Do Phthalates Matter?

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Discussion about phthalates has increased lately due to a recent report in the Pediatrics Journal. This report in the Journal of Pediatrics involved a study of 163 babies (a very small sample) that used fragranced baby care products on a daily basis. None of the baby care products were even tested for phthalate content, only the urine of the babies. The arguments surrounding this report challenge the veracity of any conclusions published in the report due to the flawed science, inaccurate testing procedures, and small sample size. You can read this challenge at the Cosmetic Cop.

It boggles the mind at how many of the promulgated ‘reports, studies’, etc are so incredibly flawed. Even someone with interrupted recall of high school science experiments remembers how one needs a reliable sample, the set up of a control, and proper testing that excludes exterior influences on the study in question. Worse, I have actually read some entities using this Pediatric report as a basis to stop using fragrance oils altogether… to switch to only essential oils. I LOVE essential oils, and I LOVE fragrance oils. But to ME, essential oils are precious, limited resources. Essential oils are commodities precious as gold, even the inexpensive ones like Sweet Orange essential oil. Additionally, essential oils are just not appropriate for everyone.

Essential oils, scent material or not, are still powerful drugs. There are some patients that just absolutely can not be subjected to essential oils, and are safer with either unscented or fragrance material for scent. There may still not be enough research on the safety and long lasting effects of phthalates to satisfy those saying phthalates are unsafe, but there is enough evidence to show that adverse drug reactions from essential oils and prescriptions can cause harm, even death.

I go back to my original philosophy of balance & moderation. I do not want  Sandalwood essential oil at the price of our limited resources of being compromised. I do not want any essential oils at the cost of great swaths of land being taken from the poor for a paltry sum, pittance of wages, or their resulting dependency on our SuperConsumer’s appetite for ever increasing demands of aromatherapy essential oils. I like the sense of feeling that a balance of natural essential oils and synthetic fragrances allow for a moderated stewardship of our resources.

It was this mix of both natural and synthetic that actually shattered the very essence and concept of fragrance in 1905 also… Francois Coty was trying to pimp one of his tiny vials of perfume to a ritzy department store. They turned him down because they were not all natural perfumes like were the ‘du rigour’ at the time. He purposely dropped one vial in the department store and the scent drew the masses (quite literally, and this is what we call “guerilla marketing“). The combination of natural and synthetic is what has allowed scent to become available to the masses.

The Pediatric Phthalate study frustrates me especially because they completely disregarded the environment of what the babies in their SMALL sample were subject to. There are phthalates in all the plastics in the hospitals we use. The IV tubes, the bags blood and Saline are stored in, the cups that the pills are administered in. Homes are surrounded with phthalates… from the plastic shopping bag, milk jug, laundry detergent jug, the plastic bottles that formula is poured into. This study concludes that phthalates in the babies urine is the result of using fragranced baby care products, yet these same baby care products were never actually tested for phthalates!

We will have formulators though that will want to formulate and advertise that they are not only “Paraben Free”, but also “Phthalate Free”… and it is with this end that Southern Soapers Fragrances has made the P-Free™, or Phthalate Free Fragrance Category visible to the buying public. You don’t have to ask, you don’t have to justify, they are there “front & center” visible for all the buyers to make their own choices based on their formulating needs, marketing needs, and their client base needs.
 

P-Free™ Fragrances Update

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Southern Soapers Fragrances has fragrance oils custom formulated to specifications that allow our fragrances to perform extremely well in Cold Process soapmaking. Our fragrances also perform beautifully in toiletries, other forms of soapmaking (M&P, Hot Process, etc.), perfume making and even candle making. However, our fragrance oils must pass the Cold Process soapmaking test with flying colors for us to consider them as future Southern Soapers Fragrances. This is because the sodium hydroxide used in the Cold Process soapmaking destroys many fragrance oil materials, leaving you with soap that has no scent, little scent, or problematic batches due to the incompatibility of the fragrance materials when subjected to sodium hydroxide.  

