What ingredients are used to make your soap?
People have been making and using soap for at least 2000 years. For centuries, people made soap using various kinds of fats and oils and ashes. Eventually, synthetic ingredients were added, using a different chemical process. Today, however, people are taking another look at what products they use on their skin.
How do we decide what to make?
We have been listening to you and reading your comments. Many of you ask for products that solve a problem (like getting rid of fish odors with coffee soap); or make your life easier (shampoo in bar form for travelers); or just feel and smell beautiful (Shea butter or lavender.) When we try something new, we start with basic ingredients and then we add, tweak and alter until we have a recipe we like. It usually takes multiple batches before we and our merry band of volunteer testers are completely satisfied. Then we offer it to you.
Today, in addition to our tried and true soaps, we are making lemon soap, which several people have requested. We have also had requests for more egg soap, so that is on today’s agenda. Plans are in the works for a fall craft market – we will give you the details in September and soon we hope to have more products available at the Maple Grove Art Center.
Are there chemicals?
Experts say the average person encounters 100 chemicals before breakfast. Like many people, we are moving away from the use of chemicals in our daily lives. As I write this, I am looking out the window at our “lawn.” Most people would call it weeds, and it is. But I also see flowers everywhere – pink, blue, yellow, orange, purple. I see bees and butterflies and hummingbirds. It isn’t really a lawn; I like to think of it as a wildflower meadow.
Have a beautiful summer.