Natural or Not?

[SudsyKat]

I was just reading something on another post about how someone wanted to make all natural soap, but has given in to their desire to have a really cool color, so they're going to use an artificial dye. It made me laugh because I totally relate - and then some!

I started out thinking I'd just make totally all natural soap, and now I'm making all sorts of bath and body products with tons of ingredients, many of which are a bit hard to pronounce. I've become a mad scientist. I still love all natural, but giving in to the chemicals is soooo much fun and has opened up my creativity! No offense to you all natural folks out there. You are true and virtuous. I have sold out (and loving every minute of it!)

Anybody else sold out? I just thought it would be a fun topic

 

[Jerry S]

What's natural?

Hey Sudsy, I hear you on that….lol…You know after all that has to be said about natural and non natural products when it comes to soap making, the thinking can go either way. I mean, most products (chemicals)…FO’s included, are made from ingredients found on this earth…so their natural…lol.
As far as using vegetable oil only as a natural ingredient instead of any animal fats, well…are not animals a part of our natural environment. They all live on this planet the same as we do with all the rest of plant life. A lot of people won’t agree with this analogy especially when it comes to making soap. Much of what is grown today is genetically engineered and that holds true with many of the animal products as well. I live in an agricultural area and 90% of everything here is fertilized with non-organic products and most of the organic animal fertilizers come from animals that eat non-organic products. …I’ll stop now…lol. Just thought I’d add my 2 cents…
Jerry

 

[SudsyKat]

Thanks, Jerry! Nice to know someone gets where I'm coming from. I happen to be a vegetarian (pescetarian, to be exact), so I don't use animal fat, but that's just me. I don't begrudge anyone for using it. As for chemicals being natural, you're right. I think that's a legitimate point. I'm all for balance. Let's not cover ourselves in every chemical known to man. It's certainly more wholesome to use natural stuff. Then again, let's not shy away from all manmade substances - especially when it's so much darned fun to formulate with them!!!

I hope I haven't opened a can of worms here. I respect other peoples' methods and choice in their soapmaking. I was just thinking how funny my own turnaround has been. I'm totally sold out!!

 

[carebear]

Soap isn't even natural.

 

[AmyW]

I think the desire for natural is really just a desire to make soaps that the majority of people can use without any reaction. Since reactions to dyes and colorants are probably more common that reactions to soaps without any lab created ingredients (save for the lye), making a soap without the extras appeals to a lot of people.

 

[kelleyaynn]

My pet peeve is calling these additives "chemicals". Water, for heaven's sake, is a chemical, so is everything else put in soap. EVERYTHING is a chemical. Plenty of organic, all-natural (by any person's standards) things have chemicals in them that would be extremely difficult to pronounce. Just because something is synthetic does not necessarily mean it is bad (where would we be without our lye?). Just as being all natural doesn't guarantee it being good (botulism toxin, just to name one). Every ingredient needs to be weighed for it's positive and negative aspects.

 

[ctay122]

I was just reading something on another post about how someone wanted to make all natural soap, but has given in to their desire to have a really cool color, so they're going to use an artificial dye. It made me laugh because I totally relate - and then some!

I started out thinking I'd just make totally all natural soap, and now I'm making all sorts of bath and body products with tons of ingredients, many of which are a bit hard to pronounce. I've become a mad scientist. I still love all natural, but giving in to the chemicals is soooo much fun and has opened up my creativity! No offense to you all natural folks out there. You are true and virtuous. I have sold out (and loving every minute of it!)

Anybody else sold out? I just thought it would be a fun topic

I am just starting out and my desire was also to make "all natural" soaps with only EO's. However, I'm finding that a lot of the EO's I want to use are just so darn expensive, I'm not sure they are worth using as you can only charge so much for a bar of soap! I'm sure there are people who want to buy only all natural soap so I'm thinking I might just leave some of my soaps fragrance free (though I might include some with lavender, I am always getting asked for lavender soap) and market them as such, but also have another line that would use fragrance oils. You're right, so many to choose from! So much fun and less expensive!

 

[Jerry S]

What's natural?

Hey kelleyaynn, I think your on the mark with that…and AmyW..your on point as well with the idea of not putting extra “stuff” in soap that could cause allergic reactions. The fewer the ingredients the better. But, I’m guilty as well of putting products in my soaps that are appealing…colors, scents etc., but I keep the amounts as low as I can. Like Sudsy mentioned it so darned much fun working with some additives that make our soaps look really appealing. This reminds me of the old adage that people don’t eat with their appetites; they eat with their eyes…
Happy soaping
Jerry

 

[SudsyKat]

...Just because something is synthetic does not necessarily mean it is bad. Just as being all natural doesn't guarantee it being good (botulism toxin, just to name one)...

That cracked me up, Kelleyaynn!!

 

[Hazel]

It's amazing how getting more involved and researching has changed my opinion. I've learned so much and I've especially learned not to trust everything I read.

I was one of those all natural, use only EOs and herbal powders people when I started making soap. Also, I made lotions and creams so I was anti-paraben, too!

I respect other peoples' opinions about keeping soap as "natural" as possible but I'm now in love with FOs and micas. So much fun...

 

[ctay122]

I agree with Jerry S. People will always by pretty soaps and I have seen some amazing looking soaps. Why not join the fun with all the cool colors and fragrances, there will always be a market for them. Am I being greedy by wanting the best of both worlds (natural and pretty?).

 

[LavenderLady]

I completely get where the OP is coming from. For almost 12 tears I did not use a single FO in my products. Then I got a vunilla and a white tea fo. Then for 2 more years I only used those 2 mixed with EO's or EO's alone. But recently I decided to try a few FO's as I was testing several new soap recipes and didnt want to spend all the money EO's required on bacthes that I may not like.
Well that was it, I LOVED several of them, and already placed another order. I have spent hours going over sites and reading about scents. So exciting, so wonderful, and so mixable! I love blending fragrances and using FO's and EO's make the possibilities endless! Mad scientist bwahhhhh, so much fun!

 

[Jerry S]

natural or not...

Hey you guys are great with all your ideas and comments and you’re all not reluctant to change a little, which is really cool. This turned out to be an interesting topic. (thanks Sudsy!)…glad no one bit my head off…lol…for my comments…(yet!!).
Jerry S