Staying healthy...

With all the recent news about the new flu strain making it's way north, it's time be sure that we're doing all we can to keep ourselves and our families healthy.

One very simple thing to help ward of disease is to be sure that hands are washed with plain soap and water several times a day. In our house, any time we come home from shopping or playing at the park, the first order of business is to wash hands thoroughly using soap and warm water.

Some essential oils help to prevent the spread of flu type viruses. These oils can be added to a liquid natural soap or diffused in the air. We do NOT advocate using essential oils internally or applying them directly to the skin undiluted.

Tea Tree
Scientific Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Associated Chemical Properties: Antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, anti fungal, decongestant, expectorant, immune stimulant.

Eucalyptus
Scientific Name: Lavandula latifolia
Associated Chemical Properties: Antiseptic, antimicrobial, bactericidal, decongestant.

While we don't carry a tea tree soap (yet!), we do use eucalyptus in 'Garden Mint' and 'Yuba Wild'.

Wishing you continued health!

Soap with a smile

I love making soap...it's a satisfying creative process for me. From an idea scratched out in my note book to the final product, every phase of the process is enjoyable for me.

Every now and then, I'll get a unique image that naturally appears in my soap. This time, to my amusement, I got soap that is smiling back at me! This bar of soap made it's way to one of my local wholesale accounts...I wonder who ended up with this bar and did they notice the smile? I hope it brightened someones day as it did mine when I discovered it.

Herbs as Natural Colorants, part 2

Here is the final product in our "Herbs for Natural Colorants" series. This is 'Siren' (pronounced sahy-ruhn), bergamot, ylang-ylang, and amber resin. The color is all natural, as it came from the herbal infusion of alkanet in olive oil. Pretty cool how it begins blood red and turns purple once it's in soap.

The inspiration for this soap is my love of Greek mythology. Here's the defination of a siren and a snippet of a myth:

Sirens are creatures with the head of a female and the body of a bird. They lived on an island and with the irresistible charm of their song they lured mariners to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.

When Odysseus' ship passed the Sirens, he had the sailors stuff their ears with wax. He had himself tied to the mast for he wanted to hear their beautiful voices. The Sirens sang when they approached, their words even more enticing than the melody. They would give knowledge to every man who came to them, they said, ripe wisdom and a quickening of the spirit. Odysseys' heart ran with longing but the ropes held him and the ship quickly sailed to safer waters.

I named this soap appropriately as it has it's own siren song, beautiful and tempting, sure to please. Rest assured, destruction will not follow those who choose to answer this siren's call.

Herbs as Natural Colorants, part 1

The picture I've posted today is of an herb that I infuse in oil to get a real nice natural color for soap. This is a shot of my herbs soaking in oil. Initially, the color of the oil becomes a dark red. But once it gets mixed in with other oils and the lye water, it turns a purple-blue color.

The herb I'm using here is alkanet root. According to folk lore, "it helps such as are bitten by venomous beasts, whether it be taken inwardly or applied to the wound" and "It helps bruises and falls, and is as gallant a remedy to drive out the smallpox and measles as any is; an ointment made of it is excellent for green wounds, pricks or thrusts."

That may well be true (or not) but today I'm using it as a natural colorant for my 'Siren' soap. Later, I'll post a picture of the final product.

Facts about soap

According to a report in the January issue of the Harvard Health Letter, regular soap and water is just as effective as hand sanitizers and antibacterial soap when used correctly and frequently [ Link to article ]

Who knew that humble soap could help prevent disease? Make it a habit to wash your hands frequently and stay healthy!

Back to Business!

Good Monday morning! Ok...more like good afternoon, but I've been busy today and time flys when you're on the computer. I just wanted to announce that our website is back online. Some of the soap is 'out of stock', but I'm busily working on that.

Anyway, website is back up, feel free to browse at your convenience. Ask any questions or email me any comments you might have. I'm always happy to get testimonials...if you have one, send it along and make my day!

Frontier Angel Website

Happy New Year!

I've said it before, but I just love the new year. It's a clean slate for all of us, a chance to begin anew. A time to reflect on the year just past...what did we learn? What do we want to do differently in the new year? What new skills do we want to aquire or new hobbies to research?

The photo I've posted is a shot I took while hiking new years day. It made me think, what's up ahead in 2009? What new adventures are in store, what new friends shall we meet along the way, what new wonders will be discovered?

Life is full of challenges, may we muster the courage to meet them head on. Always with an open mind and open heart. Loving those around us. Giving to those in need. Learning and growing on a daily basis. Living every day as though it was our last.

Wishing you health, happiness and prosperity in 2009 and beyond!

Stay tuned for our website re-opening on Monday, January 5th.