc.
That means you need to be very careful about what words and phrases you use to market your soap and what claims you make. If it's simply soap, you can just say that it cleans the skin and nothing else. Suppose you want to use words and phrases in your marketing that would put your products in the cosmetic category (e.g. moisturizing, exfoliating, hydrating). In that case, you have to label your soap as a cosmetic. But don't use words and phrases that will move your products into the drug category.
Proper labeling is important for putting soaps and cosmetic products on the market. As we've noted above, cosmetics are regulated by the FDA, while CPSC regulates true soaps, so soap and cosmetic labeling requirements differ.
True soaps have no specific regulatory requirements, so their labeling requirements are governed by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The label must include the name of the product, its net weight, and the manufacturer's or distributor's name and address. The ingredient declaration is not required, but you can include an ingredient list to tell the customers what's in your soap and help them make an informed purchasing decision.
Suppose you want to claim that your soap or its ingredients are certified organic. In that case, your final product probably needs to be certified by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP regulations include labeling standards based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.
If you are looking to launch a unique soap product that meets all the criteria of the FDA definition of soap and is made with organic ingredients, our Custom Manufacturing division can help you get it right. We make true natural soap and have USDA National Organic Program certification as well as NSF / ANSI 305 Made with Organic certification.
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FDA regulates cosmetics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), which expanded the FDA's authority under the FD&C Act law, cosmetics must not be adulterated or misbranded. Cosmetic products must be safe for consumers and properly labeled—the labeling must be truthful and not misleading.
If the product is cosmetic, the following labeling information is required on the principal display panel: the product's name and the net quantity of contents. An information panel must include information about the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, an ingredient declaration, warnings, and adequate directions for safe use (for cosmetics, which may be hazardous to consumers when misused).
The ingredients must appear in descending order of predominance—the ingredient present in the formula at the highest percentage is listed first, the next highest percentage second, etc. The ingredients less than 1% of the formula can be included at the end of the list in any order.
"Soap" is a commonly used word, but the term only officially applies to products that meet certain conditions. The product must mainly consist of alkali salts of fatty acids, and they must be the only ingredients that cause the product's cleaning action. The product must also be labeled and marketed only as a soap. If a cleanser does not meet all of these criteria, it may be classified as a cosmetic or a drug, depending on its intended use, although you can still use the word "soap" on the label.
[posts]misc/soap-labeling-requirements,misc/soap-vs-detergent,misc/is-castile-soap-antibacterial[/posts]
]]>The short answer is no. The best way to think about castile soap is as “true soap” in the traditional sense, as it is defined in FDA’s regulations, meaning it’s the product of reacting natural oils with alkali like sodium or potassium hydroxide, and its cleaning properties are due to the alkali salts of fatty acids.
People have used soap for millennia, although it’s uncertain who was the first to invent it. In the past, soap was commonly made using animal fats and lye extracted from wood ashes. Castile soap gets its name from the Mediterranean region around Castile, Spain, where it was first created in the 12th century. It was originally made from pure olive oil, but since then, it has expanded to include a variety of vegetable oils.
Castile soap is a safe, plant-based cleanser that people can use around their houses and as part of their personal care routine. Today, many consumers prefer castile soap because it’s a powerful natural soap and cleaning agent that can conveniently replace many other products. That’s why castile soap is always in demand and can be an excellent option for those looking to start selling soap to make money.
Are you looking for castile soap that you can buy in bulk and sell as your own? Botanie Soap is the leading B2B manufacturer of all-natural soaps for private-label use. Our castile soap is made from a perfect blend of organic vegetable oils and natural essential oils. Check out our collection of castile soap made with our unique formulas and choose products your customers will love.
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As the FDA states, antibacterial soaps, sometimes called antimicrobial or antiseptic soaps, contain certain chemicals not found in plain soaps. Those antibacterial active ingredients kill microorganisms or stop their growth and are added to reduce or prevent bacterial infection.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to suggest that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are more effective in preventing illness than washing hands with plain soap and water. Additionally, the wide use of antibacterial soaps over time has raised the question of potential negative effects on human health.
Some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients in consumer hand and body washes may do more harm than good over the long term. For example, such ingredients as triclosan and triclocarban have long raised safety concerns because they have been linked to bacterial resistance, hormone disruption, and even possibly cancer.
That’s why, in 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule that banned 19 antibacterial active ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, used in over-the-counter antiseptic wash products. The FDA’s final rule covers only consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes. It does not apply to antibacterial soaps used in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes. In hospital settings, antiseptics are critical components that help prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and reduce hospital-acquired infections.
FDA supports the WHO’s and CDC’s recommendation to use plain liquid or bar soap and water to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. It’s an effective way to remove germs, including viruses, avoid getting sick, and prevent spreading germs to others.
Although castile soap is not antibacterial, it is a highly effective cleanser and can tackle the most stubborn grime. Note that the castile soap does not “kill” germs as antibacterial agents do. Rather than killing bacteria, it removes them with the help of running water. It cleans by binding with dirt, grime, and bacteria and lifting them off surfaces, making it easier to wash them away. Castile soap is perfectly effective in removing harmful germs and can be used on your hands, face, and around the house on countertops, cutting boards, sinks, floorboards, carpets, door knobs, etc.
Being a multipurpose product, castile soap is a perfect alternative to regular soap and harsh chemicals. It’s very popular among environmentally conscious consumers, so selling it can be profitable. If you need castile soap in higher volumes or want to launch your own soap line, contact us to learn more about custom manufacturing.
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Request the full-scale custom manufacturing of bar or liquid soap. We handle the whole process from formulation to production.
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Castile soap that we make at Botanie Soap is an all-natural soap that lathers, cleans, and rinses away harmful germs without help from any harsh chemicals or synthetic agents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS). It does not contain additives, artificial fragrances, preservatives, or other chemicals that often appear in commercial liquid cleansers and body washes. That’s why castile soap does not threaten health with long-term use and is safe for the environment.
[posts]product-faq/what-is-castile-soap,misc/selling-myth-antibacterial-soap,product-faq/what-is-natural-soap[/posts]
]]>It’s not always easy because conventional hand soaps often come in plastic bottles with a lifespan as short as the time it takes for you to finish them. They lure you in by creating scents you may want to buy repeatedly. That quickly adds up to a lot of plastic bottles that are highly likely to be sent to landfills, causing severe environmental damage.
Although recycling your plastic liquid soap bottles after use is a notable effort, it’s far from a perfect solution to solve the problem since plastic is only recycled 4-5% of the time. Additionally, conventional liquid soaps often contain harsh chemicals that can potentially pollute waterways.
Fortunately, hand soap doesn’t need to come with much plastic waste and a risk of water pollution. Read on to learn about sustainable alternatives allowing you to care for your body and the planet.
Bar soap is considered the most sustainable option because it uses 30% less water than liquid soap. The packaging for conventional bar soap is highly likely to be plastic-free. It generally comes in paper or cardboard packaging, which can be broken down much easier than plastic containers. But sometimes, soap bars are wrapped in paper with plastic film, which isn’t recyclable.
Liquid hand soap is typically packaged in a plastic dispenser bottle designed to be used only once and is hard to recycle. However, there’s an eco-friendly option of buying bulk liquid soap refills. You can buy your glass bottle dispenser and fill it up with bulk liquid soap manufactured by a sustainable brand instead of buying new plastic soap bottles each time.
We all love soaps and body washes that smell good. Still, many commercially manufactured personal care products are scented with artificial fragrances and can be packed with harmful sulfates and parabens. That’s why you should look for scents derived from natural essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, or sage.
Botanie Soap makes all-natural liquid soaps suitable for all skin types and ages. Explore our collections of castile soap and foaming soaps made from premium plant oils and scented with natural essential oils and plant extracts.
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Our liquid soaps smell fantastic and will keep you squeaky clean. Chances are you have already bought and used our products because many well-known skin-care brands outsource soap manufacturing to us. You can buy liquid soap in bulk and save money on our website.
If you want to go plastic-free, switching to refill soap options that don’t contain sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and added preservatives is a perfect way to maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle. Buying liquid soap in bulk also minimizes single-use plastic and keeps our environment cleaner.
You can just buy one reusable bottle for your soap and refill it as needed, saving on plastic packaging waste. Although it won’t solve the global plastic pollution problem, every little action and positive change we make to reduce single-use plastic makes a difference, helping the environment.
If you are not a fan of soap bars, liquid hand soap that you can buy in bulk on our website is a great sustainable alternative to disposable bottles of soap, which you throw away when empty. We love our planet and are concerned about the impact we make. That’s why we are committed to using only natural ingredients, which all have EWG ratings in the green zone.
You can buy our foaming hand soap made with 81% organic foaming base starting from 1 gallon or order it in 5-gallon buckets, which means less waste in packaging. You can go for an unscented variety if you prefer simple, authentic soap or choose from a variety of scent blends.
[products]citrus-lavender-foaming-soap-1-gallon,lemongrass-tea-foaming-soap-1-gallon,lavender-foaming-soap-1-gallon[/products]
Going plastic-free doesn’t mean sacrificing quality if you buy soaps and other personal care products made with organic ingredients and natural scents that are better for your skin and safe for the environment.
Swapping your conventional hand soap packed in plastic bottles for a more sustainable alternative will allow you to limit the amount of plastic disposables in your home and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. This way, you can minimize your environmental impact and protect our planet for future generations.
[posts]product-faq/body-wash-vs-shower-gel,product-faq/natural-preservatives-soap,product-faq/scenting-soap[/posts]
]]>The good news is that the US soap labeling regulations are not as strict as in making food or cosmetics. But how do you know if your labels include enough information as required by soap labeling laws?
In this article, we'll talk about the general regulations of soap labeling and the essential information you need to put on your soap labels. You'll also find some tips on how to make labels for soap.
