Hiya!
This subject has really pressed my brain this week so I thought I'd
address it. As I've said, I didn't plan
to be in the business of making body care products. But after I met my personal body care needs
and was asked to make my products available to others, my first thoughts were
to other people's safety and to my making the best products I could. I decided
to take classes from a woman who was herself, professionally trained and
certified to formulate and make body care products.
Currently my instructor consults with natural product
making businesses and individuals on custom formulations and she also works
with them in moving their businesses forward to the next level. She has given
me a lot of additional training and support beyond the courses I've completed. This wonderful woman is also a certified aromatherapist
and herbalist and I've completed several of her lessons. What I learned in her
classes, from her literature and within our personal connection has given me
the foundation for making the products I do. I am glad that during my classes
and the other research I've done that I've learned and understood what certain
words really mean. I'd like to share
them with you.
Like myself, many people often refer to essential oils and fragrance
oils interchangeably because of their similarities, but some important
differences distinguish them from each other. What are the differences?
Essential oils are natural chemicals that are extracted from the leaves,
flowers, stems, roots or bark of plants. They are not true oils, but are the
aromatic and volatile essences obtained from botanicals. Volatile doesn't mean
dangerous. With essential oils the molecules are so small they evaporate
easily. It is this distinction that
makes them different from a fragrance or natural oil. The molecules are so small they are skin
permeable, absorbed through the skin or by inhalation.
If you'd like to read more about Essential Oils, please click this link.
http://www.essanteorganics.com/Portals/0/Why%20Essential%20Oils%20Work.pdf
Fragrance oils, also called perfume oils, are usually man made, synthetic.
Typically chemists analyze the plant's components and reproduce their chemical
compositions. In the past, there have been ingredients used in making fragrance
oils that have given various people negative effects. Personally, some fragrances induce migraine
headaches and make me severely nauseous. However, recently, many companies have
begun offering "plant based" fragrance oils.
Plant based fragrance oils are certified to be free of synthetic
ingredients. In addition to pure natural essential oils and extracts these oils
also contain naturally derived isolates and raw botanical ingredients. Because
there are other natural additions made to the plant based fragrance oils, they
are not 100% essential oils, the molecules structure is larger and should not
be used as aromatherapy oils.
So we know better what the
"aroma" oils are. What about the ingredients body care products are
made of, the natural oils? Natural oils are also called fixed
oils or carrier oils and they do not evaporate like essential oils. Each oil
has different properties and will impart those properties into the body care
products that are made. This is where my
research is focused when I am formulating a product.
The word "natural" in context of body care
products has been broad stroked. I
learned "natural" to be and continue to see that term as: cosmetics and
body care products that are made from raw materials sourced from nature, such
as plants, minerals and from renewable natural sources. The raw materials go
through the least amount of processing and the processing methods that cause
the least impact to humans, animals and the earth. Natural cosmetics assist to
beautify and promote radiant body, skin and hair. No petroleum ingredients are
used. No animal testing is done.
I take my time when it comes to the products I
make. When I have a need to meet, like
dry skin or someone who is dealing with eczema, I look at all the ingredients
known to give relief in those areas. I
am not a doctor and my customers know that.
If I am asked, I willingly offer the source of the information I've
used. When I make my products and sticking to the concept of minimal processing,
I use the least amount I can. Instead of
using large, factory sized equipment, I use small, handheld instruments that
don't over heat the ingredients.
SweetSavours' products are small batch, handcrafted
natural body care products. The key to
everything I make begins with what's in my heart. I want the people who use my products to get
the best I can give them. I don't want
to offer a product the I won't use myself or that I'm not proud to offer.
I hope I've given you a little more information to help you
understand some of the terminology your hear about the products you purchase
from SweetSavours or other places. If
you have any questions, you know I'll give you and answer.
As always, thanks for bloggin' by. I hope you have a
very "sweet" day,
Sherri
