Soaps Scented With Essential Oils
& More About Essential Oils and Sources (below)
Essential oils are obtained
from the part of the plant that possesses the fragrance of the
plant or flower in concentrated form. Essential oil is usually
obtained by steam distillation, whereas 'flower oils' are generally
extracted by using fats (a process called "enfleurage").
Essential oils do not contain alcohol or other solvents, or other
added fragrances, extracts, or essences.
The following soaps are
scented with pure essential or natural oils only:
| Apple |
("Spicy Apple")
- Essential oil of apple blossom. Pyrus malus. |
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| Balsam Fir |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of Peru Balsam, Myroxylon balsamum, from El Salvador |
| |
| Bay |
Essential oil of West Indian
bay. Pimenta racemosa.
Limited supply as of 5 Nov. '05, won't restock until summer
'06. |
| |
| Bergamot |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of Bergamot, Citrus Bergamia, from Italy. |
| |
| Cedarwood |
Essential oil of cedarwood, from
Port Orford, Oregon, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, and
from Himalayan India. |
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| Cinnamon |
Essential oil of cinnamon leaf,
from Ceylon. Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Note: This oil
naturally colors the soap reddish-brown. Please also note
that both cinnamon and clove can irritate sensitive skin;
so, while the actual amount of these spice oils within an
individual bar of soap is modest, "caveat emptor." |
| |
| Clove |
The steam-distilled essential
oil of clove bud, from Madagascar. Eugenia caryophyllata.
|
| |
| Eucalyptus |
Essential oil of eucalyptus,
80-85 per cent from Australia. Eucalyptus globulus. |
| |
| Geranium |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of Geranium, Pelargonium graveolens, from Egypt. |
| |
| Juniper Berry |
Essential oil of Juniper berry,
Juniperus communis, from India |
| |
| Lavender |
Combined essential oils
of lavender, from France and Oregon. Lavandula officinalis. |
| |
| Lavender-Oatmeal |
Lavender essential oil (as above), with unscented crushed
oatmeal - new as of Fall, 2007. This soap is simply a combination
of our Lavender and Oatmeal soaps, in response to the suggestions
and requests of many customers asking for a scented version
of our gardener's exfoliating oatmeal soap, or for a lavender
with "more to it." This is a surprisingly pleasant
combination we think you'll enjoy, and we welcome your feedback
if you try it! |
| |
| Lemon |
Expressed essential oil
of lemon, from California. Citrus limon. |
| |
| Lemongrass |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of Lemongrass, Cymbopogon flexuosus, from India. |
| |
| Lime |
Essential expressed oil of lime,
from Mexico. Citrus aurantifolia. |
| |
| Musk |
Actually musk ambrette; also
called ambrette seed, and musk mallow. Hibiscus moscheutos.
This is a low, woody plant indigenous to India. It is
also grown in Africa and Martinique. The plant's pods hold
a prolific number of brown seeds, of a musky odor, used
by perfumers.
Note: Animal-based musk
oil, from the male Himalayan musk deer, is Moschus moschiferus.
The actual musk scent, from the musk pod glands near the
sexual organs, are said to have a "delicious, lightly
sweet scent" the well-known, strong musk odor. Obtaining
this natural oil, however, requires the death of the animal,
after which the pod glands are dried and aged by perfumers.
We regard the intentional slaughter of musk deer for perfumery
and profit as unconscionable, and therefore do not use this
type of musk oil. |
| |
| Orange |
Essential oil of Sweet Orange,
from Florida. Citrus sinensis. |
| |
| Orange, Spicy |
("Spicy Orange")
- Essential oil of Sweet Orange, from Florida.Citrus sinensis.
Enhanced with organic ground cinnamon and clove spices. |
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| Patchouli |
Essential oil of dark patchouli,
East Indian and Indonesian. Pogostemon cablin.
Limited supply as of 5 Nov.
'05, won't restock until summer '06. |
| |
| Peppermint |
Essential oil of peppermint, native
to Oregon. Mentha piperita. |
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| Pine |
Essential oil of Ocean pine, from
France. Pinus palustris. |
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| Rosemary |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, from Morocco |
| |
| Sandalwood |
Essential oil of White Mysore
sandalwood, from East India. Santalum album. |
| |
| Savory |
Essential oil of mountain savory,
native to France. Satureja montana. |
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| Spruce |
Essential oil of Eastern Hemlock
spruce, from Canada. Tsuga canadensi. |
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| Tea Tree |
Steam-distilled essential oil
of tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, from Australia |
| |
| Vanilla |
Essential oil of vanilla; domestic
variety. Vanilla planifolia. Note: This oil naturally
colors the soap brown and/or brownish-red. |
| |
| Ylang-Ylang |
Essential
oil of Ylang Ylang, extracted and steam-distilled, from
Madagascar. Cananga Odorata Genuina.
|
| |
Essential Oils, Aromatherapy & Healing: References
For those wanting further
information about essential oils, their sources, their aromatherapy
or medicinal associations, and other meanings based on historical
or current lore, we recommend several websites and books of possible
interest.
Please Note: These
references are provided for the curiosity of those interested
in essential oils, to complement the information given under "Soap
Ingredients." The information refered to is not intended as a
method of diagnosis or treatment of any kind of illness, health
problem or condition, or other physical or psychological health
concern. If you have such a concern, consult with a qualified
physician or other licensed practitioner. Colestin Caprines, Inc.,
is not liable or responsible for the misuse of any of the information
refered to here.
Websites:
Liberty
Natural Products, a Portland, Oregon-based company, specializes
in marketing high-quality essential oils, fragrances, and many
other natural supplies, in amounts ranging from small personal
ounce-sizes to bulk-quantities. They publish their full catalogue
online, and also have a regular paper catalogue, which can be
ordered online. Liberty's website contains a wealth of information
about essential oils and their essential oil sources, and we highly
recommend it.
For those interested in the use of essential oils as consciousness
tools, author and medical intuitive Caroline
Myss discusses various essential oils and their properties
as they pertain to states of mind, emotion and spirit, including
associations with the human energy chakras.
For a source of very high-grade essential oils for personal use,
and more lore on the associated benefits and properties of pure
essential oils, Young
Living Essential Oils is a potential resource, with a vast
array of both common and sometimes hard-to-find high-quality essential
oils available.
Books:
The Complete Book of Essential
Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. New World Library
Pub. San Rafael, Ca.: 1991. "Over 600 Natural, Non-toxic &
Fragrant Recipes to Create Health * Beauty * A Safe Home Environment."
A compendium of information, ranging from basic beauty aids and
formulas, use of essential oils in cooking and around the home,
to medicinal associated uses of essential oils, addressing many
specific physical conditions and circumstances. One of the contemporary
"bibles" of essential oils.
Aromatherapy: Scent and Psyche (Using Essential Oils for Physical
and Emotional Well-Being) by Peter & Kate Damian. Published
by Healing Arts Press. Rochester, Vermont: 1995. A very well researched
and documented in-depth discussion of the origins, history, and
practices of using essential oils for aromatherapy. Besides extensive
general and specific information on essential oils, there are chapters
on "Phytoaromatherapy and the Theory of Disease", "Smell
and the Psychology of Scent", "Psychotherapeutic Effects
of Essential Oils", and "The Chemistry of Essential Oils".
Also includes an "Essential Oil Quick Reference Table"
and a "Chakra Oil Blending Guide" in the appendix. A very
recommendable reference. |