Southern Soapers Fragrances opts for P-Free™ aroma materials whenever our fragrances will allow. We work closely with our manufacturers chemists and compounders with feedback on our fragrance testing to get the best performance using aroma materials that are ‘right’ for that fragrance oil. Whenever it has been possible we have requested Phthalate Free materials as the basis of our fragrance formulations. Currently, Southern Soapers Fragrances has approximately 200 fragrance oils in stock, with approximately 110 identified as P-Free™, or Phthalate Free.

Here is a partial list of the Southern Soapers Fragrances that are P-Free™ Fragrances: 
 
Tassi Lavender
Creme De Cassis
Blue Chamomile
Sakura Cherry Blossom
Lily of the Valley
Grapefruit Cassis
Mandarin Lime Clementine
Juiced Lemons
Georgia Peach
Lime Margarita
Calypso Cay
Young Hyson Green Tea
Tuscany
Chocolate Serendipity
Bourbon De Vanille
Pussywillows
Ethiopian Myrrh
Hot Chocolate
Ambergris & Civet
Almond Silk
Bamboo Zen Tea
Blooming Tulips
Big Sur
Geisha
Midnight in the Garden
Texas Pink Grapefruit
Fresh Orange Slices
French Lilacs
African Red Bush Tea
Jonquil Fleur
Ginger Lemon Honey
Perfect Peony
Passionate Pomegranate
Naturewalk
Global Gardens Plumeria
Lemonhead Candy
Mineral Salt Spa
Ultimate Christmas
Aromatic Sandalwood
Gluwein
Nag Champa
Rainy Days
Sicilian Olive Blossom
White Clover Tea
Vetyver
Old Thyme Herbs
Guns & Roses
Pink Peppercorn
Linden Vert
Tropical Fruit Slices
Kiwi Melon
Big Apple
The Real Magnolia
Norwegian Woods
Black Mission Fig
Reign of Violets
Hope Chest
Chypre Rose
Lemon Verbena
Cinnamon Sticks
Honey Bee
Gypsy Rose
Himalayan Bamboo
Polar Express
Chardonnay
Italian Granita Ice
Hana No Kaori
Pêche De Miel
Caravan Spice
Chai Tea
Egyptian Dragon
Stephanotis
Oriental Lily & Muskmelon
Trippy Hippie
Truely Patchouli
Figgy Pudding
Melon Ball
Gingermilk
Hooah!
Peppermint Vanilla
Della Robbia Wreath
Cotton Candy
Mint & Herbs
Bayberry
Midori Champagne
Holiday Spice Pomander
Sugar Cookies
Hot Cocoa
Blueberry Festival
Earl Grey Tea
Raspberry Bombe
Tranquil Spa
Green Chai Tea
Black Tea & Rose
Trillium Glen 

P-Free™ Fragrances are Phthalate Free Fragrances. Controversy has raged in recent years about the use of ‘phthalates‘ in cosmetics, fragrances oils, and medical equipment. The FMA (Fragrance Materials Association) and the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) have determined that the phthalate used in fragrance oils, diethyl phthalate, also known as DEP, is safe for use in fragrance and cometics. We have made available both The Truth About Phthalates (FMA, Nov. 11, 2007) and All About Phthalates (Phthalates.org) pdf’s. Just click on either link for more information. Southern Soapers Fragrances will begin notating on each fragrance description page whether that fragrance is phthalate free and group them in a P-Free™ Fragrance category for those looking for phthalate free fragrances to formulate with.

 Southern Soapers Fragrances currently has over 100 P-Free™ Fragrances.    

