buy 6 bars, get 1 free; free shipping on $40 orders

866-OAT-SOAP (866-628-7627)
info@HerbariaSoap.com

add to del.icio.us

add to StumbleUpon

“I actually like your soap so much that I have been giving them as gifts to my friends. Your soap has really improved my skin and I hope it does the same for my friends. I doubt that I could ever go back to
‘store’ soap.”

Kelly Glenn
Guilford, IN

Did you know?

The largest, most comprehensive study ever done comparing the effectiveness of hand hygiene products, released by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, found that “nothing works better in getting rid of disease-causing viruses than simply washing one’s hands with good old-fashioned soap and water.”

Frequently Asked Questions

“How do you make your soaps?”

herbaria makes its all natural handmade soaps the old-fashioned way We handcraft our soaps the old fashioned way, called cold process soap making. We use lye to convert food-grade vegetable oils to soap. This soap retains glycerin, a terrific skin softener. During the process, we add other moisturizing emollients such as shea butter or hemp seed oil so that your skin always feels clean yet silky smooth. For more details, see this newspaper feature.

“Why no vanilla or sandalwood scents?”

Herbaria soaps use only essential oils derived from plants by steam distillation, expression, or extraction. We do not use imitation fragrances. Nor do we use endangered plants, such as sandalwood and rosewood. If you are searching for a particularly lovely scent and don’t see it on our menu, most likely the natural source of fragrance is prohibitively expensive. Vanilla absolute, for example, currently costs around $1,500 a pound and would make a bar of soap cost about $30. We want our soaps to be an affordable luxury for you.

“Why is ‘all natural’ better anyway?”

Over millions of years, the world and its organisms have evolved together in a miraculously delicate balance. All-natural products help maintain that balance, while synthetic products can disrupt the evolutionary equilibrium.

“Why do you put oatmeal in your soaps?”

herbaria uses oatmeal in its all natural handmade soaps Oatmeal has exfoliating and colloidal properties. In the exfoliating action, oatmeal flakes scrub your skin and remove dead cells. The colloidal action of oatmeal binds moisturizing emollients to your skin so that it is softer and more elastic. Oatmeal also soothes and reduces redness, itching and minor skin irritations.

See all soaps containing oatmeal.

“Why don’t you make a liquid soap?”

We know that many of you enjoy the convenience of liquid soap but a natural liquid soap simply cannot be as moisturizing as our bar soaps. Natural liquid soaps can only be superfatted with water-soluble turkey red oil, a chemically altered form of castor oil. Herbaria’s best superfatting emollients, such as shea and cocoa butters, avocado, hemp seed and jojoba oils, are not water soluble. If we were to use them in a liquid soap, they would separate in the bottle.

We suspect commercial liquid soaps account for the increase in many skin problems today. Liquid soaps are probably not soap at all but detergents with emulsifiers, imitation fragrances, preservatives, colorants and clarifiers. Many of these ingredients are harsh, drying, and in some cases, hazardous to your health. Liquid soaps are also likely to contain environmentally damaging antibacterial agents.

“Don’t I need antibacterial soap?”

woman washing hands with herbaria all natural soap

Simply washing your hands with good old-fashioned soap and water is still considered an effective way to eliminate from your skin about 99.9% of all fungi, bacteria and viruses that contribute to the spread of disease. Adding antibacterial chemicals to soap does not improve the protection of your health. Furthermore, we at Herbaria object to the deposit of those contaminants into our rivers, streams and groundwater.

“How do Herbaria soaps compare with Dove?”

We believe, and our customers agree, that Herbaria soaps smell better, are more moisturizing, and last longer than Dove and other mass-produced soaps. We guarantee satisfaction or your money back.

Our soaps contain only vegetable oils and sustainable plant materials. Dove contains animal fat, petroleum derivatives, synthetic colorings and fragrances, and chemical preservatives such as titanium dioxide, 2,6-Di-t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT), sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

herbaria soaps are vegan and cruelty-free

More about Herbaria being cruelty-free.

“Which Herbaria soaps are the most moisturizing?”

All of our soaps are moisturizing. Every bar begins with olive oil, which for centuries has been esteemed for its excellent skin care. Every bar (except Old Fashioned Lye Soap) is superfatted, which means that additional emollients, such as shea butter, almond oil and cocoa butter, soften and soothe your skin.

Browse soaps by emollients.

