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Many of Natures Garden's customers make homemade cold process soap, and we are the wholesale supplier of fragrance oil for many of these soap companies. Although we do not yet sell the soap oils mentioned in this article, we asked Kimberly Sanchez of Natures Art if she could explain the properties of soap oils to customers who desire to expand their line into cold process soap. Some of these soap oils can be found at your local grocery store. We hope that this information is as enlightening to you as it was to us.This is not a complete list, Just the most commonly used oils Apricot Kernel Oil: Apricot kernel oil is a light oil. It absorbs nicely into the skin and is a good luxury conditioning oil in soap - at about 5% -10%. Almond Oil, Sweet: A moisturizing oil that is very light and absorbs well. In soap it produces a low, stable lather, but is recommended to not use it more than about 5% - 10% in soap - as it's not a hard oil. Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is a heavy, green, rich, moisturizing oil that has a high percentage of unsaponifiables. It's often used in soap recipes for people with sensitive skin. It's high in vitamins A, D & E. You can use it in your recipes from 5% - 30% Babassu Oil: Babassu oil comes from the kernels of the babassu palm. Its fatty acid makeup is very similar to palm kernel and to coconut oil. It's high in lauric and myristic acid, which contribute to a nice, fluffy lather. Canola Oil: Canola, a kind of rapeseed, is a good economical oil for soap making - you can substitute a portion of your olive for canola, or use it as part of your batch at 10-15%. It gives a nice, low, creamy lather and is moisturizing. It will slow down the rate at which your soap will get to trace, so it's a good oil to add if you're doing complicated swirls or colors. Castor Oil: Castor oil is a thick, clear oil that helps increase the lather in soap - a rich, creamy lather. It's also a humectant (attracts moisture to your skin) oil. Just a little will do...5% - 8% in your recipe will work great. Cocoa Butter: As it is very hard saturated fat, use with other more unsaturated oils like olive or castor. Use in conjunction with more sticky ingredients such as shea butter or lanolin. Using too much cocoa butter will result in a dry, exceptionally hard bar of soap. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is one of the primary oils soapmakers use in their soap. Most of the coconut oil sold and used has a melt point of 76 , but there is a hydrogenated type that melts at 92 . Some soapmakers prefer this one because it's easier to scoop - but either version works the same to give tremendous, bubbly lather to your soap. It also makes for a very hard, white bar of soap. The collective opinion is that using more than 20% coconut oil in your recipe will be drying to the skin. Corn Oil: It acts like most of the other vegetable liquid oils like soybean or canola. It can be used as part of your recipe (10-15%) and will help give a moisturizing, stable lather. Grape seed Oil: Grape seed oil is a lightweight, moisturizing oil that is a good additive to soap in small quantities. It doesn't have a long shelf life, so unless you treat it with rosemary oleoresin extract, or have a very low superfat percentage, don't use it more than about 5% in your recipe. Hazelnut Oil: Hazelnut oil has a short shelf life (3-4 months). If you want to add it to soap, I wouldn't recommend using more than about 5-10% in your recipe because of the short shelf life. A lovely oil, but very fragile. Hemp Seed Oil: Hemp seed oil is a deep, green color with a light, nutty smell. It gives a light, creamy/silky lather. Because of its fatty acid makeup, it has a very short shelf life...less than six months...so it should be refrigerated or even kept in the freezer. It can be used as a luxury healing/moisturizing oil in soap up to 10%-15%. Jojoba Oil: Jojoba is actually a liquid wax. It contributes a nice stable lather, has remarkable absorption and moisturizing qualities and unlike some of the other luxury moisturizing oils, has a very long shelf life - 1-2 years. Use it at 5-10% maximum. Lard: Lard makes a super-hard, very white bar of soap with a low, creamy, stable lather that is, believe it or not, nicely moisturizing. Before vegetable oils were commonly available, it was one of the main fats (along with beef tallow) that folks used to make soap. If you use animal oils in your soap, then combining lard with some of the other liquid oils like coconut and olive makes a wonderful, well balanced bar of soap - and is really economical. Make sure your lard is fresh and of high quality. Use it at any percentage in your recipe, but I recommend not much more than 30-40% or so. Cold process laundry soap can be made with 100% lard with a 0% superfat percentage. Olive Oil: Extra virgin and virgin olive oils come from the very first gentle pressing of the olives. The refined, or Grade A oil comes from the second pressing, and is lightly refined/filtered. 