Depending on the product, there are many regulations with which a product's label must comply before it is sold in the United States. The relevant laws governing soap labeling include the following:
How do you know what laws you need to follow? It depends on the kind of soap you are selling. Today, many commercially manufactured body cleansers marketed as "soap" are synthetic detergent products. They are not true soaps according to the regulatory definition of the word.
FDA defines "soap" as a product made mainly of the "alkali salts of fatty acids," its cleansing properties must come from these ingredients. It must be labeled and marketed only for use as soap. True soaps that meet the regulatory definition are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSU), and their labels follow FPLA and FHSA rules.
True all-natural soaps like those that we make at Botanie Soap and offer for private-label use are a good option if you want to start selling soap. Order our soap sample set to see what we offer and choose products you could sell under your brand. The sample set includes all our bar soap varieties that we make using time-tested recipes and samples of our different liquid soap bases and scents.
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If the product contains synthetic detergents to improve its cleansing power, it is considered a cosmetic, although you can use the word "soap" on the label. The soap is also considered cosmetic from a legal standpoint if manufacturers make such cosmetic claims as "moisturizing," "exfoliating," or "deodorizing." Products intended to treat skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, or prevent diseases by killing germs are considered drugs. The FDA regulates cosmetics and drugs.
Under The Federal Drug and Cosmetic Act, cosmetic products and ingredients do not require FDA approval before they go on the market. However, drugs must receive premarket approval by the FDA. Both cosmetics and drugs must be labeled according to their respective regulations, although in both instances, you can still market your product as "soap" and include this word on the label.
CPSC does not have specific labeling requirements for soaps, so the applicable law is The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), which governs the labeling of all consumer products. The FPLA's requirements for labeling consumer products are simple—a label for your soap must include the following details:
You do not have to list the ingredients—the CPSC does not require ingredient declaration for true soaps. You just have to label it as "soap" and inform consumers how much it weighs and where to find your company.
However, ingredient declaration is required for cosmetic and drug-containing soaps. Such products must comply with FDA standards because they contain additives that may harm consumers even with ordinary use.
If you sell simple soaps, you can skip the ingredients list. But today's consumers are extremely conscious of what they use on their bodies. So, if you include the ingredient list, your customers will surely appreciate this gesture because it shows transparency and makes customers feel safe and cared for.
You can list the ingredients according to the guidelines of the FDA—in descending order of predominance (the percentage of the total formula) and use the most commonly accepted names for ingredients to ensure that you don't deceive or mislead the consumers.
If you order soap at Botanie Soap, you can buy pre-printed ingredient labels. Each label lists the specific blend's ingredients and includes an asterisk next to each organic ingredient. We also offer blank sheet labels in different shapes and work with laser and inkjet printers.
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When you start creating the design for your soap labels, have the following tips in mind to make them appealing to customers:
Labeling traditional soap is regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. You need to include just a few details on the soap label: the statement of identity, net quantity of contents, and seller's business information. The law doesn't require you to list your ingredients, but telling your customers what you use to make your soap will help you demonstrate transparency and build trust.
[posts]product-faq/must-haves-soap-packaging,misc/business-being-organic,misc/what-soap-officially[/posts]
]]>And although shampoo bars look like bars of soap, these are different types of products, so in this blog post, we’ll compare shampoo bars vs. soap to help you understand how they differ.
Although shampoo bars and soap bars may look, feel, and smell similar and may have some common ingredients, there are many differences. To start with, bar soap is designed to clean your body, while shampoo bars are specifically formulated to remove oils and product build-up from hair. While both personal care products can remove dirt and other impurities and wash away excess oil, the active ingredients that allow each product to do the same job are different.
And the key difference between shampoo bars vs. soap is the pH of the product.
High-quality shampoo bars are delicate and formulated to minimize eye irritation. The pH of well-formulated shampoo bars is about 6.5, which is very similar to the natural pH of our hair and skin. Their pH-balanced formulas contain EWG green-rated ingredients, so these hair care products are free of SLS, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and other harsh chemicals commonly found in commercial liquid shampoos. Such chemicals can damage hair, stripping away its healthy natural oils, and can be harmful to the skin.
Unlike commercial shampoos in bottles, the best shampoo bars are made with natural and organic ingredients and contain milder, plant-derived active ingredients, such as sodium cocoyl isethionate (an extremely gentle cleanser derived from coconuts) and fatty alcohols, such as stearyl, cetearyl, or cetyl alcohol that have hydrating properties and help keep hair from drying out. As a result, well-formulated solid shampoo bars are perfect for cleaning any hair type, making it feel soft and manageable, and they are gentle enough for even the most sensitive scalps.
There are well-formulated shampoo bars for every hair type, including dry, oily, curly, coily, and color-treated. Each specific formulation is made with unique ingredients to treat a specific type of hair properly. They also contain moisturizing ingredients, for example, glycerin and proteins, so they clean, condition, and make hair look and feel great after washing. Additionally, mild, all-natural, sulfate-free shampoo bars are multipurpose, so it’s possible to use them as a body, face wash, and shave soap. Since sulfate-free shampoo bars contain ingredients that are gentle on the skin, they are suitable for the whole body.
And what about soap bars? In its essence, true soaps made by a traditional cold-process method are the alkali salts of fatty acids. They are produced by mixing animal fats or plant-based oils with a strongly alkaline solution, such as lye, and the process is known as saponification. When done properly, soap is fabulous to wash with—it smells great, lathers beautifully, and doesn’t over-dry the skin. It’s easily rinsed from the skin, and the skin’s natural acid mantle quickly recovers.
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Soap produced by popular brands simply tends to be too strong for regular use on hair since it has a pH level of 9 or 10. Being alkaline, soap disrupts the pH level of hair and the scalp, which is somewhere between 4.5-5.5, meaning it’s slightly acidic. It is too harsh for hair and strips away its natural protective oils, so the hair feels like straw and looks dull and lifeless. Additionally, shampoo bars are made to be easily rinsed even in hard water, while soap may leave a residue on hair roots and scalp, clogging follicles and amplifying hair damage issues. Repeated use of low quality soap to wash hair can even result in permanent damage over time, making hair more brittle, dry, prone to breakage and split ends, and leaving the scalp dry and itchy.
There’s a big difference in the chemical makeup between shampoo bars and soap bars. True soap is excellent in removing dirt and bacteria from the skin. Shampoo bars are formulated specifically for hair, so they are pH-balanced and come packed with additional hydrating, nourishing ingredients for healthier hair over time. Most of these ultra-concentrated, compact cleansers that can last up to 80 washes are typically made without sulfates and other harsh chemicals, so they are gentler on hair and scalp, leaving them clean and healthy.
And since they are made of biodegradable ingredients, save water, and don’t require plastic packaging, these solid shampoos are an excellent option for people who want to adopt a more sustainable beauty routine and reduce their carbon footprint. Still, some shampoo bars contain SLS that can cause skin irritation and artificial fragrances that trigger allergies, so it’s always important to read the ingredient list carefully. It’s better to choose natural hair care products packed with additional hydrating, nourishing ingredients that help make hair shinier, softer, and healthier over time and purchase them from companies focused on sustainability.
[posts]misc/what-are-shampoo-bars,misc/shampoo-bars-benefits,misc/shampoo-bar-vs-bottle[/posts]
]]>Shampoo bars work to cleanse hair and remove product build-up, just like traditional shampoos, but they are different from liquid shampoos in composition and ingredients. When we compare bar shampoo vs. liquid formulas, we can say that regular shampoo offers only one advantage over shampoo bars: we have been using them for many years, so our hair is used to them. Depending on the product formulation and individual scalp peculiarities, some people may go through a transition period during which their hair adjusts to the natural shampoo bar and may feel heavy, dull, or greasy. These are normal side effects, and they are temporary.
Traditional liquid shampoos contain harsh chemicals, such as Sodium Laurel Sulfate, that strip away natural oils and make our bodies overreact. Our scalp produces excess oils to ensure that hair follicles stay healthy. And when we switch to natural hair care products, it takes time for the scalp to rebalance its oil production. After the scalp adjusts to the change, we can expect healthier hair than ever before.
But sulfate that eventually makes the hair lifeless and dull is not the only ingredient added to shampoos that can be problematic for hair. Some other synthetic ingredients can cause build-ups, block pores, and lead to itching scalp. For example, parabens used as artificial preservatives in cosmetic products, especially those with high water content, including regular shampoos, can cause skin dryness and irritation. Additionally, commercial detergent-based shampoos can contain artificial fragrances, colors, or dyes.
Solid shampoo bars tend to have “cleaner” formulas, free from controversial ingredients. Most of them are made with natural or organic ingredients, and their paraben-free and SLS-free formulas are pH balanced to help nourish hair and retain its natural moisture rather than strip it away. Well-formulated shampoo bars made with EWG green-rated ingredients create soft foam that gently cleanses hair and scalp. That’s why they are suitable for daily use, leaving hair feeling nourished, beautifully soft, silky, and moisturized after every wash.
Shampoo bars make hair healthier, shinier, and stronger. They clean hair as effectively as their liquid counterparts and work well for most hair types, from fine to thick and normal to oily. Still, hair type matters, and not all shampoo bars are the same. For example, more hydrating, oil-based formulas will work well for dry, curly, and color-treated hair types, but they may overwhelm fine and thin hair. So it’s always important to consider the specific hair type listed on the bar, just as with traditional liquid shampoo, to ensure the best result.
Traditional liquid shampoos are made of approximately 80% water, so they actually contain only 1/5 active ingredients. They require high water content to achieve their desired consistency and provide a good lather. Regular shampoos are used as they are, so they run out quickly. On average, one standard shampoo bottle lasts 25 to 35 washes.