“What's the best bar for sensitive skin?”

woman washing face with herbaria all natural soap We've gotten great feedback on our Lavender Oatmeal. Some have even claimed that it cleared up their eczema and psoriasis. Another soap to try is the Sensitive Skin Fragrance Free bar. Consider this, though: your sensitive skin issues may be related to unnatural ingredients prevalent in ordinary soaps, shampoos and detergents. For that reason, you may find that you can enjoy any of our natural bars.

“Can I shave with your soaps?”

Absolutely! Read more about enjoying the best shave ever.

“With so many choices, how do I choose the one bar I really like?”

try a different variety of herbaria soap every month Most of our customers try several varieties and discover they like them all.

“How long do bars last?”

Herbaria soaps last longer than equally sized brand-name soaps. The longer they are stored, the more their moisture evaporates and the harder and more long-lasting they become. Additionally, to extend the life of a bar, we suggest you keep it "high and dry." Use a soap dish that lifts it out of puddles and lets it dry out. You may want to follow our instructions below for making “soap-on-a-rope.”

“Do you make soap-on-a-rope?”

Nope. But you can! With a large finishing nail, put a small hole through one of our bars from front to back at least one inch from either end. Thread heavy twine or thin rope through the hole and then tie the ends. Suspend the bar from a hook in the shower and it will dry out nicely between uses.

Soap-on-a-rope is a good way to enjoy a variety of bars simultaneously. You may want May Chang for your morning shower, Bay Rum for your shampoo, Triple Mint Oatmeal after a workout, Lavender Oatmeal to relax you before bedtime...

“What do you do when a bar becomes just a sliver?”

It will stick to your next bar of soap when they’re both wet. You can collect the little bits in a sock and keep bathing. You can throw it in a load of laundry.

“Won't your soaps leave soap scum?”

We hope you aren’t choosing your soap on the basis of how clean it leaves your bathtub. Yes, real soap leaves a natural residue on bathroom surfaces. However, it cleans off easily with an earth-friendly household cleaner.

Any body soap product that claims not to leave a residue is most likely a detergent with a slew of questionable additives. We prefer to keep petrochemicals off our skin.

“Have you tried storing unused bar in your dresser drawers and linen closets for fragrant clothes and bedding?”

Yes. We’re glad you’ve discovered other ways to enjoy Herbaria soaps.

How long is the shelf life of your soap?

Kept cool and dry, our bars will be fine for several years. We’ve been making soap for over five years and have seen just a couple of bars turn bad.

We do not use preservatives to extend the shelf life of our soaps. Industrial preservatives such as parabens may be carcinogenic, current evidence suggests.

How long will the scents last? The more powerful essential oils, like lavender and eucalyptus, are quite long-lasting. We have a couple of five-year-old patchouli bars that are still fragrant. Lighter scents such as grapefruit or almond fade more quickly, in a year or so. However, the loss of scent is only from the surface. Use the bar and the scent will emerge.

The shortest-lived aspect of our soap is the natural color. Some varieties, exposed to bright sunlight, can show signs of fading in as little as several hours. On the flip side, other varieties may retain their full color a year or more. Still others, such as Lavender Oatmeal, have no added color and hence won’t change for years.

“Can you make the edges of your soap rounded?”

herbaria makes its all natural handmade soaps the old-fashioned way Because our goal is to make soap you can afford to enjoy and use every day, we don't form Herbaria bars in individual molds. We hand cut a large block of soap into bars. To trim the twelve edges on each bar (count ‘em) would add add a lot of extra labor and expense. You’ll notice, though, that the soap begins to round out after the first shower. If you'd like, bevel the edges of each new bar with a vegetable peeler.

“I have read that the palm oil industry has had some devastating effects on tropical forests in Indonesia and orangutan populations there. Do you know where your palm oil comes from?”

Herbaria takes extra care to purchase ingredients and supplies from sources that promote environmental sustainability, social and economic justice.

Our supplier has given us the answer to your question:

"Our palm fruit and palm kernel oil are from South America, grown in a region of the Amazon that was cleared by previous owners 30-40 years ago. The reestablishment of a forest crop has brought back many species of birds and other plants and animals. While not as diverse as native rainforest, it is a vast improvement over grasslands. We are conscious of where we purchase our oils and will continue to seek conscious growers and producers."

Any comments or suggestions?

If you have any suggestions or questions, don't hesitate to e-mail us.

pietrasanta sculptures

Ignaz Semmelweis

In 1847 Ignaz Semmelweis discovered the germ theory of disease and encouraged physicians to wash their hands before operations. His theories were not accepted right away and only earned widespread acceptance years after his death, when Louis Pasteur confirmed the germ theory.