100% olive oil makes the famous "Castille soap" and "Marseille soap" must contain at least 72% olive oil. Olive oil is generally the #1 oil in most soap makers' recipes. Olive oil soaps are very moisturizing, make hard, white bars of soap and are exceptionally mild. But the lather from Castille soap is low and a bit slimy. Most soap makers combine olive oil with other oils to improve the lather. Pomace grade olive oil is a thick, rich, green grade of olive oil that is obtained by solvent extraction of the fruit and pits of the olives - what's left over after the first several pressings that give the virgin and Grade A oils. It has a very high level of unsaponifiables (the portions of the oil that don't react with the lye to form soap.) This will make your trace time quicker. Macadamia Nut Oil: Macadamia nut oil is a light oil with a mild nutty odor. It is unique in its fatty acid makeup in that it contains palmitoleic acid - which makes it really easily absorbed into the skin - and is reported to be really great for older skin. Palm Oil: Palm oil, along with olive and coconut, is one of the top oils used by soap makers today. Because of the qualities it gives soap - a hard bar with a rich creamy lather. Palm Kernel Oil: Though it comes from the same plant/nut as palm oil does, palm kernel oil is almost identical in its soap making properties to coconut oil - giving a nice hard white bar of soap...with lots of luscious lather. Palm kernel oil is often available partially hydrogenated, in easy to handle/measure flakes...or just as a standard liquid oil. You can use it up to about 30% or 35% in your recipes. However, like palm oil, palm kernel oil is surrounded by the same environmental and human concerns. Rice Bran Oil: Expressed from the husks of rice, most soap makers found that rice bran oil imparted nearly the same creamy, moisturizing qualities that olive oil did to their soaps. It does have a lot of the same antioxidants and vitamins that olive has, and a similar fatty acid make up. The only disadvantage of rice bran oil is its short shelf life - (6 months or so.) Safflower Oil: Its fairly short shelf life. You can certainly use it in your recipes like you would soybean, canola or sunflower - at 5-15% or so. In soap, it is mild and moisturizing. Shea Butter: Moisturizing and nourishing. Fairly inexpensive and easy to find. Shea butter for soap making will add a wonderful creamy lather, great conditioning properties and some hardness to your soap. Soybean Oil: Soybean oil, like canola, safflower and sunflower, is often used as a portion of a soap making recipe in combination with other "core" oils like coconut, olive and palm. Use it 5-15% of your soap recipe. It is mild, moisturizing and gives a low, creamy lather. Shortening: Soybean oil, in its hydrogenated form is generally called vegetable shortening & sold under generic names, or the brand Crisco. Shortening is usually a blend of soybean & cottonseed oil, and makes nice soap. Like all soap making oils, except olive, it's not a great oil to use alone, but combining it with olive & coconut makes a good, stable, bubbly, moisturizing bar of soap. I recommend not using over 15% as it can go rancid in higher amounts. Sunflower Oil: It works well with palm and olive oils to give a nice, rich, creamy lather that's very moisturizing. Depending on the type you get, it may have a short shelf life due to its fatty acid makeup. In soap, it does well up to about 25% . Tallow, Beef: Like lard, beef tallow gives you a super-hard, white bar of soap with low, creamy, stable lather that is very moisturizing. Before vegetable oils were commonly available, it was one of the main fats that folks used to make soap - and remains one of the most common oils in soap. (Check your label for sodium tallowate. That's beef tallow.) If you are o.k. using animal oils in your soap, then combining beef tallow with some of the other liquid oils like coconut & olive makes a wonderful, well balanced bar of soap. While you can use it at any percentage in your recipe, I wouldn't recommend much more than 40% before it starts creating a brittle bar of soap.

