Ingredients
We are very proud of our products and each one begins with quality ingredients.
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This is the list of ingredients you may find in our products and an explanation of what they do:
Oils & Butters
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The plant oils and butters in our soap recipe have been carefully selected for their specific properties. We use them in the main soap recipe (they are what is mixed with lye water to create soap) and sometimes extra is incorporated into a soap to make the product more moisturizing and/or for its specific benefits.
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- Olive Oil (Olea Europaea)
- Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera)
- Palm Oil (Elaeis Guineensis)
- Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis)
- Castor Oil (Ricinus Communis)
- Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis Sativa)
- Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera)
- Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii)
Colourants
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These are used to add colour and designs to the soap.
- Mica: A fine powder shimmer made from either naturally mined mica or lab-made flurophlogopite (identical to that found in nature but free of impurities). They are coated with pigments to give them different colours.
- Manganese Violet, Ultramarine and Titanium Dioxide: Cosmetic grade pigments. Must be lab-made to ensure purity for cosmetic use but are nature-identical and considered natural by some.
- Tin Oxide, Iron Oxide, Chromium Green Oxide, and Hydrated Chromium Oxide: Cosmetic grade colourants. Lab-made to ensure purity for cosmetic use but nature identical and so considered natural by many.
- Polyester 3, Green 7, Acid Red 92, Yellow 5, Red 28, and Acid Yellow 23: Synthetic cosmetic-grade dyes that give a very rich colour. They are mostly seen in neons and reds.
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- Botanicals: Plant extracts add their natural colours to products in which they're added.
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- Clays: Many clays are rich in minerals that have different natural colour variations and can be used to add natural colour to products.
Scents
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These make soaps smell great. In the case of essential oils, we also choose them for their specific skincare properties. We adhere strictly to the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) guidelines and standards for fragrance usage rates. These guidelines are set globally for each essential oil and every high-quality fragrance oil and they are updated frequently. They tell manufacturers how much of each fragrance can safely be used in each product they make. We are always well within the limit of these numbers in our soaps. Safety is always our top priority.
- Essential Oils
Our essential oils are pure, natural, and cosmetic grade, and come from Canadian suppliers New Directions Aromatics and Botanic Universe. They contain zero synthetic fragrance compounds and are undiluted. Sustainably produced, 100% pure, extracted directly from a variety of flowers, fruits, leaves, bark, roots, herbs, and spices.
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- Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea)
- Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
- Bergamot (Citrus Aurantium Bergamia)
- Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum)
- Black Spruce (Picea Mariana)
- Camphor (Cinnamomum Camphora)
- Cedarwood (Cedrus Deodara)
- Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamomum Zeylanicum)
- Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea)
- Clove Bud (Eugenia Caryophyllus)
- Eucalyptus Leaf (Eucalyptus Globulus)
- Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata)
- Key Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia)
- Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)
- Lemon (Citrus Limonum)
- Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Schoenanthus)
- Nutmeg Kernel (Myristica Fragrans)
- Oregano (Origanum Vulgare)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin)
- Peppermint (Mentha Piperita)
- Petitgrain (Citrus Aurantium Amara)
- Pine Leaf (Pinus Sylvestris)
- Pink Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi)
- Red Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
- Siberian Fir Needle (Abies Sibirica)
- Spearmint Leaf (Mentha Viridis)
- Star Anise (Illicium Verum)
- Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis)
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
- Ylang – Ylang (Cananga Odorata)
- Parfum / Fragrance Oils
While essential oils come only from plants, fragrance oils are either partially or completely man-made. They contain a mixture of aroma chemicals, plant extracts, resins, and essential oils. Our fragrance oils are IFRA tested, vegan, cruelty-free and free of parabens and phthalates. The oils we use are very high quality, skin safe, and come from Canadian suppliers New Directions Aromatics, Windy Point Soap Supplies and Voyageur Soap & Candle.
We use fragrance oils when:
1. The essential oil would irritate the skin and/or cannot be used safely in soap (cinnamon bark, juniper, etc.)
2. We want to use a scent that isn’t possible with essential oil (apple, strawberry, cupcake, cologne, etc.)
3. The essential oil is too rare to justify its use in soap (rose, neroli, jasmine, rosewood, etc.)
4. The scent of the essential oil would be damaged during or not survive the saponification process.
- Essential Oil Blends
To make these, aroma compounds are extracted from different essential oils and used to mimic another essential oil. For example, rosewood essential oil comes from the heartwood of a very endangered and slow-growing rare tree that is not sustainable. Chemical engineers can create a very close dupe to rosewood by mixing elements from other essential oils such as sustainable, renewable Ho Wood. They are usually considered natural as they contain no synthetic compounds.
Botanicals & Extracts
These are the plant extracts we add to our soaps for their many wonderful skincare properties. We carefully research usage guidelines and the benefits of each additive, artfully combining them in our products. Our additives and extracts are very high quality, sustainable and as pure as possible.
