Why goat milk soap? What's wrong with grocery-store soap?
Consider first the definition of soap: a substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made of a compound of natural oils or fats with sodium hydroxide or another strong alkali, and typically having perfume and coloring added. (Google)
Soap is made by combining oils and/or fats with an alkali (sodium hydroxide, commonly referred to as lye). The oils and fats are chemically changed into soap through a chemical process called saponification. Look at the ingredients listed on a store-bought bar of "soap". Some ingredients are the scientific name for saponified oils, but there are also other ingredients that are not.
How does homemade goat milk soap differ from most soaps sold at grocery stores? Many commercial soaps contain de-greasing ingredients that are great for cleaning dishes, but are harsh on skin. They can dry out the skin leaving it itchy and scaly-looking. In addition, for people with oily skin, drying it out encourages the oil glands to secrete more oil to compensate for the moisture-loss. So, over-cleaning can actually exacerbate oily skin!
Our our soap yields a balance between cleansing and moisturizing by including goat milk from our sweet mamas, raw shea butter from Africa, and natural clay. The goat milk provides butterfat to moisturize. Raw shea butter forms a creamy, moisturizing lather. Clay provides color, but more importantly, it adds minerals, boosts the cleansing factor, and yields a slip when shaving with a razor which protects the skin. Including raw shea butter and clay sets our soap apart from other homemade goat milk soaps.
Our soaps also contain olive oil (which moisturizes), coconut or palm kernel oil (cleansing oils), and castor oil (for bubbly lather). Mid-summer, 2016, we revised our recipe by eliminating palm oil and increasing the shea butter. Most of our soap is scented with pure, undiluted essential oils. Many people apply essential oils therapeutically and use them for aromatherapy. So, it is not surprising that people who have skin sensitivities or react negatively to fragrances can often appreciate the subtle and natural scent of essential oils. For those who prefer a stronger aroma or scents not available as essential oils, we do offer a limited selection of soap scented with fragrance oil. We use only phthalate-free fragrances.
Goat Milk Soap
"Orange Peel" (Petitgrain-Orange, Tea Tree and Poppy Seeds)
$ 7.00
Petitgrain essential oil smells like orange peel -- it is not sweet like orange, but a little musky. The orange essential oil sweetens the aroma and tea tree compliments the petitgrain adding antiseptic properties. Tumeric, known for anti-inflammatory properties, is added with the yellow clay to add minerals while enhancing the cleansing prop...
Cedarwood-Orange Soap
$ 7.00
Cedarwood-Orange has a citrus and woodsy aroma, like opening a cedar chest. This is a gender neutral scent. Ground tumeric and green clay bring color to the bar and adds minerals, enhances cleansing, and protects skin when shaving. Goat milk; Saponified Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter; Green Clay; Ground Tumeric; Cedarwood, Orange, Litse...
Chai
$ 7.00
Chai smells like a cup of chai tea! A clean smelling blend of essential oils that are thought to be immunity boosting. To boost cleansing properties, we add diatomaceous earth which is similar to activated charcoal acting to detoxify the skin. Rhassoul clay makes for a creamy lather and protects the skin from razor burn when using the soap ...
Cinnamon-Orange-Clove with Coffee Grinds for Exfoliation
$ 7.00
Cinnamon and clove with a hint of orange. This soap is gritty, using ground coffee for exfoliant. A great hand soap for gardeners, ranchers, and laborers. Goat milk; coffee; Saponified olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter; ground coffee; kaolin clay; orange, cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaf, litsea cubeba, clove essential oil Approx. wt. 4 ounces
Fresh Lavender
$ 7.00
Who doesn't love the smell of fresh cut lavender? This soap includes a few lavender buds for the beauty and very mild exfoliation. Purple Brazilian clay provides a deep purple color, and adds minerals, enhances cleansing, and protects skin when shaving with a razor. Goat milk; Saponified Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter; Purple Brazil...
Honey & Oatmeal
$ 7.00
Our honey and oatmeal soap contains no essential oils. Honey is believed to have antimicrobial and antioxidant benefits, though it is unknown to what extent these properties survive the saponification process. The sugars in honey definitely add bubble to lather. Oatmeal is often recommended for dry, itchy skin. The finely ground oatmeal exf...
Lavender Rosemary - Charcoal Soap
$ 7.00
This soap is as beautiful as it is effective to deep clean with activated charcoal. Lavender and rosemary smell great together. Activated charcoal is used to detoxify the body when taken internally or applied to a rash or bug bite on the skin because toxins and poisons bind to the charcoal and are removed with the charcoal. Purple clay adds be...
Oregon Sun (Patchouli- Lemongrass)
$ 6.00
Patchouli reminds me of Oregon and lemongrass is bright like the sun. Oregon Sun combines the musky-earthy aroma of patchouli with refreshing lemon. The poppy seeds are mildly exfoliating when the soap bar is rubbed directly on skin. For coloring, we added green and yellow clay to boost cleansing properties and to protect skin from chaffing w...
Patchouli - Ground Oatmeal
$ 6.00
This soap has the musky-earthy aroma of patchouli. Patchouli is a scent that divides people: either you love it or you hate it. I LOVE it! We chose to add rhassoul clay, which not only cleans the pores, but is reputed to ease dry skin. Rhassoul clay contains magnesium, silica, potassium, and calcium. The ground oatmeal mixed throughout is...
Peppermint - Poppy Seeds
$ 6.00
Fresh exhilarating peppermint. Similar to eucalyptus mint soap, our peppermint soap could open sinuses when used in a hot shower. It is invigorating and refreshing, like an after-dinner mint. The color comes from a red clay recommended for dry skin and adds minerals and cleansing properties while protecting the skin when shaving with a razor....
Sandalwood (fragrance oil)
$ 5.00
I'd love to say this smells just like true Sandalwood essential oil. But for $83 for half an ounce wholesale, I have to admit I've never smelt true sandalwood essential oil. However, customers have told me this soap smells like the real deal. It is a strong scent which I've seen described as sweet, woodsy, and exotic, and I think that is a go...
Unscented-The Naked Bar
$ 5.00
People with skin allergies and irritations often prefer to have no scent and no additives. Our unscented soap is a simply great bar of creamy goat milk soap with raw shea butter and bentonite clay. Bentonite clay is reputed to absorb toxins, while adding slip to protect skin when shaving with a razor. Ingredients: Goat Milk; Saponified Oils...