Holy Branch Soap

in shea butter, natural essential oils, and rich vegetable oils of olive, coconut, palm*, almond and castor. With the addition of fresh goat's milk, you can expect to experience a creamy, thick lather that rinses clean. Goat milk has been used for thousands of years as a beauty aid and skin soother because of the numerous vitamins, minerals and alpha hydroxy acids present in the milk. I strive to scent each batch with natural essential oils at all times, but I do use premium fragrance oils in a few scents. Each bar is hand cut and wrapped in a simple paper label. Handmade soap makes the perfect gift. Try a bar today!

*All of my soaps will soon be palm-free*

**What is soap? What makes handmade soap so special?**

Soap has been in existence for almost 5000 years. The first soap-like substance was discovered by the Babylonians around 2800 B.C. It was not until the Industrial Revolution that new methods of commercial soap making gained popularity. In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid. Basic soap making consists of carefully weighed ingredients such as vegetable oils, animal fats, water, and a strong alkali (lye). The chemical reaction between lye, oils and water is called saponification. Not all soaps are created equal. Today, most mass-produced bars of soap are made with various animal fats, synthetic colors, chemical preservatives, harsh synthetic fragrances,petrolatum derivatives, parabens and too many other sinister chemicals to mention. Sure, most soaps and washes smell good enough to eat, but I dare you to try to pronounce the ingredients list on the back of your shampoo and body wash next time you hop into the shower. Fact: Skin is our body's largest organ - treat it right! Anything and everything you apply to yourself is absorbed and stored by the body. Here's where natural, handmade soaps play a vital role in overall health and wellness..It's something we use everyday, make your skin happy.. Not to mention keeping our planet happy.

*Cold-process soaps produce skin nourishing glycerin as a byproduct of the chemical reaction of soap making - wonderful natural moisturizer!

*You will not find the antibacterial additive triclosan in my handmade soaps. This harsh chemical is never in the sane soap maker's ingredient arsenal. Why would you want an EPA classified pesticide on your skin? Washing with plain soap and water is all your body needs.

*My soaps will never contain synthetic preservatives or hardeners. Keeping your soap away from running water will prolong the life of the soap significantly.

*Most of the edible nuts, seeds, herbs and spices we eat can be used to impart natural colors, fragrances and exfoliants in soap. Many edible vegetable oils can also be used as skin nourishing ingredients. My soaps will only ever contain plant-based oils.

*The ecosystem will thank you. The small day-to-day changes we can make will greatly contribute to the overall environmental health of our planet. We need to be conscious of what goes down the drain.. Always choose natural! Thank you! Laura Lander, Soap Maker

Feel free to contact me via email anytime: [email protected]