Taking Big Mac Burgers to the Next Level

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Wow! Doesn’t this just really take the cake (pun intended)? Last night my son had his very first Boy Scout Blue & Gold Banquet. He is one of the little guys, a Tiger Scout. We have dinner, celebrate achievements of scouts in the Pack and even lower Den levels. We celebrate the birthday of Boy Scouting in the United States. Auctions and raffles are held to raise money for the support of the Boy Scouting organization. One of our auctions was a Cake Walk. Each cake had a national theme, with one cake being a Windmill (representing the Netherlands), another cake was a Dragon (bundt cakes cut and repositioned, representing China, how clever! Another cake was cut and decorated to be a Great White Shark swimming just off the shore of the Syndney Opera House in a sea of blue Jello (representing Australia of course!). There were many additional, AMAZINGLY creative cakes. The one that caught my eye was the cake representing how Boy Scouting is alike yet different in every country. McDonalds and Big Mac’s are almost as universal a ‘lanuguage’ as Math and Music to the generation of our childen, as McDonalds is everywhere now!

I remember when I was little, Dad bringing home a sack from McDonalds was an AMAZING treat. When we moved to the Philippines we missed it SO much that my mom paid for a relative to ship the hamburger wrappings, cups, french fry containers, etc. to us overseas. My mom made her own hamburgers and fries and we had a genuine McDonalds Happy Meal.

Later, when it was time to leave the Philippines, a McDonalds had already sprung up in Manila! This was on the Eve of the debut of Star Wars, so that dates me for sure. A few years later when I was stationed in Korea by the Army, a McDonalds preceeded the arrival of the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea.

So, McDonalds and Big Macs are everywhere, slightly different menu and product names from country to country (Korea also sold chicken at McDonalds), Boy Scouting takes on many forms in all the countries it is established in also. My son is a little Tiger Scout here in the USA, but littlest scouts in Australia are called “Joey’s”, “Sixes” in the UK, and “Beavers” in Ireland.

So, now you know why I just had to have the McDonalds Big Mac cake. The mom that made this did an amazing job on this cake. The detail is incredible. That “lettuce” is rolled out Gummy Bears or gum drops rolled with sugar crystals. Marshmallows for eyes. If you would  like to learn how to make a Hamburger Cake also, you can head over to Wiki-How and read their How to Make a Hamburger Cake instructions.

Making Lemonaide from a Lemon

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Kelly Norman, of Coconut Cottage Soap Company has a wildy unique soap…. it is her Parrot Poop Sea Salt Bar. Kelly did not set out to create Parrot Poop soap, but the opportunity presented itself and she seized the moment.

Originally, Kelly was working to formulate a Sea Salt Soap recipe. Between swirling colors, siezing fragrance, and salt water separation, the resulting batch looked destined for the rubbish heap. Definitely not anything like she had mentally visualized.

Well, with a bit of ‘Waste Not - Want Not’ attitude, Kelly stirred it all up again and just slapped it all into a slab mold. She could still discard it later if need be.

After removing her soap slab and slicing it though, Kelly decided there was still hope for this batch. She really liked the way the small bits of color showed up randomly in the putty grey soap background. So, she whipped up a label to reflect her company business name, theme, and style. Coconut Cottage Parrot Poop Sea Salt Bar was born!

Now that is not just making lemonaide from a lemon, that is SQUEEZING that lemon first in order to make the MAXIMUM amount of lemondade possible from the situation!

P-Free™ Fragrances at Southern Soapers

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P-Free™ Fragrances are Phthalate Free Fragrances. Controversy has raged in recent years about the use of ‘phthalates‘ in cosmetics, fragrances oils, and medical equipment. The FMA (Fragrance Materials Association) and the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) have determined that the phthalate used in fragrance oils, diethyl phthalate, also known as DEP, is safe for use in fragrance and cometics. We have made available both The Truth About Phthalates (FMA, Nov. 11, 2007) and All About Phthalates (Phthalates.org) pdf’s. Just click on either link for more information. Southern Soapers Fragrances will begin notating on each fragrance description page whether that fragrance is phthalate free and group them in a P-Free™ Fragrance category for those looking for phthalate free fragrances to formulate with. We currently have over 100 Southern Soapers Fragrances identified as P-Free™ Fragrances.  