Shampoo bars need very little water to be formed, so even though they are significantly smaller than shampoo bottles, they last surprisingly long. Comparing shampoo bars vs shampoo in bottles, it’s important to admit that shampoo bars are more concentrated regarding active ingredients. That means they’re designed to last longer than standard liquid formulas. Standard solid shampoo bars can last around 60-80 washes on average. So when used several times a week, we can expect a bar to last around three months, but to ensure long-lasting use, it should be stored in a cool, dry place away from a direct water stream or spray.
Traditional shampoos come in plastic bottles, which is a huge environmental problem. In the United States alone, about 550 million empty plastic shampoo bottles are thrown yearly, and only a small percentage are recycled. Instead, the majority of shampoo bottles end up in landfills, where they’ll be slowly degrading for 450 years.
Shampoo bars are sustainable products that offer a genuine alternative to plastic. They come in recyclable, recycled, or biodegradable packaging; some even come without any packaging. Most shampoo bar formulas contain only natural ingredients and are also biodegradable. Additionally, they contain a small percentage of water, meaning water wastage is kept to a minimum. When it comes to the size of the shampoo bar vs. bottle, solid shampoo bars are more compact. Because of their smaller size, they make their transportation more efficient and reduce shipping-related carbon emissions since fewer lorries are needed to transport them.
All-natural solid shampoo bars are environmentally friendly alternatives to liquid shampoo in bottles as they help reduce plastic waste, save water, and lower carbon impact. Well-formulated shampoo bars also last two times longer than regular shampoo bottles and do a great job at washing hair, perfecting, and meeting our high personal care standards. Additionally, natural shampoo bars are scented with essential oils and smell lovely in a bathroom. All that makes them a win-win choice for consumers looking to adopt a more sustainable hair care routine.
[posts]misc/what-are-shampoo-bars,misc/shampoo-bars-benefits,misc/are-shampoo-bars-good-for-hair[/posts]
]]>Compact and travel-friendly, solid shampoo bars offer a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Well-formulated moisturizing shampoo bars have a PH-balanced paraben-free and sulfate-free formula, allowing us to adopt a more sustainable hair care routine.
Packed with active natural ingredients and delicately infused with essential oils, shampoo bars are as effective as traditional shampoos, making your hair softer, healthier, and easier to style and manage after every wash. Different formulas work well on different hair types—from curly to color-treated, oily, balanced, or dry. And what's more, they are durable and last longer than their liquid counterparts.
Even though shampoo bars are significantly smaller than bottles of shampoo, they are designed to be long-lasting. They contain little water and are highly concentrated, so they typically last longer than liquid formulas that have 80-90% water.
But the answer gets a little trickier when it comes to how long a shampoo bar lasts. The bars' lifespan depends on various factors, such as how many people use the shampoo bar in a household, how often they wash their hair, how big the shampoo bar is, and how it is stored. It's also important to consider the ingredients in the bar, the hair type, and its length.
On average, the standard shampoo bar may last around 60-80 washes and can replace 2-3 bottles of regular shampoo, meaning consumers save money and extra trips to the store. These numbers have been observed from customer reviews and feedback. We can expect a shampoo bar to last around three months when used a few times a week and kept away from heat and moisture.
But each situation is different, so it's tough to answer accurately. For example, longer hair will require more shampoo than shorter hair. People with thin hair will need less shampoo for an effective wash than those with thick hair. And those who live in a hard water area might need more of a shampoo bar when washing their hair, which means it won't last as long.
Besides, shampoo formulation and ingredients also matter, so bars made by different manufacturers have different properties. As a result, some shampoo bars may last longer, while others may need replacement sooner.
And just like any other personal care products, shampoo bars generally come with an expiry date and/or a "period after opening" suggestion, which refers to the length of time they are expected to work as they should. In general, shampoo bars last 3 to 12 months after opening, although the expiry date varies from product to product and depends on the product's ingredient list.
Storage conditions can also affect the lifespan of shampoo bars since too much exposure to sunlight, heat, and moisture can make them softer. Improper storage can mean that a shampoo bar may expire before the date indicated on the package. As a rule of thumb, we can assume that a shampoo bar is too old if it has an odd odor, has changed its color, or doesn't seem to be lathering as it did before. Expired shampoo bars aren't effective, which can result in hair looking dull and not as clean as expected.
It's important to remember that shampoo bars are activated by water, so it's necessary to keep them dry between uses to help them last as long as possible. That's why it's better to keep them away from the shower and moisture and store them where air circulation keeps them fresh. It also makes sense to cut larger shampoo bars into smaller pieces to make them more manageable to use and extend their shelf life.
A shampoo bar should be placed on a soap dish with drain holes and stored in a cool, dry place to drain excess water freely and dry out completely. This will prevent it from sitting in a pool of water, making it mushy and causing bacteria buildup. It's also necessary to store shampoo bars away from direct sunlight and heat because excessive heat can melt them, making their shelf life much shorter.
Shampoo bars made with natural ingredients don't contain harsh chemicals and are eco-friendly and easy to use. They smell delicious and work well to deeply clean hair without drying it out, and the best thing is that we can count on them lasting through many wash routines. A well-formulated shampoo bar will leave hair looking and feeling ultra-soft and smelling fresh, and we can expect it to last longer than a regular shampoo bottle.
But it's vital to store shampoo bars properly and keep them away from spraying water while not in use to extend their lifespan. Keeping shampoo bars dry between uses will make all the difference in how long each bar will last.
[posts]misc/what-are-shampoo-bars,misc/shampoo-bars-benefits,misc/are-shampoo-bars-good-for-hair[/posts]
]]>Shampoo bars come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and scents. They are a fantastic way to help reduce plastic waste as part of a beauty routine. But are shampoo bars good for hair? Let's discover how shampoo bars work and why they are a solid alternative to liquid shampoos.
A shampoo bar is a solid version of regular liquid shampoo, so they work the same way. But instead of squeezing shampoo into the palm of your hand, you use it like bar soap. You just need to wet the shampoo bar and rub it to activate the lather, and then massage the lather into damp hair to cleanse it. To get the best results, the hair must be thoroughly wet to its roots, and it's also important to rinse the hair well to ensure no residue is left.
Like traditional shampoos, bars have different formulas for different hair types, textures, and concerns. Well-formulated shampoo bars can clean the scalp and hair as effectively as liquid ones without drying the hair out or adding too much buildup. But there are many other good reasons why many people consider switching to these eco-friendly alternatives.
Many traditional liquid shampoos contain preservatives and harsh chemicals that leave the scalp dry and strip hair of its natural oils, which keep hair moisturized and protected against damage. Well-formulated shampoo bars are different. Along with biodegradable formulas and eco-friendly packaging, solid shampoo bars are almost always all-natural.
They contain varying blends of moisturizing oils and/or butters and no synthetic substances (typically found in liquid formulas) that go into waterways and cause potential harm to wildlife. Shampoo bars that contain EWG green-rated ingredients can create a richer lather and do not strip hair of healthy oils. They can clean well, nourish hair from roots to tips, and give it vitality and moisture.
Well-formulated shampoo bars don't contain harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and chemicals like parabens that can damage hair and cause dryness and irritation in certain scalp types. They are typically made with organic ingredients and are PH balanced, making them especially good for people with sensitive skin.
Shampoo bars made with essential oils and other organic ingredients work well on almost all hair types, including thin hair and color-treated hair. They can help return hair to its healthy, shiny state by removing some chemical residues from conventional liquid shampoos. They can also help relieve dry and itchy scalp, improve damaged hair, promote follicle health, increase hair growth, and create volume.
Well-formulated solid shampoo bars don't contain artificial fragrances. Instead, they are scented with natural essential oils that are good for hair and scalp. Thanks to these ingredients, shampoo bars will leave hair moisturized, conditioned, and soft, giving it a wonderful and refreshing scent.
Shampoo bars are typically an all-in-one hair care solution, which means they clean and moisturize hair. They are gentle and leave hair clean without feeling dry. So for some people, conditioner isn't even needed after their hair adjusts to the shampoo bar.
Made with natural ingredients, well-formulated shampoo bars are not just a sustainable alternative to traditional detergent-based liquid shampoos. They are formulated with EWG green-rated ingredients and don't contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and parabens, so they offer the cleaning power of a liquid shampoo without harsh chemicals.
That's why such shampoo bars are good for hair, making it healthier, silkier, and softer. The best shampoo bars create a thick and natural lather, leaving the hair and scalp feeling clean and healthy. There are also different types of shampoo bars to suit different hair types, so consumers who want to help reduce plastic waste as a part of their beauty routine don't have to sacrifice giving their hair the specific care it needs.
Still, it's important to note that not all shampoo bars are created equal. Some may contain SLS or other harsh chemicals that can leave hair feeling dry and brittle. So it always makes sense to read the ingredient list carefully before choosing these cosmetic products.
[posts]misc/what-are-shampoo-bars,misc/shampoo-bars-benefits,misc/glycerin-soap[/posts]
]]>In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of shampoo bars to understand better why many people switch their favorite bottle of shampoo for a shampoo bar.
Although shampoo bars are a comparatively new hair care product category, they are becoming increasingly common, especially now that we all embrace sustainable living. But as with everything, there are pros and cons when switching to shampoo bars.
Sustainable: Shampoo bars are more environmentally friendly than their liquid shampoo counterparts. They come in solid bar form, which means zero plastic waste. Shampoo bars are also made with biodegradable ingredients and packaged in recyclable cardboard, further reducing their impact on the environment. Additionally, shampoo bars save water; many are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
A gentle alternative to regular shampoo: Besides having eco-friendly packaging and biodegradable formulas, most shampoo bars are made of all-natural ingredients. That means they don’t contain any harsh chemicals that lead to a range of hair and scalp problems, go into waterways, and can cause potential harm to wildlife.