We at Natures Garden know that every cosmetic ingredient is unique in some way. While some may share a few similar properties, every one has at least one property or benefit that sets it apart from the rest. Its important to know the properties of your potential ingredients as a creator, because knowing the benefits of each oil could help you learn to create products that better suit your needs. Plus, one of the best parts of homemade cosmetics is being able to create exactly what you need. You don't want to miss out on formulating the perfect cosmetics that perfectly care for your skin and hair types. So, we would like to share some of the Safflower Oil Benefits in this blog.Safflower Oil Benefits for Your ProductsOf course, you want your products to be attractive and effective. It's very important for bath and body products to work, but this depends on two things. First, the effectiveness of your product is measured based on the need you are trying to fill. Meaning that the effectiveness of a conditioner made for thick, dry hair would be different from one made for thin, dry hair. Second, how well your products work depends on the ingredients included. This means you will need to understand the properties of your ingredients and how it relates to what you want. So, here are the benefits that this oil can provide your products.Safflower Oil Benefits for Soap MakingIf you are looking to create a highly conditioning soap recipe, then this ingredient is a must! Safflower Oil is perfect for providing your bars with the nourishment it needs to pamper and soften your skin. This lovely ingredient is among are most conditioning cosmetic oils! Plus, this oil adds a bit of hardness to your bar and provides a rich, creamy lather. This is absolutely perfect for creating soap that is cleansing and moisturizing, because clean doesn't mean drying out your skin. If you would like to check one of our soaping recipes that include this oil, then try out our Refreshing Cold Process Soap Recipe, our Hot Process Soap Recipe, or one of our many others under the Safflower Oil's recipe tab!Safflower Oil Benefits for Bath ProductsAnother way to create wonderful products with this cosmetic oil is to use recipes for bath products. This extremely conditioning cosmetic oil is great for adding some nourishment to your skin as you soak in the bath. So, Safflower Oil's highly conditioning properties make it the perfect ingredient to add to your bath products, like bath bombs or bubble bars. So, you an create a conditioning product that allows you to kick back and relax while your skin is completely nourished. You can try out some of our bath recipes that use this skin loving oil, like the Galaxy Bubble Bars Recipe or the Holly Berry Bath Bomb Recipe.Safflower Oil Benefits for Homemade ShampooNot only can you make your own cleansing bar of soap, but this cosmetic oil is perfect for making bars of shampoo. Typically, using a bar of soap on your hair is a bad idea, as it can dry out your scalp. However, bars of soap made at home aren't the same as a typical store bought soap. These homemade batches can be formulated to be much more forgiving for your hair, which means that a conditioning bar of soap is just what you need. So, a batch of soap using Safflower Oil will clean your hair and leave your scalp with the nourishment it deserves. This means that this is the perfect bar of soap to use for your hair! Try it for yourself by creating the Shampoo Bar Cold Process Soap Recipe on the Natures Garden website.Safflower Oil Benefits for ConditionerSince this cosmetic oil is super conditioning, it is perfect in all kinds of hair care products. So, you can use this lovely cosmetic oil to create your very own conditioner recipe. This moisturizing oil is perfect for leaving your hair hydrated and nourished, which means it would work perfectly in a recipe with other hair nourishing oils to create a product that makes your hair beautiful. No gross homemade mixtures of foods and oils, this recipe allows you to create real conditioner at home! If you are interested in trying out this cosmetic oil in your products, then check out our amazing Hair Conditioner For Redheads Recipe! Not only will this leave your hair soft and moisturized, but it is perfect for bringing out the beauty of red tones in hair.Safflower Oil Benefits for Lotions and ScrubsAlso, you can use the lovely Safflower Oil in your various skin nurturing products, like lotions or scrubs. These recipes can really benefit from the addition of cosmetic oils like Safflower Oil. Not only is this cosmetic ingredient among the most conditioning for your skin, but it absorbs faster than average! This means that this oil won't leave you with a greasy feeling on your hands, as the cosmetic oil will quickly sink into the skin to fully care for your skin. So, those that would like to try out this cosmetic oil on their skin can try our scrub recipe, the Emulsified Beet Sugar Scrub Recipe.Safflower Oil Benefits for Your BodyWhen your bath and body recipes are effective, they are benefiting the body in some way. Whether you are creating lotion for sensitive skin or relieving dry, cracked skin, you need to make sure that the ingredients you put in are able to help heal and protect your body. While looking at the benefits of this ingredient for your product can help you learn a bit about this oil, there are some extra benefits that a cosmetic oil