- Activated Charcoal (Carbo Activatus)
- Alder Cone (Alnus Glutinosa): Not used inside the soap, used only as natural decoration on top of the bar.
- Allspice Powder (Pimenta Officinalis)
- Aloe Vera Juice (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice)
- Apple (Pryus Malus Fruit)
- Apricot Seed Powder (Prunus Armeniaca)
- Black Currant Fruit (Ribes Nigrum)
- Black Tea Leaves (Camellia Sinensis)
- Chamomile Flower (Chamomilla Recutita)
- Cocoa Powder (Theobroma Cacao)
- Coffee Beans (Coffea Arabica)
- Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena Sativa)
- Cucumber Extract (Cucumis Sativus)
- Dried Apricot Fruit (Prunus Armeniaca)
- Dried Cranberry Fruit (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
- Ginger Root (Zingiber Officinale)
- Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis)
- * Honey (Mel)
- Lavender Flower Powder (Lavandula Angustifolia)
- Mango Fruit Extract (Mangifera Indica)
- Maple Syrup (Acer Saccharum)
- Orange Peel Powder (Citrus Sinensis)
- Pineapple Fruit Extract (Ananas Sativus)
- Pine Wood Tar (Pinus Palustris)
- Pumpkin (Cucurbita Pepo)
- Putka Pods (Papaver Somniferum): Not used inside soap, used only as natural decoration on top of the bar.
- Rosehip Fruit Powder (Rosa Canina)
- Rose Petals (Rosa Centifolia)
- Sea Salt (Sodium Chloride)
- Seaweed Powder (Ascophyllum Nodosum)
- Strawberry Extract (Fragaria Ananassa)
- Turmeric Root Powder (Curcuma Longa)
- Vanilla Extract (Vanilla Planifolia)
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Clays
An amazing soap ingredient. Used as a natural colourant, to absorb excess oil, as a gentle exfoliant, to soften skin, to give a silky and creamy feel to the soap, and to create a dense lather. Each clay has its own unique properties.
- Kaolin (White Clay)
- French Red Clay (Illite)
- Rose Clay (Illite, Kaolin)
- Brazilian Purple Clay (Kaolin)
- French Green Clay (Illite)
- Bentonite Clay (Montmorillonite)
- Diatomaceous Earth
Crafter’s Choice Detergent Free Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base
We use melt and pour to make the little mini-soap embeds on top of the bars. We use a detergent-free melt-and-pour soap base which is more gentle and moisturizing due to its high glycerine content and the absence of harsh cleaners. The ingredients are:
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- Sorbitol: Sugar alcohol derived from fruits, corn, and seaweed. Used as a humectant and thickener.
- Propylene Glycol: Synthetic liquid humectant, conditioner, and preservative.
- Sodium Stearate: Fatty acid derived from vegetables or coconuts. Allows the product to hold a solid shape.
- Glycerine: Humectant and skin moisturizer that is derived from vegetables.
Biodegradable Eco-Glitter
Glitter adds shimmer and shine to the top of our soap bars. Our glitters are amazing because they contain zero plastic!
They’re recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable. They break down in fresh or salt water within 47-90 days. These glitters are cosmetic grade, safe for the skin (much softer than traditional glitters), contain no shellac, and are cruelty-free and vegan.
The ingredients are:
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- Aluminium: A thin layer adds reflective shine.
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- Polylactide: Bioplastic derived from renewable plant material (corn sugar, potato, or sugar cane).
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- Colourant: Gives the glitter its specific colour.
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Miscellaneous
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- Water (Aqua): Distilled water is what is mixed with lye (sodium hydroxide) to create lye water. Lye water is mixed with the heated oils to start the saponification process and create soap. Lye is not included in the ingredients because absolutely no lye remains in the fully saponified soap. Distilled water is also sometimes used for mixing with powdered extracts to help them disperse evenly in the recipe.
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Antioxidant. Used for its many skin benefits and as a natural preservative.
- Maltodextrin: Plant-based sugar derived from corn. Used in some of the dried extracts as a preservative.
- Beer: Moisturizing and soothing to the skin. Creates a creamy, conditioning lather.
- Menthol: Crystals made from freezing distilled mint leaves. Helps relieve itching due to chapped, dry skin, contributes a refreshing cooling sensation, and gives an energizing scent.
- Rainbow Candy Sprinkles: Used as a fun decoration on top of some of our soaps. They are made of sugar, cornstarch, glucose, food-safe colourants and carnauba wax.
- Red Wine: Very rich in antioxidants, and helps to reduce the signs of ageing. Softening to the skin while also being an effective cleanser. Also adds lots of fluffy bubbles to the soap bar.
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* Not a vegan ingredient