The difference between fragrance oil, "essense of" oils and essential oils

It has frustrated me for a long time that some makers of soaps and lotions will put "all natural" soap or lotion when they use a fragrance oil. Ok I give them credit that maybe the soap base or lotion base may be all natural but once you add a fragrance oil or "essense of" oil the product you are buying is NOT a all natural product. Fragrance oils can containup to 4,000 manmade chemicals. Chances are if you had a reaction to a product is most likely the fragrance oil added. I ran into this frustion at the Johnny Appleseed Festival (love that fest and go every year!) here in Fort Wayne today. Like many home business people I love to check out the competion. I learn a few things and so do they thru conversation. I wondered into a soap tent there today and was reviewing the ingredients on a homemade soap. I spyed a Honeysuckle soap that had essense of honeysuckle listed. I asked the person that made the soap where did they find a essense of honeysuckle when I hadn't been able to find any natural honeysuckle oils. What I was told was that they do put essential oils in the soaps but somethings can not be found such as the honeysuckle in a natural state. I stated "So you add a fragrance oil to this supposedly all natural soap" and the answer was "yes". I told them the label was very misleading - it is worded to make people think they are getting a all natural product when they really are not. The soapmaker replied - these people don't care about that. They just want something that smells good. When I asked what would they do if a person that has a fragrance allergy had a reaction their response was "Everybody is allergic to something"

It seems that it truly is the consumers responsibity to watch out for yourself. Questions to ask when buying a "natural product" is if there is a fragrance oil or essense of oil added. If it is a liquid lotion there has to be some type of preservative added. While a advocate all natural products as a intensive care nure I am also a realist. We do put a commerically produced preservative in the pump lotion because it does have water but it is the closest thing to natural and is what is used in the vaccines given for flu, pneumonia, etc. The difference is we point this out right away to prospective customers. We are all about education and safety. You will never find a fragrance oil in our products. The soaps, lotion bars and lip balms do not require a preservative as they do not have water in them.

Makin soap...old school

Ok, so I haven't figured out this whole blog thing, and posting pictures with comments and such, but I can make soap! If you look at the previous pics in order, First, you chop the frozen hunks of suet or porcine fat. This works best when it is frozen. You also don't have to do 26 lbs of it at a time, like I did this time! You can make soap with virtually any amount of fat or oils. Next, heat the fat until it is completely liquid. For this large of a batch, yes, I used my big turkey cooker outside. After the fat has been purified and deodorized, I pour it into 5 lb. batches. The impurities stay in the water, and the pure tallow solidifies at the top. Rinse these tallow hunks off, and they are ready to be made into soap or candles!!! This batch was used for soap. It made about 120 bars, 7 different kinds. These are curing on racks for 3 to 6 weeks until ready for use. If you have ever used natural tallow soap, I KNOW you're goin...oooo baby! If you never have, well, you just have to experience the softness and lather of it to appreciate it. No worries about damaging ph levels on your skin, either. I will post a couple of recipes using beef and or pork fats later this week. (yes, sally, I promise)

Dupont Downs Farmers Market

Come see us at Dupont Downs Farmers Market each Thursday! It is growing each week and we have got some great new soaps - Rosemary Mint with Mango Butter; Rooibos Red Tea and Rosehip Seed OIl; Evening Primrose and Wild Cherry Bark. Wild Cherry Bark is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Evening Primrose is great for dry or mature sking as is Rosehip Seed Oil. Rooibos Red Tea is chocked full of antioxidents that fight free radicals and help reduce wrinkles.

Country Heritage Winery

Another awesome place to shop local is Country Heritage Winery on Hwy 3 not to far past the Huntertown turnoff. This is a new winery that is owned and run by the owners of Blueberry Acres. I buy the bees wax from them to use in my lotions, lip balm and soap. Not only are they offer some of the best wines I've ever tasted but they are offering locally made jams and preserves, soaps, lotions and lip balms. They plan to keep adding local products to their store. Go to the web site link posted for more details and hours.

Locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers

I know I'm a little prejudice toward buying local, natural & organic as possible but I have to rave about the tomatoes and cucumbers I bought at Dupont Downs yesterday. The tomatoes were so tasty and perfect in shape and size. The cucumbers were HUGE and tasted like cucs should. I was surprised when I found out they were grown in a local greenhouse in Cedarville - Cedar Creek Farms. These were nothing like the ones you get in grocery stores. The vendor picks them the morning of the market so you know they are fresh.

New to the market is "A Taste of Shipsewanna". A baker that has the most mouthwatering baked goods. From seasonal pies (rhubarb pie this week), breads, cookies, peach & cream fry patty and a blueberry lemon bread I couldn't resist.

Starting the June 16th a semi precious jewelry maker will be joining our growing market family. They stopped by Thursday. The wife had on some of the most beautiful jewelry.

Stop by and see everyone, I think you will like it.

Gardening prep

Gardening season is here! Seems like a long Spring here in NE Indiana but it is finally dry and warm enough to play in the dirt. Today I'm adding compose that has been "seasoning" for the past year. All kinds of great veggie scraps, grass clippings and leaves. This type if compose is great to add in the spring but if you are using manure from your own (or like me and get it from friends) chickens, cows, etc work it in during the fall. It can heat up to much in the Spring or Summer sun and burn the roots of your plants. Store bought in the bag can be added in the spring. Container gardening is great for city dwellers or those that can't bend over have bad knees. You will be amazed at what all you can grow. My own mother does tomatoes, onions, green peppers. Two tomato plants keeps her more than supplied. She dries, freezes, and gives me extra to add to what I can. By doing this you can have great produce during those winter months. You know where it came from and the manner it was grown in. You will be eating healthier and saving money. That's what I call a winning combo.

Tomorrow is planting time for me. How are you doing your garden?