can provide for your body. So, here are the benefits that Safflower Oil has for your skin and hair.Safflower Oil Benefits for Healthy and Protected SkinThis amazing cosmetic oil is perfect for skin care. Safflower Oil contains nutrients, like a high content of essential fatty acids, that really love and care for the skin. Not only is Safflower Oil perfect for nourishing your skin, but this oil is wonderful for protecting your skin from drying out. This cosmetic oil is able to both provide nutrients to your skin and lock in the moisture that your body needs. To protect the skin, the lovely oil creates a water proof barrier that prevents your skin from losing moisture. So, your skin will be softened and stay that way for longer.Safflower Oil Benefits for Reducing BreakoutsAnother benefit of this cosmetic oil is helping to reduce breakouts, blackheads, and similar blemishes. First, Safflower Oil contains high levels of linoleic acid. This means that this cosmetic wonder is perfect for balancing the oil your body naturally produces, sebum. This will help to reduce breakouts and lead to more clear, healthy looking skin. Further, this cosmetic oil has been tested on its ability to reduce blackheads and whiteheads. It was found that using Safflower Oil can lead to a reduction in the size of these blemishes. So, this cosmetic ingredient would make a perfect addition to your skin care routine.Safflower Oil Benefits for Moisturizing Your FaceFurther, you can use Safflower Oil perfectly as a facial moisturizer. The cosmetic oil is said to work by if used by those with either normal or combination skin. Now, normal skin just means that you aren't overly oily and you aren't extremely dry. Instead, your skin is somewhere in the middle. So, you could use this cosmetic oil as an everyday moisturizer to provide your skin with a healthy, beautiful appearance. This means that your skin will be soft and beautiful with the combination of this oil being able to condition and balance your sebum.Safflower Oil Benefits for Reducing Hair LossAn added benefit of this cosmetic oil is that it nourishes the hair and leads to a healthier head of hair. Safflower Oil contains vitamins and other nutrients that prevent the loss of necessary proteins. Without these proteins, hair can be brittle, dull, and even begin to fall out. While a loss of protein isn't the only reason for hair loss, it is significant for a large portion of people. Adding this oil will help you to reduce hair loss and actually provide the lacking nutrients that are necessary to promote hair growth. So, adding in extra nutrients that you may be lacking is a perfect way to begin to combat hair loss!Safflower Oil Benefits for Gorgeous, Shiny HairAnother benefit of this cosmetic oil is that it is useful for rejuvenating dull hair. Adding this cosmetic oil to a hair conditioner or directly to your hair will lead your locks to being shiny and beautiful. This is especially useful for those that dye their hair often. Why spend all this time and money if you aren't going to be glamorous. Using a bit of Safflower Oil is perfect to use between salon visits for bringing your color back to life and adding a gorgeous sheen. Whether you dye your hair or leave it natural, this cosmetic oil makes an amazing addition to your hair care.Safflower Oil Benefits for Nail GrowthEveryone wants long, healthy, gorgeous nails, but it can be hard to grow them on your own. Between breaking and just taking so long to grow, it can be easier to get fake nails put on. But, this won't make your nails stronger. Safflower Oil, on the other hand, is amazing for helping your nails become healthier and grow quicker. Since this cosmetic oil contains quite a bit of nutrients, like vitamin E and essential fatty acids, this is a great oil for rejuvenating our nails. These nutrients will condition the nails to provide a healthy look and feel. But, that's not all. This cosmetic oil will lead to nail growth, as the oil provides nutrients that nails need to grow.Safflower Oil Benefits: Share With UsWe hope that you enjoy this cosmetic oil in your various bath and body creations. Also, you can try out a few of our bath and body recipes that use Safflower Oil, too. Either way, you will be gaining the benefits of the lovely oil. