When I first started making soap as a teenager, it was a novelty, and I only cared about thrift. My parents lived off the grid and money was scarce. I was fortunate that my mother let me experiment in her kitchen. There were hardly any soap making recipes available to the public fifty years ago. I had to learn by trial and error. Later, in college, I learned about global environmental problems. Sourcing my ingredients responsibly became a priority. For instance, many palm plantations engage in ‘slash and burn’ agriculture, burning Vast tracts of rainforests to grow the palm oil that is the basis for most commercial soap today. That is why I purchase my palm oil from a Columbia based cooperative (thank you Charles and Julie Tilt, founders of Hummingbird Wholesale!)because my source uses sustainable practices and the palm fruits they grow are certified organic. All of my products use certified organic butters, oils, and fats. Most are scented with botanically, steam distilled essential oils because most artificial fragrances are produced by petrochemical, industrial waste that can make people sick. Several years ago, I even started to use scents like rose and jasmine absolute, cardamom, and genuine vanilla which is virtually unheard of in the commercial body care industry because of the steep cost of those ingredients. I am proving that I can deliver the body care products of the highest quality while still keeping my prices affordable.
