Fragrant Harmony's Ingredients from Nature:

Soap is really quite simple in that it is made from only two ingredients which are lye and 'fats' or oils. The lye is totally dissipated by the time we use the bars. Simply put, soap is a chemical reaction called 'saponification' which is a result of the oils and the lye mixing together at an appropriate temperature. The ingredients come into contact with one another so that they emulsify and once poured into the mold the process of saponification continues on. After a 24 hour insulation process I remove the bars from their molds and 'cure' or 'age' them for at least four weeks which means allowing air to circulate around them. Through the aging process the soap becomes mild and the soap has the ability to moisturize rather than dry our skin.

Handcrafted soap and commercial soap may afford the same function but they are very, very different. While commercial manufacturers of soap may offer fine products I personally do not believe that we always are aware of what may be added or left out. At Fragrant Harmony, we disclose all of our ingredients, use only ingredients found in nature, and never compromise on purity.

All Fragrant Harmony soap is made with vegetable oils only- NO animal fats. Each oil has its own components which add their therapeutic qualities. Saponified together each synergy makes a lovely, harmonious bar of soap. Below is a list of the oils we use:

Castor Oil:

This is the oil that, due to its high viscosity provides the dense lather in the shampoo bars and cakes. It not only attracts moisture to the skin but also helps to retain that moisture making castor oil ideal as a conditioner. Contains vitamins B1, B2, B5 (Panthothenic acid), Vitamin D, E, minerals, protein, lecithin and fatty acids.

Cocoa Butter:

Along with its natural chocolate fragrance, cocoa butter provides wonderful attention to mature skin. It actually holds in moisture and is an excellent softener. If applied in its natural state daily to the abdomen, breasts, and thighs, it is said to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of stretch marks. I employ it in soap for its ability to make a nice hard bar, not to mention its beautiful natural fragrance.

Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil gives soap a fluffy lather and offers great moisturizing properties making it wonderful for itchy, dry and sensitive skin. It does not clog pores and it absorbs well into the skin. Each and every bar I make has a percentage of coconut oil within. I have read many times that coconut oil is a 'gift to the soap makers of the world' because it gives us a good hard bar along with its foamy lather.

Jojoba Oil:

Jojoba is actually not an oil but rather a wax from the jojoba bean. It is wonderful for mature, aging skin and wrinkles but I employ it in soap and shampoo with consideration for all skin types. Jojoba also is very similar to our own body oil secretion known as sebum. It is very rich in Vitamin E which seemingly provides its long shelf life and anti oxidant qualities as well.

Neem Oil:

I include neem oil in the pet shampoo cake for its insect repellent capabilities and to get rid of lice and control dandruff. Neem oil is commonly used in India to treat skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, syphilitic sores, and chicken pox. It does have a strong odor which deters me from using it in a 'people' soap, but the essential oils used in the cakes for pets work well to hide it. I personally tested the shampoo cakes for pets and the neem was actually quite nice!

Olive Oil:

An excellent moisturizer, olive oil actually attracts moisture to the skin and holds it there under a film-like coating without blocking the skin's natural functions like sweating and the shedding of dead skin cells. As it is high in oleic acid olive oil is a good skin cell regenerator. I choose to use olive oil in almost all of my soap recipes as I do with coconut and palm and the three together ensure me that I will have not only a hard bar, but also one appropriate for sensitive skin - including babies.

Palm Oil:

Palm is commonly used in soap making because it makes a nice hard bar when used in combination with other oils such as coconut and olive oil. Palm is another oil that is in each and every soap I make. Palm is mild and although it does not contribute to making much lather, it is less soluble in water giving the bars longevity.

Shea Butter:

Shea butter contains an amazing amount of 'healing' ingredients which include vitamins, minerals, proteins and fatty acids, and is an excellent moisturizer. Shea butter is said to be able to actually restore our skin's natural elasticity and enable skin to absorb moisture from the air becoming softer and staying moisturized and nourished for longer. In addition, shea butter is said to also have natural sunscreen properties and anti-inflammatory agents. It has also been shown to aid skin conditions and ailments such as dryness, eczema, dermatitis, skin allergies, fungal infections, blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, scrapes, and more. Some use it in its pure state directly on the skin, which makes perfect sense, but I use it to enhance bar soaps as well as in the shampoo bars and cakes.

website by starbot-design