Well-formulated shampoo bars are made without parabens, sulfates, preservatives, and synthetic fragrances, so they don’t dry or damage hair, stripping it of its protective, healthy natural oils. That’s why they are an excellent option for those with sensitive scalps. Shampoo bars that contain EWG green-rated ingredients can also provide the same luxurious lather we expect from a traditional shampoo without stripping our hair of its natural oils and moisture.
Make hair healthier: Shampoo bars are versatile and can be used on all hair types, including color-treated, permed, and natural hair. They are PH-balanced and create a thick and natural lather, leaving hair feeling clean, nourished, soft, and healthy. Solid shampoo bars also offer a variety of other benefits, such as soothing a dry and itchy scalp, helping to prevent dandruff, improving hair elasticity and strength, and promoting hair growth.
Cost-effective and long-lasting: Bottled shampoos contain 80-90% of water, and shampoo bars are made from concentrated, active ingredients. That’s why they last longer than liquid shampoo (around 80 washes), and as a result, they are a more cost-effective option in the long run. Additionally, shampoo bars are multipurpose and can be used as a body, face wash, and shave soap. Because of the gentle ingredients, they are suitable for the whole body.
Convenient size and form: Shampoo bars are functional and easy to travel with because they are solid and don’t spill or leak. They are also compact and lightweight and take up very little space in your bag, so they are perfect for traveling, outdoor camping, and backpacking trips. Besides, they are ideal for a non-messy post-workout hair cleanse.
While shampoo bars have many benefits, they also have some drawbacks. One of the most significant issues with shampoo bars is that they may not work well if the water is hard. Hard water contains a higher level of minerals (usually calcium and magnesium) that build up in the hair. It can also make hair feel sticky and look dull. Besides, hard water can’t rinse the bar shampoo properly, but diluted apple cider vinegar can help wash it thoroughly and ensure the hair is left clean and shiny.
Shampoo bars need proper storage and can become mushy if not stored correctly. If they are left in a damp place or the wrong kind of container where no air gets inside, they may fall apart or become too soft. To avoid that, it’s essential to always store shampoo bars dry, away from direct water. It’s also best to keep them on a well-draining surface that allows lots of airflow around it.
So are solid shampoo bars better than their liquid counterparts? Yes, if they are well-formulated and made with natural ingredients. Regular shampoos can’t compete with them because of the numerous benefits that shampoo bars offer.
Shampoo bars contain clean and healthy ingredients, feel great on hair, are cost-effective, there’s a shampoo bar for every type of hair, and of course, they are better for the environment. These are some of the most significant qualities of shampoo bars that attract consumers and drive demand for such products.
Still, not all hair care products are created equal, so it’s important to carefully read the ingredient list when you choose shampoo bars and weigh their pros and cons.
[posts]misc/what-are-shampoo-bars,product-faq/cold-process-soap,product-faq/what-is-castile-soap[/posts]
]]>In fact, the eco-friendly reasons and the urge to reduce plastic usage were the driving factors behind people ditching liquid shampoos and switching to solid shampoo bars, which are more sustainable hair care products. And since now many people regard shopping more sustainably as a key consideration, shampoo bars are becoming an increasingly popular option among consumers.
Essentially, shampoo bars are simply shampoo in bar form, so they do the same thing as normal shampoos. And although shampoo bars tend to look like good old-fashioned soap bars, they are formulated for hair care specifically and are made to match the pH balance of your scalp. Their formulas may also contain additional ingredients like oils and proteins to make hair stronger over time. Well-formulated shampoo bars cleanse, add volume, protect, and brighten hair sheen, and they can also moisturize your hair, making it easier to comb through after washing.
Most shampoo bars are made with natural ingredients and offer the cleaning power of a liquid shampoo without any synthetic detergents. Shampoo bars that contain EWG green-rated ingredients are free of parabens, phthalates, silicones, synthetic fragrances, SLS, and other harsh chemicals that can damage hair and strip away its healthy natural oils.
Many much milder plant-based alternatives to SLS are used in well-formulated shampoo bars. One common method is to use fatty alcohols, such as stearyl, cetearyl, or cetyl alcohol, that provide hydrating properties and help absorb and lock in moisture, keeping hair from drying out. As a result, well-formulated shampoo bars are packed with active ingredients and are gentle enough for even dry or damaged hair and the most sensitive scalps. Shampoo bars make hair feel super soft and nourished.
Shampoo bars are highly concentrated and contain little to no water, leaving you only the active ingredients. Although the price can seem relatively high, most of them will last 2-3 times longer than their liquid counterpart—around 60-80 washes. This makes them a more cost-effective option in the long run.
Shampoo bars are compact and leak-proof, making them a convenient option for travel. They also save water and don’t require excess plastic packaging, so they are a good option for people who want to make their beauty routine more eco-conscious. Well-formulated shampoo bars are made with high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients and are vegan and cruelty-free.
Shampoo bars are super easy to use. If you have longer or curlier hair, all you need to do is just wet your hair, lather the bar in your hands for 20 seconds, massage the lather gently into hair roots, and then rinse the hair thoroughly. And those with shorter, straighter hair can wet their hair like they usually would, apply the shampoo bar directly onto their head and scalp, and rinse well after washing to ensure no residue is left.
Like liquid shampoo, there are different solid shampoo bars to suit specific hair types. For example, solid shampoos can help maintain the health of hair, moisturize dry hair, increase the volume of flat hair, soothe damaged hair, or support healthy curls. And since natural shampoo bars don’t contain harsh chemicals, they are considered a safer option for thinning hair and safe to use on color-treated hair.
For many people, shampoo bars are multi-purpose solutions, meaning it’s possible to skip using conditioner because the ingredients don’t strip hair of its natural oils, so the strands are softer. Shampoo bars offer a healthy and gentle way to cleanse hair, but some people may also use shampoo bars as an all-over body wash or as a shave soap. Those who want to be really economical can rely on shampoo bars for almost everything.
Hopefully, we’ve provided you with a detailed answer to the question, “What are shampoo bars?” Now you understand how these eco-friendly hair care products differ from traditional liquid shampoo. Solid shampoo bars are a great option for consumers looking for ways to help reduce plastic waste in their beauty routine or start using natural shampoo.
Well-formulated shampoo bars are as effective as liquid shampoos, and being gentle, they leave hair clean without feeling dry. But there are also solid shampoo bars that contain paraben, SLS, or other harsh chemicals, so it’s always important to read the ingredient list carefully when you choose these hair care products. It’s better to avoid cosmetics products with bad-for-hair ingredients and pick natural shampoo bars packed with additional hydrating, nourishing ingredients that help make hair healthier over time.
[posts]product-faq/cold-process-soap,product-faq/what-is-castile-soap,misc/soap-vs-detergent[/posts]
]]>But chances are you have also noticed a steady increase in products touting "sulfate-free" labels. So what is the deal with sulfates, and why should you avoid them and use traditional sulfate-free soap instead?
Sulfate is a group of mineral salts that act as a cleaning agent in commercially manufactured consumer products, such as soap, shampoos, shower gels, and facial cleansers, and make them foam and lather, giving a stronger impression of cleaning power. That makes sulfates appealing as ingredients in shampoo or shower gel.
And what about sulfate in soap? That's a tricky question because there's a difference between how we commonly use the word "soap" and what it actually means. Although some commercially manufactured liquid and solid body cleansers that contain sulfates are marketed as "soaps," they don't meet the requirements of the official definition of the soap made by the FDA and are actually synthetic detergents.
FDA defines true soap as a product that "consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids, and the product's detergent properties are due to the alkali-fatty acid compounds." True soaps like those that we offer here at Botanie Soap for private label use are produced from all-natural ingredients using the saponification process, and they don't contain any added chemicals.
For example, our Unscented Castile Soap is made with Botanie's 81% organic castile soap base recipe. It's perfect for skin, hair, or general all-purpose use. It's ready-to-use, but you can add essential oils to create your own scented castile soap. Check out other liquid soaps from our collection or order a sample set and see that they contain plant-based ingredients.
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The problem is that sulfates used in conventional cosmetic products are often the same synthetic detergents found in car cleansers and oven cleaners that are heavy chemicals. Sulfates are surfactants, which means they attract both oil and water and allow the oil and water molecules to bind together. This helps cleaning products lift, dissolve, and rinse oil, fat, grease, dirt, and other impurities away from the surface.
But although sulfates are effective in cleaning the skin of dirty buildup, they often take away some of the skin's natural moisturizing oils and proteins along the way and damage the skin barrier function. That's why their daily application on the skin can often lead to side effects and could negatively affect your health.
For example, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a common ingredient in personal care products, may leave your skin dry and irritated and cause allergies. And people with sensitive skin could develop skin inflammation from consumer products containing SLS or its alternative sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). That's especially true with long-term use.
There are also environmental concerns about using sulfates in personal care and cleaning products. Products with sulfates that get washed down the drain pollute our groundwater and may be toxic to fish and other aquatic animals. Furthermore, many manufacturers test their skin cleansing products containing sulfates on animals before bringing them to market. They do it to make sure that their cleansers won't cause too much irritation to human skin or eyes.
Sulfates are popular among manufacturers because they create a strong lathering effect, making commercial "soaps" and cleansers seem a little more powerful or better at cleaning. That's because many people associate a lot of lather with a lot of cleaning power. But it's just aesthetics because there's no evidence suggesting that sulfates are necessarily better at cleaning things.
Sulfate just makes soap foamier and can help dissolve grease or dirt in water (but soap already does it on its own, and it only needs lye and fats or oils to do its job). In fact, sulfates don't really add anything to soaps that soaps can't do just fine on their own. That means that they're essentially wasteful ingredients, and they do add potential health and environmental risks. And with a trend toward more organic and green products, many consumers look for personal care products without harmful chemicals and choose sulfate-free soap.
