Almonds: very finely ground almonds are a natural exfoliant and very slight bleaching agent; helps to cleanse skin; provides a nutty aroma
Bee Pollen: said to be uplifting and often used as an energizer; dissolves in the bath; adds a sweetish-honey aroma
Beeswax: natural animal wax from the honeycomb of the honey bee; too much can make a melt-n-pour soap bar soft or end up with hard bits of wax if not quickly and thoroughly blended in to the soap base at the beginning of the melting process; reduces lather; highly regarded for moisturizing; golden amber in color; highly fragrant offering a honey scent
Cardamom: native to Asia; should be finely ground for soaps and bath products; considered warming, uplifting and an energizer; offers a warm spicy fragrance
Cinnamon: works as a cleanser and is believed to reduce stress; too much in a soap can make it scratchy and uncomfortable to use; finely ground gives a soft speckled brown effect; offers a warm and spicy aroma
Citrus peel (Lemon, Orange, Lime, Grapefruit): considered an astringent and a cleanser; offers an upbeat and energizing fragrance
Cocoa butter: a fat that comes from crushed seeds of the cacao tree is separated during the process of making cocoa; solid at room temperature; melts when warmed; makes soap creamy; excellent moisturizer
Cornmeal: great for exfoliating soaps; offers a bit of a yellow beige color; no scent and doesn’t typically effect other fragrances
Glycerin: a compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; clear, oily, sticky liquid added as an emollient
Green tea: made tea leaves that are picked and dried, rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and indoles which help boost immunity and fight disease, offers an rejuvenating fragrance
Honey: produced by bees with main components of sugar and water but does contain small amounts of organic products, thought to have curative properties, contains a germ-killing substance called inhibine thought to help disinfect and heal minor burns and abrasions as well as moisturize the skin, considered uplifting and relaxing ~*special note: do not use unpasturized honey in bath and body products that will be used on small children and infants~*
Lavendar: used for centuries for personal cleansing; considered relaxing and healing
Loofah sponge: used to exfoliate skin and improve circulation
Mica Pigment Powders: creates a metallic or sparkly look, should be used in small amounts
Oatmeal: use only regular (not instant) oats for body products, extremely soothing to the skin and considered to be healing to irritated skin, excellent for helping to relieve the effects of chicken pox
Olive Oil: strongly scented oil used to heal and soothe sensitive skin, brings a stable lather to soaps, considered to be an emollient and conditioning
Poppy Seeds: use only in small amounts, exfoliates, cleanses and stimulates the skin
Powdered Milk: a natural cleanser, use in small amounts in soap base to avoid softening soaps
Rosemary: considered soothing and helps improve circulation, scent is refreshing and rejuvenating
Shea Butter: excellent moisturizer, very soothing to the skin
Seaweed: considered to be helpful in restoring and smoothing the skin
Vitamin E oil: excellent healing oil and antioxidant as well as a natural preservative
Wheat Bran: adds bulk and texture and gently exfoliates and stimulates skin
Considerations for Additives:
Additives that are natural should not automatically be considered safe for bath and body products
Start with small amounts of any additive because they can change the overall outcome of your product
Natural additives that have not been properly processed or dried can cause your soap to ruin and/or turn rancid