Marbelous Zirklz™

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I am just kicking myself! I got the Blooms Zirklz and I wish I had got the Supremes Zirklz! I will have to go back for more now (these are just SO COOL!). I am referring to the adorable magnets on the A Wild Soap Bar website. These unique and clever magnets are made by Aubrey, the 8 year old granddaughter of the proprietor and soap bartender for A Wild Soap Bar. Aubrey collects interesting paper and arranges six coordinated graphics as the basis of each themed Zirklz™  set. 

Not only is Aubrey getting a rich lesson in business, management, and responsible stewardship (all her paper is recycled from magazines, advertisements, etc), but she is also learning about giving as well as receiving an income. Aubrey is donating $1.00 from each $6.00 Zirklz sale to the Kids Cafe Program supported by America’s Second Harvest, the most expansive child-feeding program in the nation.

These magnets are STRONG too… they hold a lot of stuff up on my refrigerator… all those PTA papers, art my 6 year old brings home from school, Cell phone number for where ever my 18 year old senior is gallavanting off to, you name it!

You can find these One-of-A-Kind creations in Beach themes, Rockabilly themes, Baby themes, Love themes, at Aubrey’s Marbelous Zirklz™  collection page. 

Full Bloom Tea!

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Look what I found!  The Full Bloom Tea Company! Some of you will know why I am so excited, grin…. My last name is “Bloom” and just last fall Southern Soapers Fragrances released a Blooming White Tea fragrance oil! Blooming White Tea  is a delightfully aromatic flowering white tea with notes of aramanth and jasmine flowers, with tendrils of sweet lychee. Our Blooming White Tea fragrance embodies the essence of the delicate white teas that are hand picked from the first flush of immature tea leaves, carefully fashioned and tied into artistic bundles with fragrant and beautiful flowers intricately tied in the center. When these teas are steeped the bundle ‘blooms‘ into the most gorgeous work of art in the teapot! This lovely flowering white tea fragrance is as exquisite as these precious bundles.

 I am ordering up a few of these Blooming Teas today and can hardly wait to get them!

Gatherings Season Begins

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I have never been to a Soap Gathering. I never went to the Ebay Live Conventions when I was a Powerseller on ebay either. Not because I was not interested, but because there just never was the time. The Army seemed to always conspire to put my husband on PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders early spring, with a move in the summer, which commited my next 6 - 8 weeks to unpacking and reorganizing home and business in a new location. We’ve moved 11 times during the last 14 years. It never failed that the years we did not move to a new duty station my husband would be deployed overseas during the time frame Gatherings or Ebay Live took place. I used to accuse my husband of an Army Conspiracy because he was always called away during the summer, leaving me to always have to mow the lawn for him! Being a military family often puts one in communities that you have little family network to fall back on and just leave your five children while you take off for a 3 - 4 day jaunt also.

But this year, April 2008 to be exact, I get to attend a Soap Maker Gathering for the very first time! I am SO EXCITED!  Not only am I going to attend, but I am also going to demonstrate how I prepare a soapmaking formula on a LARGE scale. Southern Soapers Fragrances will even have a booth/table at the Georgia Spring Fling also!

I am really looking forward to meeting and putting faces to the many names that I have come to know in our Soap Community.  If you have not already signed up to attend then April 18 & 19, 2008 Georgia Spring Fling, than I hope you can consider it! I hope to see you there!

How To Make Bath Bombs

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Steve & Kathy at Coastal Scents made a great How To Video for making your own Bath Bombs.

This is a fun video, Kathy makes Bath Bomb Making look so very easy. Have fun watching, Steve & Kathy left the bloopers in too!

 Steve & Kathy sell Bath Bomb Kits at their Coastal Scents Bath Bomb Factory also.

Viral Marketing 101 for Soap Makers

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On Southern Soapers Forum we have been discussing ways to better market our soap, and the best return on investment for our time in doing so. This YouTube video addresses the concept of Viral Marketing for soap, soap being just an example but actually the focus if you are a soap maker. This is a fun, make-it-look-so-EASY video:

Do You Love Chocolate?

