Is natural always better?

Not at all. Hear us out, though. Probably the most frequently asked question we get in regard to our soap is, “Is this made with essential oils or synthetic oils?” The quick and easy answer is “both!” We use natural fragrance oils but not synthetic fragrance oil. Fragrance oils are developed and made in laboratories, but there are two types of fragrance oils: Synthetic fragrance oils and natural fragrance oils and the main difference between the two are their components.

Both synthetic and natural fragrance oils are made in laboratories and undergo chemical processes. But synthetic fragrance oils use materials and compounds which are also laboratory-made, in short artificial. Natural fragrance oils, on the other hand, use compounds that can come from nature but are processed and modified in the laboratory; so, they take natural ingredients, testing and modifying them to make sure they’re safe for humans and in what amount.

Why do you not use exclusively essential oils?

Essential oils and other substances deemed 'natural health products' “are not regulated in the United States. This means there is no oversight of these products to ensure quality and we do not know exactly what is in each bottle, the concentration or contaminants. These highly concentrated and potent essential oils can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The inhalation of VOCs commonly has negative effects on the respiratory system. Individuals can have different reactions to essential oils, just like they might to other medicines, products, allergens or irritant triggers.” (American Lung Association)

We do mainly use essential oils in my bath products, but I always tell people to be cautious with essential oils. They have become somewhat trendy in the last few years and there are some misunderstandings in their safety & effectiveness. They are definitely not a cure-all and can even cause serious problems if not used responsibly. Words and phrases like "all-natural" and "therapeutic" make it easy to gravitate toward using essential oils for a lot of different things/issues. People often assume "natural" means safe, but even natural compounds can be harmful. We say that even while using them, but I try to keep up with the science and medical industries and do my research on the fragrances, oils and companies used. We have some examples of the negative effects some essential oils can have in excess in our Blog post titled “Is Natural Always Best?”

How do I know your products are safe?

We get our fragrances and oils from sources where the quality is tested and I can be certain what goes into our products. To us, it is important that our oils undergo testing in labs before using them to make sure they are safe and we’re not just relying on something that just says it’s “natural.” This means that, through testing, we know that each ingredient will be healthy to sell!

We also make sure our fragrances are phthalate free. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in products like toys, detergents, and all sorts of cosmetics. They’re used to make products more sturdy. They’re added to a lot of fragrance oils for a few reasons. Certain aroma chemicals come in powder form, so a phthalate like diethylphthalate (DEP) is used to convert them into a liquid. That helps the fragrance blend better and burn more easily in candles. DEP is also a fixative, which makes scent last longer in perfume, soap, and lotion. Most add these in fragrances & soap, we do not.