What is in your handmade soap?

Ever wonder what is in your soap?

I only purchase handmade soap, so it's got to be good for me....right?

I am making a business plan for my soap company and got to research the competitors! My main concern was 'what do they put in their bars!?' and boy was it a shock!

Without naming names, here is what you should try to avoid when purchasing handmade soap (in red)!

EDTA: 
"Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, widely abbreviated as EDTA (for other names, see Table), is anaminopolycarboxylic acid and a colourless, water-soluble solid. Its conjugate base is namedethylenediaminetetraacetate. It is widely used to dissolve limescale."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylenediaminetetraacetic_acid

Did they just say "DISSOLVES LIMESCALE?" Do you want to suds your baby up in that? I think not!

Triethanolamine:
"Reports indicated that TEA causes an increased incidence of tumor growth in the liver in female B6C3F1 mice, but not in male mice or in Fischer 344 rats.^[11] A 2004 study concluded "TEA may cause liver tumors in mice via a choline-depletion mode of action and that this effect is likely caused by the inhibition of choline uptake by cells."^[11]"
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triethanolamine

Again, why would you put a product that has studied on 'animals' in your finished product? As a manufacturer of handmade soap, you should be aware of the contents of your soap. Why would anyone want to put an agent that is known to cause tumors in their product? 

Another company had this: 
Our soaps are handmade from virgin vegetable oils (olive, coconut, soy, palm, sweet almond, sunflower, apricot kernel, and/or avocado), lye, and distilled water. Additions are noted with descriptions.

You can't even read the ingredients within the soap until you purchase it! Are they from sustainable oils? I'd avoid this one all together!

One company claimed they were all organic and then I read this in their Sandalwood soap:

Phalate-free Fragrance

"Fragrance oil(s), also known as aroma oils, aromatic oils, and flavor oils, are blended synthetic aroma compounds or natural essential oilsthat are diluted with a carrier like propylene glycol, vegetable oil, or mineral oil. Aromatic oils are used in perfumery, cosmetics, flavoring of food, and in aromatherapy."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragrance_oil

Key word: synthetic! I have fragrance in some of my soaps! I use it in my Orange Sandalwood soap because I refuse to be a part of the destruction of the Sandalwood tree. But if you are going to say you are all organic and natural...Don't put a fragrance in your soap! 

So what I am trying to say is ...before you lather up, make sure you know what is in your bath with you!

Okie Suds contains some/most of these ingredients: 

Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Palm Kernal Oil, Canola Oil, Water, Sodium Hydroxide (lye), Essential oils, Fragrance Oils, Dead Sea Salt, Grade 1 Lavender Buds, Jojoba Beads, Shredded Loofah, Pink Sea Salt, and Iron Oxide.

Please look on my website: www.okiesuds.com for an entire list of ingredients. Click on the soap and it will come up! I will be adding more clays in the future for colorant. I will also make more soaps that contain only essential oils. We have two soaps that contain only essential oils: Lavender Oatmeal and Rosemary Sage.
We are committed to your health and safety of your family and friends! Choose Okie Suds for all of your homemade soaping needs!