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, then feel free to find us on social media. Also, we would truly enjoy seeing your products or hearing about your experiences with this cosmetic oil. Especially those that have tried out one of our recipes, we would love to know what you think! You can find us on either Instagram or Twitter with @ngscents. Plus, we are available on the Natures Garden Facebook page. Hope to hear from you soon!Safflower Oil Benefits: Healthy Inside and OutSafflower Oil isn't just wonderful for the outside of your body! While this Natures Garden product is cosmetic grade and can't be used for cooking, you can find food grade Safflower Oil that is perfect for cooking. This lovely oil is as healthy as Olive Oil, as it contains healthy, unsaturated fatty acids. Also, this oil has a high smoke point, which is useful as a cooking oil. Further, there are tons of absolutely scrumptious recipes that you can use with Safflower Oil. If you are interested in trying this oil, then check out some cooking recipes for this oil on Livestrong's How to Cook with Safflower Oil article.Note: Natures Garden sells cosmetic oils for external use only. We do not sell them as food items. The information we provide is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep all cosmetic oils out of reach of children and pets. Special care should be taken by pregnant and/or lactating women when handling cosmetic oils. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our cosmetic oils. All testing is the responsibility of the customer.

The sense of sight is a very powerful tool. But, did you know that you can help influence your customers in purchasing certain items just based on the items color? Color does in fact play a huge role in marketing. This is all based on how your client perceives the color, and what statement your client is looking to make when it comes to purchasing your product.Color is more than a physical attribute to an object. Our mental psyche not only perceives colors, but also directly correlates them to our emotions. Color can be used, and is used in everyday life to excite, persuade, and even encourage. In fact, anytime color is used in advertizing, the percentage of making the item memorable is 100%, as compared to a black and white ad. On the flip side, color can also be associated with negative messages or feelings. This is why color deserves a seriousexamination when trying to brand a company through a logo or product.In the marketing aspect of things, aesthetics is always a factor that needs to be considered. How something looks may determine whether or not the sale will be made. In general, the population s first instinct on buying items they may not consider as necessities is based on its look. Color is actually the first thing that a buyer mentally registers. The use of color therefore must be the first and foremost frontrunner to decipher when trying to promote an item for sale. The second consideration should be which target audience you are trying to sell to.Here are a few examples:Darker colors appeal to the male gender.Pastels and Neutral Colors appeal to the upper scale clientele.Primary colors appeal to children the best.There is a ton of research available on this topic. So, here is a brief explanation on the 10 most basic colors.The effect of the color Black:Positives: Black is directly associated with intelligence. It is a very strong and domineering color showing both power and authority. Black also have the visual effect of making things appear smaller or thinner.Negatives: Black has been mainstreamed as a color denoting ill will or immorality. The color black is also accepted as the signifier of loss or grieving. When used to an extreme, black can quickly overwhelm.The effect of the color Blue:Positives: This color is by far selected as one of the most loved and favorites. Certain shades of blue even promote the production of calming chemicals in our bodies. It is an excellent choice selection for bedrooms and bedroom decor due to the fact that blue evokes rest and serenity. When darker blues are used, there is an unspoken feel of comfort. Blue denotesloyalty and wisdom. Blue will keep us focused and dedicated to the task at hand. There have even been studies proving that productivity is always increased when blue is the dominant hue of the surroundings.Negatives: Blue can have a chilling effect on our emotions. Blue can be perceived as indifferent and detached.The effect of the color Brown:Positives: This is the color of friendship. Brown shows reliability and durability. This is considered one of the best colors touse when trying to denote an item as being natural or organic. Brown denotes a sense of strength. The color brown is a standard in many homes and decors because of the feeling of security it provides.Negatives: Over using the color brown can create sad feelings. This is because brown also signifies isolation and loneliness.The effect of the color Gray: Positives: The color gray signifies timelessness. Gray is also considered a standard for showing practicality. There is anassociation that people put with the color gray of stones or rocks; which then leads to gray signifying that it is solid. Anytime you want to add this notion to any of your items, a touch a gray color will exemplify this without saying a word.Negatives: Due to the nature of the color, it is often seen as a color that reflects being on the fence or undecided. Items