If you are looking to launch a soap line that meets all the criteria of the FDA definition of soap, Botanie Soap can help you develop custom soap solutions for your brand. We make traditional soap from all-natural ingredients and use a cold-process method that offers many possibilities for customization.
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Sulfates have developed a bad reputation due to their potential side effects and environmental concerns. But sodium lauryl sulfate (a known skin irritant) is currently the primary foaming agent found in commercially manufactured bath gels, shampoos, laundry detergents, bar "soaps," etc.
Considering the harmful effect of harsh chemicals in cosmetics, it's always better to opt for milder natural products. The safe, eco-friendly alternative is traditional sulfate-free soap that contains plant-based lathering ingredients and is really good for the most sensitive skin. If the soap without sodium lauryl sulfate is produced with natural ingredients like plant-oil base, lye, and essential oils, it's gentle on the skin and doesn't cause allergies.
Traditional cold-process bar soap and liquid soap that we make at Botanie Soap are effective cleansing agents. They remove dirt and impurities from the skin surface without over-drying because they retain all the natural glycerin. Our all-natural soaps will leave your skin soft, smooth, and clean.
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]]>There’s some controversy around this chemical. Many argue that it’s toxic, and it’s even listed on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Still, companies that use propylene glycol in soap and beauty products claim that it’s safe.
Propylene glycol is a colorless, nearly odorless, syrupy, water-soluble liquid. It’s a synthetic substance produced by adding water to propylene oxide, which in turn is derived from petroleum products. In its purest form, propylene glycol is used as an active agent in antifreeze and automatic brake fluid and as a solvent in the paint and plastics industries.
Propylene glycol absorbs water and has some hydrating properties, so it’s added to a wide range of cosmetics products to increase moisture retention in skin and hair. It’s a popular ingredient in many lotions, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, shaving creams, and commercially produced “soaps,” which, in fact, are not true soaps but cosmetics.
According to an official definition of the FDA, soap is made using a saponification process from a mix of fatty acid and lye. To be regulated as soap, the final product must consist of alkali salts of fatty acids, and they must be the only ingredients that provide cleaning action.
Many commercial soap bars and liquid soaps are a mix of synthetic chemicals and are marketed as personal care products that moisturize the skin. But at Botanie Soap, we never include synthetic petroleum-derived ingredients like propylene glycol in soap recipes.
We make traditional cold-process soap from all-natural ingredients that are safe and gentle on sensitive skin. Check out our collection of bar soap that we offer for private label use and see for yourself that we use only certified organic base oils and scent our soap with essential oils or other plant extracts only.
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Propylene glycol is typically cheap to manufacture, so it’s commonly used in commercially available cosmetic and toiletry products, but the big question is: Is it safe to use propylene glycol in soap and other personal care products?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified propylene glycol as “generally recognized as safe.” It means that this chemical is acceptable for use in cosmetics, drugs, flavorings, and as a direct food additive. But on the other hand, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry includes propylene glycol in the Toxic Substances List and says that it can affect the respiratory system in your body (from nose to lungs).
At the same time, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) gives propylene glycol a “fair” rating and states that it poses a low risk of cancer or developmental and reproductive toxicity. But it acknowledges that the substance has been associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis as well as contact urticaria in humans—it’s a localized redness and swelling that occurs on the skin after direct contact with an offending substance. The EWG also admits that these effects can be manifested in concentrations as low as 2%.
The potential problem with propylene glycol is that it’s a penetration-enhancing humectant that absorbs moisture from anything around it. If your cosmetics or “soap” contain a penetration-enhancing humectant, then the molecules of harmful toxins such as pollutants or harsh chemical ingredients may be able to permeate the skin. They could harm the lipid barrier of the skin and cause irritation. It’s the main reason why propylene glycol has a negative reputation.
Short-term studies show that exposure to propylene glycol in extremely small doses for a short time doesn’t cause any severe reactions. But no research has been conducted to test the long-term side effects of the constant use of products that contain this substance. So no one can tell you whether these complex chemicals build up in our bodies and what happens after 15-20 years of continuous use.
At Botanie Soap, we are committed to offering safe and beneficial skin care products. That’s why we provide liquid and bar soap made from all-natural ingredients using a traditional, time-tested method in our soap making process. If you are looking for custom soap manufacturing, you can depend on us to get it right.
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You won’t find propylene glycol or nasty chemicals in the cold-process soap we make at Botanie Soap. The chemical reaction for making true soap is called saponification. Its final product is soap, but there’s also a byproduct—glycerin.
It’s a humectant with moisturizing properties and a natural propylene glycol alternative in soap making. Glycerin has been used as a soap ingredient for centuries. It can absorb moisture from the atmosphere and lock moisture on the skin. Glycerin also has some emollient properties that make it suitable for soothing dry skin.
Most commercial soap manufacturers remove the glycerin from their soaps and sell it to skin care manufacturers that use glycerin to create cosmetics, such as moisturizing creams and lotions. Then commercial soap manufacturers add synthetic humectants like propylene glycol in soap to improve its moisturizing properties.
At Botanie Soap, we always leave glycerin completely intact, so our soaps are actually glycerin soaps. And because they have a naturally high glycerin content, they are great for skin care and perfect for people with sensitive skin.
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]]>But in fact, there are significant differences between these two types of cleaners. If we compare soap vs. detergent, we’ll notice that these substances differ in composition, structure, uses, and properties.
Although soaps and detergents are both surfactants (surface active agents, which means a washing compound that mixes with grease and water), they are not the same. The major difference between soap and detergent is that soap is produced from natural ingredients such as vegetable oils and animal fats. In contrast, detergent is made from synthetic sources (petroleum fractions). As a result, soap is biodegradable and less harmful to the environment than regular, mainstream detergents.
Traditional soaps are made by mixing fats or oils and an alkali, such as lye. The lye reacts with the oils and turns the mixture that starts as a liquid into blocks of soap (the reaction is known as saponification). However, commercially produced soaps may contain added chemicals for particular colors and fragrances.
At Botanie Soap, we never add chemicals and use only natural ingredients to produce soap bars and liquid soaps that we offer for private-label use. That’s why our products are great for skin care and friendly to the environment. For example, our Oatmeal Spice Bar Soap is made from saponified organic sunflower, coconut, palm, and safflower oils, oats, and essential oils of clove bud and cassia.
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Scientists believe that soap has been known for at least 2,300 years. Soap making is mentioned in ancient Roman documents written as early as 70 CE. According to Roman natural philosopher Pliny the Elder, who first used the word “soap” (Latin sapo) in his works, the Phoenicians prepared it from goat’s tallow and wood ashes in 600 BCE. But the only use he mentions for soap is as a pomade for hair.
Apparently, the importance of soap for cleaning and washing was not recognized until the 2nd century CE. In Medieval Europe, soap-making production was centered first in France, Spain, and Italy, but soap was a luxury during that time. Castile soap, made from olive oil, was produced in Europe as early as the 16th century.
Widespread use of soap in Europe and the US began in the 19th century when manufactured bar soaps became available. That can be attributed to advertising campaigns that helped increase awareness of the relationship between good personal hygiene and health.
The Germans produced the first synthetic detergents for general use in about 1916 due to the shortage of animal fats caused by World War I. Manufacturers developed synthetic cleaners as a substitute for fat-based soap to meet the demand for cleaning products so that available fats could be used for other purposes. By the 1950s, detergents had developed into sophisticated products and had overtaken traditional soap products in homes across America and Europe.
Detergents contain synthetic ingredients—manmade sulfates, usually derived from petrochemicals, which clean hands, hair, clothes, and dishes when they come in contact with water. Detergents can include many other ingredients to suit specific cleaning tasks, such as fillers, abrasives, optical brighteners, enzymes, colors, artificial fragrances, etc. Because of this versatility, detergents can be used in everything from shampoo to multi-purpose cleaners to hand cleansers and stain removers.
The truth is there are very few true all-natural soaps on the market. Most commercially manufactured liquid and solid body cleansers are synthetic detergent products. And although some of these detergent products are marketed as “soap” by their manufacturers, they are not true soap according to the regulatory definition made by the FDA.
So what is non-detergent soap? According to the FDA, the product can be defined and regulated as soap only if it meets the following conditions:
Products that meet these criteria are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). And if a cleanser does not meet all of these criteria, it’s either a cosmetic or a drug and is regulated by the FDA.
At Botanie Soap, we make products that meet all criteria of the regulatory definition of soap. We only use the cold-process method that allows us to have complete control over the ingredients and offers many possibilities to create customized bar soap and liquid soap. We can develop custom soap solutions for your brand if you are looking for custom production.
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Detergent-free soap made using the traditional cold-process method, which we use at Botanie Soap, is eco-friendly. It is produced with natural products (plant oil base, lye, and essential oils) and requires less energy during manufacturing.
These detergent-free soaps have a pH of 8 to 10 (alkaline), which makes them effective cleansing agents and eliminates the need for harmful antibacterial chemicals and preservatives. At the same time, traditional all-natural soaps don’t cause allergies and are gentle on the skin as they retain all the natural glycerin.
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]]>Many people think glycerin soap is made without lye and use this term when talking about melt-and-pour soap. So what is glycerin soap, and how does it differ from the all-natural cold-process soap we make at Botanie Soap?
In fact, the term glycerin soap is a misnomer. All real natural soap, which is not made with synthetic detergent, is essentially glycerin soap because glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap-making process. After glycerin separates from the oils in the cold-process soap-making method, it settles in between soap molecules in the form of thick, clear fluid.
The problem is that most commercial soap manufacturers remove the glycerin from their soaps to create other cosmetics products, for example, moisturizing creams and lotions. We never do that at Botanie Soap—in our bar soaps, glycerin is left completely intact.
All the moisturizing cold-processed natural soap bars we offer for private label use have a naturally high glycerin content and are great for skin care. For example, our pure, organic Unscented Bar Soap is perfect for people with sensitive skin.
