If you haven't tried home made soaps...

...and wonder what all the fuss is about, read on! Long ago, soap companies began removing glycerin and other great natural soap ingredients to increase profits. This required the need to add other less "skin-friendly" chemicals. (Just read the ingredients label on your store purchased bar of soap.) This process made "soap" more detergent than true soap. Soap cannot be made without using lye (Sodium Hydroxide). Before you panic, let me explain. Lye is used in the soap-making process but the finished product contains NO LYE. When mixed with the skin-loving oils used in my soap, lye goes through a chemical change called saponification. The lye is gone and all you have left is a truly wonderful product that will clean your skin without drying it out! You will love the feel and you will find that handmade soaps lasts longer than commercially made "soap."

It's not too late to order gifts for the holidays!

I had a great time at St Margaret's Holiday Bazaar yesterday and it was good to see so many nice people, friends and familiar faces.

There was a lot of interest in the herbal soaps and soy candles, and I nearly sold out of both. That means the elves will be busy filling orders for the holiday candles at least, as the herbal soaps won't be restocked until after the holidays. But I do have some soaps left, so don't be discouraged about calling for some.

Holiday Soy Candle Scents include:

• Christmas Tree EO



• Holiday Aromatherapy Blend EO



• Franincense & Myrrh EO



• Frankincense & Myrr Cedarwood Orange EO



• Orange Cinnamon & Cloves



• Peppermint EO



• Pumpkin Pie FO

Wonderful Holiday Fragrances

The holidays are upon us and the soap and candle kitchen has been busy. Orders are coming in for candles with the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving and Christmas. See the list below for available fragrances. If you have a special scent you like and it isn't on the list, let me know and I will get it for you.

Thanksgiving & Christmas Candles

• Oh, Tannebaum, Christmas Tree scent EO
• Frankincense & Myrrh Cedarwood Orange EO
• Frankincense & Myrrh EO
• Orange Cinnamon & Cloves FO
• Peppermint EO
• Pine EO
• Pumpkin Pie FO
• Spruce EO

Other Wonderful Scents

Almond & Honey EO
Chocolate Mousse FO
Eucalyptus EO
Heaven Scent (Jasmine, Musk & Patchouli) EO
Lavender EO
Lemon, Freshly Squeezed Lemon EO

Lemon Lime EO
Orange Cucumber EO
Patchouli EO
...and many others

EO=essential oil FO=fragrance oil

Chamomile-Lavender Herbal Dream Soap

I made a new soap today.

Oooo Baby. This soap has a very nice combination of organically grown chamomile and Lavender essential oil, with a generous dose of Jasmine, Rose and Sandalwood essential oils. And you can’t have chamomile without a bit of honey.

All of this is blended into my favorite Olive Oil soap recipe (with coconut and palm oils). Grapefruit seed extract and honey act as natural preservatives. Chamomile is perhaps the world's most soothing herb; it can be used to treat skin inflammation and sunburns .

Chamomile is relaxing as a wash or compress for skin inflammations, sunburn, burns, and added to bath for relaxing tired, achy muscles and feet, and softening the skin.

So use it to bathe or shower, then sit and relax with a cup of tea and ponder your accomplishments of the day.