| |
Handmade natural soap may be an unlikely revolutionary
symbol, but it is a part of society’s movement
toward buying products that are healthy and good for the
environment. According to Natural Foods Merchandiser, the
natural products industry grew by 11% from 1998 to 1999
and total sales in 1999 exceeded 28 billion dollars.
Sales of natural body care products experienced similar
growth, with sales in natural food stores increasing by
more than 12% from 1998 to 1999.
Consumers Are In A Lather Over Natural Soap
Handcrafted in small batches, natural soap is gaining
converts from coast-to-coast and overseas. Customers are
snapping it up in record numbers. Sales at Vermont
Soapworks have increased by more than 35% in each of the
last 3 years. The three largest handmade soap companies -
Vermont Soapworks, Sunfeather and Woodspirit - each have
annual sales around $1 million and are forecasting growth.
Vermont Soapworks will complete a 50% expansion of its
facility this summer. Hundreds of smaller businesses are
following their lead.
Soapers, as they call themselves, are finding success
with creative marketing strategies. For example,
unpackaged bars of soap presented in colorful and rustic
displays are boosting sales. Shoppers can't help but
approach the display and pick up the soap, inhale the
aroma, admire the natural ingredients and buy it. Much
like microbreweries have been successful by making small
batches with natural ingredients, "microsoapworks"
have the same handcrafted appeal.
How is Handmade Natural Soap Created?
At Vermont Soapworks, Master Soapmakers do things the old
fashioned way. Natural ingredients are blended in small
batches and poured into wooden block molds. The molds are
then warmed for several days, which forces the soap to
set up very slowly. Any excess alkali rises to the top
like cream and is skimmed off. When ready, the soap is
wire cut into bars, placed on oak drying frames and aged
in a special curing room for nearly a month. Only this
200 year-old process removes excess alkali from the soap,
a major cause of dryness and irritation often found in
conventional bar soaps.
Handmade natural soap can be made from a number of
renewable vegetable and botanical sources such as
saponified oils of palm, coconut and essential oils in
aromatherapy blends. Many Soapmakers use Rosemary extract
as a natural preservative. While some soapers blend
ingredients for skin treatment and aromatherapy, others
blend and shape soap for creativity and sheer whimsy.
Treat Your Body's Largest Organ With Respect
For adults, the skin is between 15 and 20 percent of
total body weight and for obvious reasons, healthy skin
is very important for overall well-being. With skin
covering approximately 20 square feet of the human body,
it is the largest human organ and is the first line of
defense against harmful substances, temperature,
infection, and dehydration.
Handmade Natural Soap Is Good For Your Skin
Evidence abounds of the healing powers of handmade
natural soap, particularly when essential oils are
included. Eczema and psoriasis sufferers, as well as
people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic
often find immediate relief by switching to natural soap.
Handmade soap is very mild due to how it is made, and
also because of what is not included. With few
exceptions, there are no artificial colors, fragrances,
or preservatives used in handmade natural soap.
What Can Make Some Soaps Harsh and Harmful?
Many people complain about soap making their skin feel
dry, itchy, or worse and reach for moisturizing lotion as
soon as they get out of the shower. Trapped free alkali
is the most common irritant in soap. Soap is made from
oils (an acid) mixed with water and alkali (a base).
Acids and bases neutralize each other to form a salt - in
this case soap with glycerine as a by-product. Oils that
did not find the alkali are "free" or "superfatted"
which makes soap milder while reducing lather and shelf
life. Alkali that does not find oils is "free alkali",
which makes soap harsh and drying. The handcrafting
process for natural soap removes excess alkali that
traditional soaps leave in. Some ingredients in mass-marketed
soap including Isopropyl Alcohol, DEA, fragrances,
FD&C Colors, Propylene Glycol and Triclosan have been
proven harmful to human health and can cause severe skin
irritation in some people.
Selecting The Right Soap
To improve skin health, consumers should carefully review
the ingredients in the soap they are using. If they can't
pronounce the ingredients or their skin is dry or
irritated, they should identify and use a natural
vegetable-based soap bar that addresses the needs of
their skin type. Visit www.vermontsoap.com to learn more
about how to determine skin types and which natural soap
ingredients are recommended for different skin types.
A Healthy Revolution
A green consumer revolution is gaining ground in
bathrooms and boardrooms across America. As the public
gains more knowledge on the quality and benefits of
natural products, companies in micro-size industries are
suddenly on the radar screens of multi-national
corporations, and more importantly, in the showers of the
average consumer.
|
|