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What many people refer to as glycerin soap is actually transparent soap. This soap goes through a hot process in which sugar, alcohol, and some extra glycerin are added to the regular soap mixture. The mixture may contain around 15-20% of glycerin and is heated until it reaches a clear, jelly-like consistency.
It is chemically impossible to make soap with only glycerin—it would not have any lathering or cleansing properties. All translucent glycerin soaps are made from oils, water, and lye. They also contain alcohol that prevents the soap from crystalizing, so it remains clear. The extra glycerin is added to balance the drying nature of the alcohol.
Glycerin is a neutral, sweet-tasting, colorless, thick liquid that is naturally derived from plant-based oils. It was “accidentally” discovered in 1783 by a German-Swedish chemist Karl Wilhelm Scheele when he was working on the saponification of olive oil with lead oxide. He isolated the substance and described it as the “sweet principle of fat.” In 1811, a French chemist Michel Chevreul named it glycerin, which comes from the Greek word “glykys” meaning sweet.
Glycerin is known to benefit the skin because of its moisturizing properties. Being an effective humectant, glycerin absorbs water from the air and thus attracts moisture to your skin, preventing excessive drying and evaporation. As a result, the skin is clean, refreshed, and moisturized.
Natural soap with glycerin has an overall calming effect on the skin and helps keep it soft, smooth, and supple. Glycerin also forms a protective barrier on the skin, which may protect it from environmental irritants and offers antioxidant benefits. Therefore, natural glycerin soap is compatible with any skin type and all age groups. It is often suggested for people who suffer from acne or who have sensitive skin.
Speaking about glycerin soap benefits, it’s important to note that not all glycerin soaps are the same. Even if homemade, some bar soaps may contain artificial fragrances or synthetic colorants that can irritate dry or sensitive skin. Commercial glycerin soap bars may contain such skin-irritating surfactants as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Although SLS and SLES are powerful cleaning agents and help create foam and lather, they may leave your skin feeling dry.
And don’t assume that too much glycerin is a good thing. When used in moderation, glycerin can be highly moisturizing. For example, natural cold-process soap will contain at least 5% of glycerin if none has been removed, making it the perfect soap for skin care. But glycerin can have adverse effects when added in high quantities. Liquid glycerin soaps and bar soaps may feel sticky if the concentration of glycerin is too high. Besides, soap bars with high glycerin content may not last long if exposed to water as glycerin dissolves quickly.
At Botanie Soap, we always make soap using a traditional cold-process method that gives us complete control over ingredients and offers a lot of possibilities for customization. So if you are interested in custom all-natural soap manufacturing, we can help you develop and launch a custom soap line.
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Making translucent glycerin soap is really a two-part process. First, soapmakers make soap from natural oils, water, and lye using the cold-process or hot-process method. The chemical reaction is called saponification. Its final product is soap, and the by-product is glycerin.
During the second part of the translucent glycerin soap-making process, the saponified mixture is partially dissolved in a high-percentage alcohol solution. Then it is melted and continuously heated until it reaches a clear, jelly-like consistency. The sugar solution is added when the soap is fully dissolved, and the mixture is simmered until the soap is clear or translucent.
All natural soap contains glycerin, as it’s a by-product of the saponification process when oil molecules and lye come together to create soap and glycerin. So technically, any real soap that retains its glycerin is glycerin soap.
What many people call glycerin soap is actually translucent soap. It is also made using saponification of oils with added sugars and alcohol to create transparency and may contain added glycerin.
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]]>In this blog, we take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of melt and pour soap making. We'll also talk about how melt and pour soap differs from cold process soap.
Melt and pour is not actually making soap. It's crafting bar soap by melting the pre-made soap base, customizing it with different colors, fragrances, and additives, and pouring it into shaped molds to cool and solidify. It's a good method for beginners who would like to create hand-made soap for fun because it's simple and offers opportunities for creativity.
Melt and pour soap bases are made via saponification with a combination of ingredients used in traditional soaps (oils and lye) and with an added sugar alcohol blend to create transparency. Extra glycerin is often added to help keep a soap base soft and meltable, making it easy to work with. That's why melt and pour soap is often called glycerin soap.
Glycerin soap doesn't require any cure time and is ready to use as soon as it hardens within the mold. But it won't be as long-lasting as fully cured cold process soap. Besides, glycerin is a humectant, which draws moisture from the air, so it can cause the soap to sweat in humid climates.
The cold process is the most common type of soap making. It involves making soap from scratch using organic oils and lye and adding essential oils and herbal additives. This traditional method is time-consuming because it requires time for curing, but it allows soap makers to have complete control over the quality of the ingredients used. And the final product is a beautiful, long-lasting soap that is very gentle on the skin.
That's why at Botanie Soap, we always use the cold process method for making all-natural bar soap. The collection that we offer for private label use includes a range of varieties that look and smell great.
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Pre-made melt and pour soap base is usually sold in blocks. It has already gone through saponification, so working with lye is not required. To give an idea of how to make melt and pour soap, here are the essential steps in the process that soapmakers usually follow:
It's possible to mix together different melt and pour soap bases, create extremely clean, beautiful layers, embed smaller pieces of colored soap into bigger bars, and use other techniques to create custom soap designs. But soapmakers have no control over the base ingredients and can't customize the soap base formula. Saponification has already happened, so they can't choose the oils that go into the soap.
Cold process soap-making offers more possibilities for customization, and if you need a custom soap solution for your brand, you can rely on Botanie Soap to get it right. We can help you turn your ideas into market-ready products.
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While melt and pour process offers great design possibilities, soapmakers may face some common melt and pour soap problems.
Melt and pour soap is one of the easiest ways to get into the hobby of soap making and a great craft to do with kids. Using a pre-made soap base, it's possible to experiment with scents, color, and attractive soap molds. Make and pour soap is also quick to make and doesn't need to cure. But because it contains extra glycerin, it's prone to sweating, so it's a slightly lower quality product than traditional cold process soap.
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]]>More than one of our customers has been criticized, recently, for using palm oil in their soaps. They use it, of course, because we do. But then, we’ve also heard from people who think using lye to make soap — which, incidentally, is how it’s made — “isn’t very organic.”
Misguided palm-oil criticism — failing to understand or be aware of the differences between sustainable and unsustainable palm oil — might be funny in the way that misinformation about trivial matters can be funny and silly. Palm oil isn’t trivial, though, and misinformation has real, negative consequences.
Some misinformation has come in the form of criticism affecting our customers’ businesses and reputations. Which is especially sad, since by using sustainable palm oil in the soaps we make, we’re including our customers in doing the right thing, being part of building a sustainable market and future, an alternative to the nightmare of Indonesia. The true victims of misinformation, though, are the people and future of that part of the world. Just saying no does nothing for them.
Because of the controversy that surrounds its production, most industry players dismiss palm oil as a viable resource. This is yet another shortcoming of just saying no to palm oil all together.
Palm oil by nature is actually an incredibly sustainable crop. Palm trees do not have to be replanted annually like other crops, which means they store more carbon. Their fruit is composed of about 50 percent oil, a much higher yield than vegetable oils — allowing palm oil farmers to produce five to eight times as much palm oil than its vegetable oil competition. Additionally, smallholder palm oil farms have lifted a large number of people out of poverty in countries like Indonesia, increasing their quality of life dramatically.
As a soap ingredient, palm oil offers numerous benefits to the skin, including anti-aging, cleansing and moisturizing qualities. Palm oil contains a refatting agent that restores skin’s natural oil, rather than stripping it away like many detergent-based soaps.
Everything. Dismissing palm oil entirely doesn’t affect how many products contain palm oil. It doesn’t expose the producers referring to palm oil as vegetable oil or leaving it off ingredients labels altogether. It doesn’t alter rampant habitat or peat-forest destruction. It doesn’t save orangutans. It doesn’t restore palm plantations to indigenous family farms, and it doesn’t curb human trafficking or help the victims of human rights abuses. What it does is allow the appearance of concern and virtue thousands of miles away without the substance or the work.
The truth is, it’s already too late for many things — for much of the peat forests, for many indigenous farms, significant portions of orangutan populations and the victims of human trafficking. It’s not too late, though, to commit to building a different future, a sustainable one, to prevent the present from becoming the future. There needs to be awareness, then putting that awareness to work in the companies we choose to subsidize and who we align ourselves with — companies committed to the sustainable growth of palm trees, that hold the necessary certifications, that don’t destroy habitats to make profits.
It has to be more than talk. The problem with just saying no is that’s what it’s become — just talk — and talk does nothing to solve the problem.
For America and Western Europe, the consequences of unsustainable palm oil production have remained mostly out of sight. Unlike GMOs or the triclosan used in anti-bacterial soaps, palm oil hasn’t had the advantage of being in front of us every day. As a result, our awareness is dated. It’s already too late for a comfortable position.
Just Saying No causes producers to go underground and manufacturers to use deceptive labeling. Replacing palm oil with another oil, given the amount of oil that palm trees produce per acre, would generate two to four times the environmental impact. The only real answer is the development of a sustainable market. It would help immensely if Europe would stop using palm oil as a bio-fuel, but the long-term answer is sustainable production. Even for those of us playing catch-up, there are ways to be a part of a better future.
The best first step is research. Knowing the issues and their complexities for yourself makes it personal and far more immediate. There are wonderful resources for getting up to speed quickly. The news isn’t going to be good, but it’s important news to have.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a great place to start. They’re tackling a giant problem – with a lot of help – and as the most visible organization frequently get criticized for not having waved their wand and fixed everything already. Which can happen when the realities of a problem are so far away and it’s why researching and appreciating the scope of things is so important. The World Wildlife Fund, which works with the RSPO, is also a great resource for what the sustainability issues are and what can be done.