that contain an abundance of gray leaves people feeling unsure about it. Gray can also be mentally tied to elderliness and depression.The effect of the color Green:Positives: Green is really one of the most pleasing colors to all of the senses, we perceive this color as nurturing. This is due to the notion that many people inherently relate the color green to nature; being of the earth. Of all of the colors, green is said to be the most healing. Various shades of green are also directly mentally correlated to money and production. From the lighter spectrum of green, there is a calming effect. The standard green is associated to luck. The color green is also associated with fruitfulness.Negatives: Green can be viewed as a symbol of na veness and inexperience. Green also is used to denote envy.The effect of the color Orange:Positives: If you are looking for a color to show excitement or playfulness, orange will create this. Orange is boisterous, loud, and full of energy. Orange also relates the notion of aspiration. There is a feeling of warmth and happiness when this color is used. This hue can also be used to signify a product is organic.Negatives: Avoid using the color orange in environments where people need to stay on task and focused. Having bright orange products or items in a room like this will prevent productive activity since the color orange is seen as a show stealer.The effect of the color Purple:Positives: This color is quickly picking up the favorite color vote with young girls. Royalty and wisdom are the first thoughts that are associated with the color purple. Due to that notion, the next onslaught of adjectives that describe this color are rich, cultured, and prosperous. Purple is a great color choice when trying to stimulate brain activity for problem solving.If you would like to add a mysterious element to an object, trace amounts of purple will allow for this. Using this color makes the statement of being special and unique. This color screams notice me .Negatives: Over use of the color purple can be seen as denoting superficialness.The effect of the color Red:Positives: Red is the first color that the human eye sees. It is a confident color that denotes power. This primary color symbolizes energy. Bursts of red denote enthusiasm. If you are looking to drawl attention to a product, red is the ticket. Red is the symbol color for life and love. Wearing elements of red, or having red items around you can boost your self esteem.Negatives: Red is one color that you do not want to over use. Too much red can cause confusion for the mind, because everything is fighting to be the focus. Medically speaking, when a person is in an environment that is predominately red in color, their heart beats per minute increase, and they can also have issues trying to catch their breath. Also, too much red can be intimidating.The effect of the color White:Positives: White is the color that best describes purity. This absent of colors hue also denotes creativity and imagination. If you are looking to add a feel of cleanliness and safety to a product, white is your best bet. White is also viewed as a fresh outlooks, new beginnings, and limitless opportunities.Negatives: Too much white can give off a feeling of emptiness. There is also an unfriendly coldness about white that some people find unwelcoming in products.The effect of the color Yellow:Positives: Almost everything optimistic and uplifting is associated to the color yellow. Fun, happiness, cheerfulness, sunshine, and warmth are just a few words to describe its effect on humans. All things happy somehow relate to this color because when we see yellow, our brains actually release an increased level of serotonin. This is the feel good color that also opens up and increases our creativity. The color yellow also has the potential to speed up of metabolism levels. Shades of golden yellow are perceived as an unspoken promise to greater, prosperous things.Negatives: When yellow is used in abundance, it has the capability to enrage tempers. Certain shades of yellow can be related to cowardice or fear.All of Natures Garden s fragrance oils have a color suggestion given. In order to help everyone find that perfect fragrance oil and color, here is the link to the Fragrance By Color promo. All of the fragrances are broken into color categories. So, if you are looking to fill a certain color quota for your product line, check out the fragrance oils Natures Garden has to offer. It is time to get creative Fragrance by Color Fragrance & Fun for EveryoneInspire, Create, and Dominate!Sparkles!!! Nicole(Corporate Manager ofNatures Garden Candle Supplies)www.naturesgardencandles.com

