One of my new preparedness skills is making soap. I have really gotten into it. Now I'd like to find a source for oils I can trust not to contain pesticides or chemicals from processsing. Especially palm and coconut oils. Any ideas? Than

-- Shivani Arjuna (Sarjuna@aol.com), March 13, 2000

Answers

I purchased some essence oils from 2 companies that put their products up on Ebay for auction. Eucalyptus, and a few others. They usually have links to their websites when you bring up their item. Perhaps do a search for oil on Ebay and see if some come up. Their quality was very good and the information on their sites was pretty complete, it has been a while and I don't have their direct link anymore.

Hope this gives some help

-- Sammie (sammiex0@yahoo.com), March 13, 2000.

www.youngliving.net/corporate

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), March 13, 2000.

Me Again

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), March 13, 2000.

I'll get this sooner or later This One

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), March 13, 2000.

Sorry, don't know why it picks up greenspun, doesn't show when I put the addy in. Copy and paste I guess. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), March 13, 2000.

Young Living Essential Oils

-- (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 14, 2000.

www.herbco.com

-- Carol (2gkr14@usa.net), March 14, 2000.

Ok guys,

Dumb question. Can you use aloe vera liquid straight from the plant? If so, how? Already have and use the plants for other things, just curious if they could be used in the soap.

Thanks,

Janette

-- me (me@me.com), March 14, 2000.

It's good to keep an Aloe growing in the house. If someone gets a burn break off a leaf and spread the juice on the burn. It works great.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), March 15, 2000.

Janette, Yes, you can use aloe in soap, but the lye will eat up most of it. It will eat up a bit less if you add the aloe after the soap has traced, just before you pour it into the molds.  Or you can "rebatch." That is making basic soap then grating it up and remelting it after a few days, adding special oils, herbs, etc, and molding it again. This way, the lye is pretty much finished with the saponification process, and your special ingredients do not get eaten up by it.  Some folks have a real hassle with this rebatching process, but it goes pretty well if you add a bit of glycerin and use high proof grain alcohol instead of water. (-Being careful with the alcohol around open flame. In small batches, not enough fumes build up to be dangerous. Just keep the bottle away from flame.

-- Shivani Arjuna (Sarjuna@aol.com), March 15, 2000.