TriplePundit, an online platform for global media, lists 10 companies committed to sustainable palm oil. GreenPalm, which works with the RSPO certification program, has a great page that addresses the big picture with good bullet points and graphics.
As you’ll discover, the news isn’t good, and the solutions aren’t quick or simple. But there are concerned people out there doing serious work that will benefit us all. The key is growing the numbers of the concerned.
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]]>These are just a few of the questions we get regarding soap scent and soap color. Like all other ingredients in natural skin care products, it is crucial to understand the ingredients that provide these two key soap characteristics.
First, let us deal with scent. Generally, in soap and skin care products, there are two primary sources: Fragrance Oils or Essential Oils.
FRAGRANCES: These are oils that should be avoided. Fragrance oils are always synthetic, and, for many people, can leave skin dry and sometimes irritated. Now, it is easy to figure out that “Caramel Bliss” is a synthetic fragrance, but what about soap or skin care products that have the labeling “Natural Lavender Fragrance”? Everyone knows that lavender is a great smelling plant, so it makes sense that a scent such as “Natural Lavender Fragrance” would be natural. After all, they say it is! Think again. This sort of product is also synthetic. Confused? Well, to identify synthetic scents, it usually comes down to one simple word: FRAGRANCE. If you see it, avoid it. If you also see “Natural Fragrance”, avoid this too. Both mean the scent is synthetic.
ESSENTIAL OILS: These are the good scents, and the ones that you want to make sure are scenting your soap and skin care products. The labels will always say “essential oils” if this is how they are scented. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts used for scenting. They are obtained from the roots, bark, and leaves of plants, usually through steam distillation. In the case of citrus oils, essential oils come from the skins of the fruits. Unfortunately for those who love sweet scents, citrus is the dominant type of fruit that yields essential oils. Other fruit scents (apple, pear, berry) are synthetic.
The use of essential oils provides two great advantages. First, when used in proper proportions, essential oils will not irritate the skin. Second, because there are none of the synthetic perfume bases, everyone thinks that products scented with essential oils smell better!
In keeping with proper definitions of natural, the colorants used in soaps should be derived from natural sources. And just like with scent, the color needs to be “truly natural”, not just stated as “natural”. This means that colorants need to come from herbs, plant extracts, and clays. But what about those bold colors that I want my soap to have? Don’t worry, there are three ways to achieve some great colors.
ESSENTIAL OILS: As mentioned above, essential oils are normally used for providing natural scent to soap and other skin care products. Some essential oils, such as citrus oils, can provide both scent and color. However, because of essential oil colors, some color/scent combinations aren’t possible. For example, you can’t have a pale yellow soap that smells like cloves, because clove oil is brown.
DIRECT ADDITION OR COLORS: This is the easiest way to control the color. Once we are near the end of the mixing process, we simply add our herbs, clays or combination of the two. Figuring out what color the soap will end up is relatively straight forward, as the color of the herb or clay is a good determinate of the final product. There is, however, those few outlying herbs, such as Rosemary Leaf Powder, that are one color (green) but produce another color (a golden color). So, make sure to experiment before making large quantities.
STEEP HERBS TO EXTRACT COLOR: This is the most challenging way to color your soap but it also produces some of the most rewarding colors. The herbs that are great to do this with are organic annatto seed, wildcrafted alkanet root, and madder root. This can be done by steeping your herb of choice, straining the herb out of the solution and adding the colored oil to the mix. Depending on the color desired, the amount of herb and the steep time will vary. This can also be done in a combination of directly adding an herb and steeping. Experimentation is the key!
If you see any variation or combination of the words fragrance, fragrance oil, or natural fragrance don’t be fooled. There’s nothing natural about it. And to get truly natural colors, make sure either herbs, plant extracts, or clays are used. When it comes to “Natural” products, the key is to read carefully!
[posts]product-faq/essential-oils-soapmaking,product-faq/scenting-soap,product-faq/soapmaking-process,product-faq/why-not-olive-oil[/posts]
]]>It can be hard, for instance, to find agreement on the differences between essential and fragrance oils. The same difficulty can be true for essentials and absolutes. To add to the confusion, even if there was agreement on differences, there’s disagreement over what – and how much – those differences mean.
We all seem to agree, though, on essential and carrier oils. In fact, it’s their fundamental differences, and our knowledge of them, that make essential and carrier oils such a good combination for aromatherapy and massage.
Function is what’s given carrier oils their name. Extracted most often by cold pressing, carrier oils are used to dilute the intensity of essential oils and to help “carry” them, or spread them, over and into the skin.
Even if you’re not familiar with aromatherapy, you’ll still know what carrier oils are. You’ll just know them by another name, something as simple as vegetable oils, or if you’re in the organic soap business, as “fixed” or “base” oils. This carrier / fixed / base category includes olive, safflower, and sunflower oils, as well as more exotic oils preferred in aromatherapy – almond, grapeseed, sesame, borage seed, meadowfoam, sea buckthorn berry, and fractionated coconut.
Extracted from the fatty portion of a plant – usually the seed, nut, or kernel – carrier oils are “fixed”(or inert) because they’re not subject to easy evaporation like “volatile” essential oils. They are, however, subject to going rancid, which essential oils aren’t. Also, for the most part, carrier oils have minimal fragrance, whereas essential oils are used specifically for how they smell. The ways in which carrier and essential oils differ turn out to be the very things that make them perfect and complementary as a foundation for aromatherapy.
[posts]product-faq/why-not-olive-oil,product-faq/make-soap-without-lye,misc/palm-oil-in-soap,misc/organic-never-just-trend[/posts]
]]>Known also as citrus bergamia, the bergamot tree is generally regarded as native to Southeast Asia and China and to have arrived in Europe, particularly Italy, when trade
routes to China were opened. The tree can grow up to four meters high, and has star-shaped flowers with smooth, leathery leaves. There are two versions for the origin of its name:
The bergamot fruit – which ripens from green to yellow – is roughly a cross between an orange and a grapefruit, but shaped like a pear. It’s generally regarded as inedible and unusable for juice, though there are reports of a small village in Italy that raises bergamot oranges specifically, and mysteriously, for the juice.
The oil itself is cold-pressed from the peel of both ripe and unripe fruit. Because it mixes so well with other ingredients, bergamot oil has been associated with fragrance and perfumery since at least the early 1700s. It was a primary component of the iconic Eau de Cologne, produced in Germany around 1714. As an aromatic element, bergamot is characterized as a “top note,” the most immediately perceived scent and also the most volatile, meaning it evaporates most quickly.
Bergaptens (also known as furocoumarins) are an issue with bergamot and other citrus oils. They are the chemicals that can make essential oils phototoxic, causing severe burns when used on sensitive skin and then exposed to the sun. Bergaptens are enough of an issue that several sources for essential oils make a point of carrying bergamot oil that is bergapten-free, reducing the phototoxic risk. Though caution is still advised, bergapten-free bergamot oil is far less likely to cause problems for sensitive skin.
There is also reason to be wary of the quality of oil you’re buying. On the world market, bergamot – like other fixed and essential oils – is susceptible to fraud and market corruption. Products known for their purity tend to be expensive, and there’s always temptation to cut corners in production while still charging a premium price. The easiest corner to cut is purity. All that’s required is diluting the original oils with cheaper, less essential ingredients.
In the case of bergamot oil, bitter orange is used, as is oil from the bergamot mint. It’s also possible the bergamot oil you’re buying has been synthetically reconstructed and colored with chlorophyll. By one estimation, of the three thousand tons of bergamot oil sold worldwide each year, no more than one hundred tons – just over three percent – is truly, purely essential. If you’re using bergamot oil for aromatherapy, it’s always good to know the factors that affect the purity of the oils you’re using.
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The castor plant’s genus name – Ricinus – is also the Latin name for tick, owing to the mottled markings and bump at the end of castor seeds that give them a tick-like look. More significantly, there’s a water-soluble protein called “ricin” in castor seeds that has been described as being second in toxicity only to plutonium. And yet castor oil has been regarded, at varying times in history, as a universal cure.
The castor bean plant itself is adaptable. In tropical climates where it is native – India and Africa – it’s a perennial that can grow as high as 40 feet. In temperate climates, where growing seasons actually have an end, it’s an annual that reaches six to 10 feet.
Flowers on the castor plant occur without petals in dense clusters known as inflorescences. Being a monoecious species, the castor has both female and male flowers on the same plant. Female flowers are red, spiny balls with star-shaped stigmas and reside above the white male flowers on the stalk.
Each of the spiny female flowers is a seed pod, containing three sections, or carpels. Each of the carpels holds a single seed. When they’ve matured, carpels get dry and split open, ejecting the seeds, often with considerable force. Reports of being around when the carpels are splitting and the seeds are flying make it sound like something to see.
Most of the world’s castor oil is used in lubricants for engines and machinery, or in plastics, paints, dyes, crayons, and soap. In limited quantities, castor oil is still regarded as an immune-system booster and a source of healing for skin ailments. There’s a long list of additional products castor oil might be perfect for, but even with 500,000 metric tons being produced each year worldwide, supplies can often be limited and unreliable.
Because of the extreme toxicity of ricin in the seeds and because the surface of the castor plant is covered in allergenic compounds that can cause permanent nerve damage, there is risk to both grower and processor. Harvesting castor plants presents a constant health risk to workers in India, Brazil, and China, the major crop producers.
As it should, the health of workers affects harvesting and processing, making supplies of castor oil hard to predict or rely on with confidence. There are efforts to make production safer, including biotechnological ones to reduce the seed and plant toxicity. For now, though, it remains popular and complicated, a wonder for many, a danger to others, and a $400 million annual market to the world at large.
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]]>They sound almost right. But they’re not. It’s oils that are cold-pressed, soap that is cold processed. It makes sense when someone explains, but the distinction is easy to lose, mostly because if you’re not in the business of making soap or producing vegetable oils, the words don’t come up often enough to really sink in. Here’s something in writing to refer to if the difference starts to blur.