If you have been wondering "What is bee pollen powder?", then you may want to stick around for this blog. This Natures Garden herb is made up of ground up bee pollen granules, which makes it easy to add your homemade soaps and cosmetics. Further, the herb powder is a perfect way to naturally color bath and body recipes. Also, the bee powder is full of vitamins and nutrients that a healthy body needs! We utilize these nutrients to create bath and beauty products that are amazing for the skin. But, there are those that use the bee pollen granules to provide benefits to the inside of their body, too. You can learn about all the beneficial properties that bee pollen has for both your homemade products and your whole body in one of our homemaking blogs for bath and body products!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: What is Bee Pollen Made Out Of?While bees collect pollen from plants, like flowers, this pollen alone is not bee pollen. Now, you may be asking "Well then, what is what is bee pollen made from?". This process starts with the plant pollen and nectar that the bees collect for food. The type of pollen differs based on the on the area, as there will be different types of flowers available.Then, the bees mix the collected pollen with nectar from its honey sacks. This creates the bee pollen, which are larger granules that make it easier to transport pollen back to the hive. So, the bees will store the bee pollen in a special pouch in their hind legs to transport it back to their home. Then, the bees will transport this to the hive where they can enzymes to it. The bees will digest the bee pollen to turn it into honey, which has all the nutrients needed to feed young bees and worker bees alike.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: How is Bee Pollen Harvested?Well, how is bee pollen gathered before the bees turn it into honey? Obviously, the bee pollen would need to be collected before the bees take it into their hive. After this point, it will be in the process of becoming honey. So, beekeepers will use a special comb-like device that bees have to pass through before getting into the hive. As a bee passes through the comb some of the pollen will be pushed out of the bee's pouch. This allows a portion of the bee pollen to be collected while leaving some for the bees to turn into honey.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Industrial UsesWe know that bee pollen is used to make food for the bees, but how is bee pollen good for you? Bee pollen is full of all kinds of nutrients that your body needs, which makes it amazing for giving your body a revitalizing boost. Since bee pollen is full of vitamins and nutrients, there are many industry uses for this lovely product. This means that there are all kinds of ways that people have found to include use this natural wonder. Whether you use bee pollen for cosmetic purposes or include a bee pollen supplement in your diet, there are many beneficial properties for your body.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Foods and BeveragesMany people enjoy adding bee pollen to their food or smoothies as a nutrition boost. In fact, the abundance of nutrients are useful for combating fatigue and stress by supporting your nutrition levels. Since the vitamins and nutrients in this supplement support healthy body function, you are sure to feel more lively. Plus, bee pollen will help you ward off sickness, as it has been shown to boost the immune system. Also, this natural supplement has been useful in reducing nutritional deficiencies, which would lead to negative consequences. These consequences could include health problems or poor development in children. This is just a few of the reasons why adding bee pollen to healthy food is something that many people enjoy!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: What Does Bee Pollen Taste Like?Of course, anyone considering adding a new food to there diet would be curious about the taste. We have been told that bee pollen is an acquired taste, so some healthy eaters will disguise it in their food. Further, the taste can differ slightly depending on the pollen sources available around the hive. This means that both the color and taste can change slightly based on location and time of year. Some bee pollen has a nut-like flavor that is a little sweet and other times it can be more bitter. While some people will eat the bee pollen on food or like a pill with water, others may hide the flavor in a smoothie. It all depends on your preference and the time of year you get your bee pollen.