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I sure do!  Southern Soapers Fragrances very first scent to sell was a fragrance called Chocolate Truffle. The fragrance information was provided to us from Cindi Read of Cape Hope Soap. Cindi and I did a one-on-one swap in 2004, and when I received her box of soap I almost fell out of my chair over one of the soaps she sent to me.

In the box was a three layer bar called Chocolate Jones. One layer was fragranced with a deep, fudgey, chocolate truffle scent. Middle layer was a luscious, red mica tinted tart raspberry, and the top layer was a non-discoloring coconut fragrance. That top coconut layer was set up with a few peaks, like on a cream pie. The Chocolate Jones bar was to die for! Just an incredible olfactory scentsation, but I had to know where she got that chocolate fragrance. Cindi kindly shared that source and gave permission for Southern Soapers Fragrances to carry and distribute this as our Chocolate Truffle fragrance. The flashpoint is so very high on this fragrance that we can even ship it to most international destinations by USPS International also!

Later, Southern Soapers Fragrances assumed distribution of Andree Terry’s fragrances that she uses for her Andree’s Essential Soaps, Inc. business. One of the best selling fragrances she passed to Southern Soapers is the Chocolate Serendipity. Chocolate Serendipity has an almost identical scent to Chocolate Truffle, perhaps a bit more “Fudge Brownie” however. Customers repeatedly comment that their families demand brownies, or believe that brownies are being hidden from them, every time Chocolate Serendipity is used. Chocolate Serendipity though differs from Chocolate Truffle in that it has a very low flashpoint and can not ship by USPS at all, even domestic.

Both of these fragrances make the most luscious chocolate cold process soaps, candles, and bath & body products. Both are luxurious blenders with other scents, and perfumers use both the Chocolate Truffle and Chocolate Serendipity as an affordable chocolate accord in some of their perfume blending.

The photo at the top of this blog entry shows L. Annette Wilkins interpretation of beautiful Chocolate Valentine Hearts in cold process soap. L. Annette did a blind swirl to achieve the blond and dark swirls, as both Chocolate Truffle and Chocolate Serendipity darken to a milk chocolate shade of brown, as appropriate for this fragrance.

L. Annette’s soaps remind me of the fine Guylian Belgian Chocolates that my husband always brings home for me when he returns from one of his military deployments.

Aromatherapy Candles

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These candles are from my BloomWorks 2004 product line, and I have since changed packaging. I initially used essential oils, but due to concerns that the EO’s may affect people or pets adversely while being diffused through the air (cats are especially sensitive to essential oils, most are toxic to them, be sure to read The Lavender Cat), I have switched to using only fragrance oils for making my candles.

Instructions were included to discard the decorative herbs before burning the candle. The only one not shown here in the assortment above is the Three Kings Frank & Myrrh candle. It was dusted on the surface with a gleaming gold mica, and looked and smelled as if it were fit for a King! Clockwise from the top you see: Clove Eucalyptus, Rosewood Ylang, Patchouli Rose, Lavender Lime, and Almond Cassia.

Patchouli Rose has a sprinkle of a few pink rosebuds and petals.

Clove Eucalyptus showcased some eucalyptus leaf bits and a few clove buds. The Clove Eucalyptus was one of my favorites, with Almond Cassia and Three Kings Frank & Myrrh right behind it.

I did find a photo of the Three Kings Frank & Myrrh, but it is after we changed our photography style. This candle was the inspiration for the Southern Soapers Fragrance called Frankincense, Myrrh, & Gold.

Get Diana Out Of Jail

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Diana Burrell-Shipton is in jail.  Not for any crimes she has committed though (but don’t they ALL say that?).  Diana is in Jail with a “Do not Pass Go, Go Straight To Jail” ticket until she meets her Muscular Dystrophy Association fund raising goal. Diana is participating in a MDA Lock-Up, where local businesses and community leaders agree to be “arrested” (for having a big heart). They are jailed for their convictions until they post their bond (the goal they have agreed upon to help raise for further MDA research).