This is the preferred method for producing vegetable oils, also known as fixed oils and base oils. Using heat to extract oils is the non-preferred. When heat is used to extract oils from seeds, fruits, vegetables and nuts, more oil is produced (and therefore is available to sell), but it’s oil of lesser quality, with its flavor and nutritional quality degraded.
Cold pressing is preferred precisely because it’s a low-heat process, producing higher-quality oils, but in smaller quantities. In conventional, commercial oil extraction, raw materials are heated to temperatures up to 450°F (around 230°C), temperatures that change their chemical structure. It’s no longer a certainty that the oil produced is chemically what it’s advertised to be.
Like its near sound-alike, cold process is a practice rooted in tradition. It’s also a process that emphasizes the absence of external heat sources. Cold-process soap is the result of the chemical interaction of fatty acids (most often in the form of fixed oils) and lye (sodium hydroxide for bar soap, potassium hydroxide for liquid). The result is soap, water, and glycerin. During the curing process – 4 to 6 weeks – much of the water evaporates.
In contrast, hot-process soap is all about the heat, and a much more immediate result. Cold-process soap has the advantage of a gradual, more natural chemical, resulting in – as proponents claim – a more nourishing, skin-compatible soap. Hot-process can be ready overnight. Soap preferences aside, the point remains that cold process refers to a soap making practice and cold press to a method of extracting oil from seeds, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
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You’ll run into both terms if you’re around soapmaking much. One of the best ways to keep the expressions straight is to look at the expressions minus the word “cold.” “Press” refers to a single ingredient, an easy association to make. “Process,” by nature involves multiple ingredients. Keep those simple associations in mind, and then when the distinction begins to blur, come back and read this again.
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]]>Here’s the important thing. Until now, sodium hydroxide was all you could get at Botanie. Not surprising, considering bar soap was all we did for a long time. But after we introduced foaming and castile liquid soaps, we knew KOH couldn’t be far behind. Now it’s here, 90% pure, available in two-pound canisters. We know some of you have been waiting. So, for you, and all other liquid soapmakers, now you can get what you need right here.
There are two kinds of lye used in soapmaking – potassium hydroxide, used for liquid soap, and sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, used for bar soap. Both are hazardous to use. Both require safety equipment and protocols. And despite their extremely caustic natures, both are used to make to make the most skin-compatible and nourishing soaps you can buy, all-natural, certified organic bar and liquid soap. Together, they make the whole world of cold-processing available to soapmakers.
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]]>The virtue of natural products made with natural ingredients is they’re not full of the toxins and irritants that synthetic products are. The drawback is, natural can’t be controlled.
It’s this unpredictability that prevents natural lavender from ever producing a fragrance as consistent and reliable as a synthetic. Plus, lavender’s a commodity, subject to fluctuating prices that can spike out of nowhere, which negatively affects everyone who uses it in their products. From a natural perspective, particularly the world of fragrances and aromatherapy where English lavender is often referred to as “true lavender,” Lavender 40/42 is frequently seen as low quality, adulterated, maybe not lavender at all.
Both of these perspectives are wrong. As a “standardized oil,” Lavender 40/42 is a blend of oils distilled from several lavenders, creating a standardized aroma, not so dependent on the seasonal variations of one type. With a few mass-market exceptions, 40/42 is made of 100% natural lavender oils blended to produce a mixture that is reliably 40% linalool and 42% linalyl acetate, the two primary aromatic compounds in lavender.
One misconception seems to be that there’s something inherently wrong with standardization. It’s not unique or exceptional, but neither of those are critical flaws. Consistency of scent and price can make all the difference for producers. Even in the natural products world, where purity counts, consumers expect their lavender soap to be consistent from bar to bar, just as they expect peppermint leaf or oatmeal spice bars to be consistent.
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The problem with getting too purist about lavender – especially holding up English Lavender (or Lavandula angustifolia) as the “true lavender” standard – is that historically many different varieties of lavender have been “true” at different times. Romans would most likely have been using Lavandula latifolia, not angustifolia. Similarly, Persians would have been using Lavandula coronopifolia and Egyptians Lavandula multifida. Those other lavenders are still around, as are 38 other species and over 400 varieties. While it’s always the best idea when using essential oils therapeutically to start with the purest you can, it’s usually a bad idea outside of movies and fiction to insist there can be only one.
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]]>Whether you're trying to determine which essential oils to include in your own handmade soap, or just trying to be a more informed shopper, keep reading to learn which essential oils are best for soap.
You may hear the terms essential oil, fragrance oil, perfume, and fragrance blend get tossed around a lot when it comes to soapmaking, but they are not the same thing.
Essential oils are natural plant extracts in a carrier oil, whereas fragrance oils are synthetic chemicals designed to mimic specific scents. So if you're looking to make an all-natural soap, you'll want to use essential oils.
Essential oils in soap also tend to be gentler on your skin compared to synthetic chemicals, which can dry out and irritate your skin.
Antimicrobial agents are substances that can kill microbes. Microbes such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi are all around us and can cling to the surface of our skin when we touch objects. Then, when you touch your face or eat a bag of chips, those microbes find their way into your body.
It's easy to see why you'd want your soap to be antimicrobial, but many people doubt the capabilities of natural soap. However, certain essential oils in soap can be used to stop the growth of microbes like viruses.
Below are six of the best essential oils for antimicrobial agents. Scientific studies have proved the antimicrobial properties of each of these, so they're attractive additions to see on a soap's ingredients label.
Eucalyptus essential oil is sought out for its invigorating properties, but it's also a very effective antimicrobial agent. Studies have shown that it combats pathogens such as salmonella and Streptococcus pyogenes.
This sharp, citrusy oil may bring back memories of Saturday morning breakfasts, but its real superpower is its antimicrobial properties. In a recent study testing its effectiveness against 22 different bacterial strains, the orange essential oil was one of the few essential oils that was effective against all 22 strains.
Peppermint essential oil seems to be everyone's favorite essential oil thanks to its minty scent and the cooling, tingling effect it has on the skin, but it's also an antimicrobial.
It's not as strong of an antimicrobial as some other essential oils, but it is effective at stopping the growth of bacteria like E. coli and listeria and can have an entourage effect when paired with other antimicrobial essential oils.
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Lavender essential oil was another one of the oils tested against 22 strains of bacteria, and like orange essential oil, it proved to be effective against all 22 strains. That, combined with its pleasant and unique scent, is why it's one of the most popular essential oils in soap.
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When discussing which essential oils are best for soap, leaving out lemongrass would be an injustice. This essential oil is commonly found in spas because it's a powerful antibacterial and antifungal oil. Research indicates lemongrass extract is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus, and more.
Tea tree oil has a light, fresh, and herbaceous scent, making it a welcome addition to any soap. It's a common ingredient in acne products due to its ability to reduce inflammation, but it's also been used as an antimicrobial agent to address fungal nail infections, athlete's foot, and other conditions.
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At Botanie Soap, we never use any fragrance oils, perfumes, or other synthetic chemicals to scent our soaps. Instead, we use all-natural, high-quality essential oils to fragrance all of our ready-to-label and custom-manufactured soap.
We use several different essential oils across our large product lineup, but we always make sure to pack each product with plenty of antimicrobial agents to stop viruses and other microbes in their tracks.
For example, our Blood Orange Bergamot Bar Soap uses orange essential oil, but so do other unsuspecting scents, including our Pink Grapefruit soap.
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And lavender essential oil is featured prominently in our lavender soap, but it also lends its antimicrobial properties and acts as a subtle scent enhancer to our Thyme Garden Bar Soap. Very few of our soaps use only one essential oil, so you're reaping the benefits of several essential oils working together.
To learn more about the antimicrobial agents we use in our soap, or to begin your next bulk soap order, reach out to our team of experts today.
[posts]product-faq/scenting-soap,misc/scent-color-natural-way,product-faq/essential-oils-soapmaking[/posts]
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The problem with backlashes is – for the sake of a snappy headline and a hip take on cultural trends – they miss the point of trends. They miss seeing that the popularity of coconut oil coincides with a general cultural reassessment of traditional food and diet beliefs. As high as coconut oil is in saturated fat, nutritional thinking until recently would connect it only to raising bad HDL cholesterol and therefore bad for the heart. The popularity of coconut oil is evidence of questioning conventional beliefs, looking beyond the surface for more substantial science.
The truth is, coconut oil is also especially potent at raising good HDL cholesterol. Nothing was as simple as it seemed on the surface. It wasn’t just bad anymore. It was also, well, good. Plus, as an oil, it wasn’t just fat. It was high in anti-oxidants. It might actually contain its own balance.
As popular as coconut oil is in food, soapmaking discovered it long ago. And once it was discovered, coconut oil became a standard.
As a soapmaking oil, coconut is many things at once. Some oils contribute only one characteristic to soap – fluffy lather, bar hardness, or nourishing capability. Coconut oil has a part in them all. And because it contains mainly medium-chain fatty acids, unlike most other oils, coconut oil enhances a soap’s interaction with water, adding to its cleansing properties.
Coconut oil has been a part of Botanie soap from the beginning. With all it contributes, it’s been at the heart of our base oil blend for 18 years. Which, indirectly, speaks to its current popularity. Cultural cycles run so quickly in our era of social media and instant news that backlash is nearly always on the heels of popularity. Trends often seem no more than that, here then gone, when in fact many have much to contribute to the present and the future.
Though it has for some, coconut oil will never replace beauty products in everyone’s bathroom. Even though it’s most often solid at room temperature, it won’t be replacing butter in everyone’s kitchen. But judging from its history in soapmaking, and its reconsidered status as a food, coconut oil seems much more likely to find its sweet spot as a future food tradition rather than disappear as a trend.
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