Organic Soap

By admin on June 13, 2009 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Organic Soap

Summarized by 123 Natural Remedies; Written by Anne Clarke

organic soaps

“Organic soap” has different meanings for different people. To some, the use of the term “organic” refers to an avoidance of synthetic materials. Many people do not realize that “organic” may also be used in reference to animal products. Such products are obtained without the use of growth hormones or routine antibiotics. Additionally, organic livestock is usually fed a healthier diet than those raised as part of non-organic manufacture.

This is an important distinction to remember in both the retail and purchase of organic soap. Individuals who are interested in such an option as part of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle may mistake the term for implying that the product is free of animal products.

People commonly do not realize that many cleaning items such as soap involve animal products. Soap is created by reacting fat with lye. Lye is a caustic base which comes from ashes. The fat may be derived from either animal or plant sources. The most common fat ingredient utilized today is sodium tallowate. This is created with beef fat that has been rendered.

Organic soap which makes use of vegetable sources is usually much softer than animal-sourced types. Palm oil is an example of a vegetable fat which may be chosen. Pure olive oil may also be used. Castile and Marseille are two types of soap which utilize this.

Combinations of these two oils (palm and olive) as well as coconut oil is are the most common option for vegetable soap fats. Specifically, coconut and olive oil provide hardness. Coconut oil also provides lather. Olive oil is selected for the mildness which it can provide within soap. Cocoa butter and hemp oil are a couple examples. Jojoba oil or shea butter are other additions. Castor oil may be used for an increased, creamy lather.

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Please also check my other articles on:

Essiac | Oriental Medicine | Olive Oil Soap

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