A list of commonly asked questions from curious people!
Q: Are your soaps safe for people with Eczema?
A: First off, eczema is such a broad term, and people have very different skin types that perhaps may be sensitive due to different reasons. My initial goal in my business is to make soap for people who have these kinds of picky skin, but it does not mean that all people who have eczema will enjoy my soap, unfortunately. I have done a couple things differently with my soap, compared to other soapmakers and companies:
1) Avoid common oils that may trigger skin allergy--the handmade soap bars do not contain nut oils, olive oils, or coconut oils.
2) In addition, I have a line of soaps that do not contain any added fragrances, so no essential oils or synthetic fragrances. Yes, even essential oils can irritate some peoples' skin.
3) Stearic Acid is usually the fatty acid profile that provides soaps with the 'bubbly' and 'cleansing' properties that strip the top layer of your skin from oil, giving you the 'squeaky clean' feeling. The recipe for my soap contains a lot less than the average soap. The soaps barely strip the top layer of oil off your skin, and thus, make incredible hand soaps that you can wash repeatedly without drying your hands out (you can test it with one of my bar soaps vs liquid hand soap if you don't believe me)
Q: Why do the 'Fragrance-Free' products still have a smell?
A: Fragrance-Free does not mean there is no smell. It means that there are no synthetic fragrances or essential oils added. HOWEVER, oils infused in herbs is an exception, and give off very little if any additional smell than whatever it naturally smells like. What you are likely smelling from soap is the natural smell of soap, and what you are smelling from the balms is just what natural oils and wax smells like.
Q: There are items in the package that I didn't order! What's going on?
I include freebies to most orders over $15. If you are a new customer, I usually include a free soap-saver bag with a purchase of $18 worth of soaps or more.
High quality seeds are often provided too. They all come from my backyard, and I collect the seeds myself--no seeds will be included in international orders. If you would like flower seeds vs. vegetable seeds vs. herb seeds, feel free to leave a message if you order more than $15. I will do my best to accomodate.
Q: When will my product arrive?
A: Due to the post office being located in a neighborhood that is highly susceptible to assault and robbery, I only make an effort to go to the post office once a week, usually on Wednesday. Please understand my situation, and please be patient.
note: I do not ship during heatwaves in the Bay Area, and also during extreme weather conditions (such as fire) in the Bay Area.
Q:Are your products 'natural'?
A: The majority of ingredients are made of organic or naturally derived ingredients, but not all. The majority of the fragrances used are synthetic fragrances, but not all. I also use preservatives in a few items to deter mold growth. All micas are synthetic/lab created, although I usually use herb infused oils and clay to color my soap.
Q: Do you test your products on animals?
A: All animal products have been tested on humans first, THEN on animals by willing volunteers. Many cats have raved over the quality of the catnip toys :3
No skincare product for humans is tested on animals.
Q:Does your product have coconut or nut oils?
A:
Currently, the only product that has nut oils is the Shea Butter soap. Everything else is free of nut and/or coconut oils.
-Some products may have been derived from coconuts, such as glycerin and activated charcoal.
Q:Are your products Vegan?
A: Not all products. Some soaps contain animal products. Beeswax was used for the lip balm-this beeswax was harvested after the nest of the local bee farm was deserted.
Q: What does some of your allergen warnings contain 'MAY CONTAIN ____ oil' or 'MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF ____ oil'?
A: In my recipe, I definitely did NOT use the oil. However, I may have created a soap or product that contained that oil previously, and even though I double-clean and sanitize my containers and tools before using, there MAY be a chance that super tiny percentage is still stuck in that container.
Q: What is your return/refund policy?
A: The only exception for a refund is if the item came in SEVERELY damaged to the point where nothing can be salvaged. You must show a picture of the inside and outside packaging and item and email me about it. My soaps have been cured and hardened to the point that if it drops on the floor, it will dent but not crumble, so there is practically no soap loss if such a thing does occur.
Q: Do you do soap commissions?
A: Contact me about this if you're interested!
I can do:
-bulk order soaps
-soaps/sprays/balms with custom labelling
-custom illustration
-short comics
Q: Are you interested in doing a soap collaboration?
A: I would most likely LOVE TO!
If you are a sculpture artist that has silicone molds, it's absolutely possible to make and pour soap into those molds :3
Q: What about Wholesale/can I sell your product in my shop?
A: Please contact me first. The short answer is yes after you get my permission. Wholesale soaps will be sold in larger batches for a cheaper price.
Q: What is your soap/skincare recipe?
A: The ingredients are listed on the back of the labels.