Today is January 26, 2008 and Diana only has until Feb 21, 2008 to post her bond and get out of jail!  Diana’s bond is $1,600. Diana’s has a volunteer page where you can post bail toward her ‘bond’ and successful Jail Break.

There is no minimum donation for the MDA, even a single dollar helps. Remember, a bucket fills one drop at a time. The MDA motto is “One person can make a world of Difference”. You too can help fight muscular disease by supporting Diana’s charity drive.

Diana is a soap maker in Ohio, and the owner of Diana’s Vintage & Gift Shop. Diana tries to do everything as naturally and environmentally friendly as possible including garden organically, recycle/precycle … and then use what she grows in her soaps, sachets and neck pillows.

You can contact the MDA at 888-HELP-MDA if you would like to participate in a MDA Lock-Up in your community also. I will post updates on Diana’s progress, and let you know if she is able to break out of jail.

Southern Soapers Fragrances will provide a $5.00 Gift Certificate to every contributor to Diana’s bond until Feb. 21, 2008.

Soap Luxuries from South Africa

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I want to share with you the soap art of Brunfelsia, a family operated soap company owned by Nadine Camara of South Africa. Brunfelsia is a ‘purveyor of fine soaps and skin care products’. Nadine’s daughter creates the marvelously playful and feminine pink pixie graphic design for the Brunfelsia theme, while Nadine is the master soap maker.

The top photo is Nadine’s Sin-Abon Soap, while directly below you can see an assortment of soaps sold by Brunfelsia. Brunfelsia is the home of the Original Toad Transformer also!

Those amazing double & triple decker stack jars that Nadine uses for her Treat Trio, Facial Set, and Toad Transformer are also available for purchase at the Southern Soapers Fragrance webstore now, after several months of waiting during the importation from South Africa. As you can see, the jars make a stunning product presentation with a multitude of applications.

Magnificent Blooms in January

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I have to share the splendor of this pink confection. Claudia Zehner of Sugarloaf Herb Farm sent this to me as a Christmas present. I should have taken a photograph of the incredibly artistic presentation her wrappings created also. This is a double Amarylis, meaning the flowers have fluffier, two sets of petals for each bloom. I diligently watered this glazed flower pot with just a nub sticking up for over three weeks with no response. Then suddenly about 10 days ago I spied green peaking out of that nub. Things progressed very rapidly after that!  That tiny peeping of green sprung up like spring with a vengence, becoming a strong stalk. Over the last 4 days the bud at the top slowly expoded into this profusion of pink and white fluff that even has a light delicate fragrance! I did not realize Amarylis had a scent, but this one has a light *green* odor that is best described as being “lily, airy, and clean”. But just look, isn’t this flower just exquisite?

Polar Express is cool as an Arctic Breeze

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Dawn M. has the most stunning soap created with Southern Soapers Polar Express fragrance. These swirls are just so perfect!

To see the rest of Dawn’s amazing soap collection, visit her Lady of Luxury, Luxurious Handmade Soaps website.

Red Velvet Cake - New Fragrance!

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Red Velvet Cake is as luxurious and decadent as the name implies. Delicious, tempting aromas of mild cocoa and tangy buttermilk topped with a rich cream cheese frosting create a fragrance that smells sensationally realistic! Strong and luscious, our Red Velvet Cake fragrance is a delectable slice of heaven that will transform your bath & body products. Red Velvet Cake soaps beautifully in our CP soap formulations with no acceleration.

Lily of the Valley

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Lily of the Valley is a timeless white floral that evokes the very essence of spring. Utterly romantic and feminine, Lily of the Valley is gently underscored with a delicate breath of shady woodland green. Middle notes of baby’s breath and periwinkle are finished with jasmine, baby roses, and sweet musk to create an incredibly realistic and true Lily of the Valley fragrance accord. Fresh green and woody notes, tenderly touched with the delicate scent of wet foliage and rain drenched earth create a gentle fresh breath of spring, that never seems to be out of place. Lily of the Valley soaps beautifully in our CP soap formulations with no acceleration and no discoloration.