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Bath and Body ProductsBee Pollen Powder is a wonderful herb that provides all kinds of benefits to natural bath and body products. First, this herb can be used as a natural colorant. The pretty yellow color is perfect for creating bath and body products that are light, warm, and natural. So, this cosmetic herb is great for adding to your bath and body supplies, as it provides you with perfect hues for wholesale body products using natural bee ingredients.Additionally, bee pollen has all kinds of wonderful properties to benefit your skin. First, using this cosmetic herb for making lotion from scratch is a perfect way to introduce these beneficial properties to your skin. The high levels of antioxidants in this cosmetic herb are able to help reduce aging, as it reduces the effect of free radicals, UV light, and pollutants. Further, bee pollen has an antibiotic effect that will help to reduce acne break outs. Plus, some research has shown that bee pollen can be used on the skin to speed healing and prevent infection due to its antibacterial properties.How to Use Bee Pollen Powder: Natures Garden RecipesAlso, you can incorporate bee pollen power in a wonderful cold process soap recipe! Our Royal Honey Bee Cold Process Soap Recipe combines the beneficial properties of real honey and raw bee pollen to create an amazing recipe for the skin. Since much of the antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties are from the bee pollen, this combination enhances the honey's properties to new levels. This soap can be useful for moisturizing the skin, reducing wrinkles, and even preventing acne break outs. Plus, some cases of eczema have been reduced after regular use, as it reduces inflammation and soothes the skin.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: MedicinalThroughout history, there is evidence of humans incorporating bee in medical practices. There were ancient civilizations, including Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, American Indian, and many more, used bee pollen to create rejuvenating blends. These blends varied from the Greek and Egyptians using it to increase stamina before battle to the medicinal tonics of ancient Chinese civilizations. Further, bee pollen has even been referred to as "Ambrosia" by some civilizations, which means food of the Gods. Today, we still utilize the natural properties of bee pollen to provide our bodies with a nutrient boost and enhance our health. In fact, it is considered a superfood that is often used in smoothie blends.What has continued to make bee pollen popular for improving health is its many natural, beneficial properties for the body. First, it has vitamins that are useful for boosting the immune system, which protect you from diseases or infections. Also, bee pollen has anti-inflammatory properties that can be used for reducing the symptoms of arthritis, gout, or even menstrual cramps. Another benefit is that bee pollen promotes liver health with its high level of antioxidants that are able to help your liver detox the body. Additionally, bee pollen powder has been linked to a reduction in bad cholesterol, which has led to better cardiovascular health and even suggested a decreased risk of blood clots.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Other UsesAnother benefit of bee pollen is that it can be used to help reduce minor seasonal allergies. Many people will find local beehives to find bee pollen harvested from the area. You can take this region specific bee pollen every day to help build up an immunity to the pollen that you experience in your area. You will want to start with a small amount and work your way up to a slightly larger amount. Also, you will want to begin this process a few weeks before pollen season begins.Eventually, you won't have as bad of a reaction from seasonal allergies caused by the pollen in your area. However, anyone with serious allergic reactions to honey, pollen, or bee stings as well as anyone taking regular medications should all consult a doctor before committing to taking bee pollen. If you would like to learn more about how to take bee pollen, then check out this article called How Bee Pollen Could Cure Your Allergies by Mind Body Green. This article talks about how bee pollen wards your body from your allergies and gives a suggested amount for daily use.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Get Healthy with Bee PollenIf you want to try adding granules of bee pollen to your diet, then Healthy Smoothie Headquarters is a great place to start. They have an article with a recipe for creating a smoothie that is absolutely scrumptious. Recipes like these are extremely useful for anyone that would love to reap the benefits of bee pollen but hate the taste. Plus, this article even talks about a few more benefits and bonuses of eating bee pollen regularly. So, check out the Blissful Bee Pollen Smoothie and see what all the buzz is about!If you are curious about all the nutrients in bee pollen, then you may want to check out an article by Bee Pollen Buzz. This article, called What is Bee Pollen?, perfectly answers the question of "What nutrients does bee pollen contain?" and shows you exactly what is known to be in bee pollen that is just so good for us. In fact, this article breaks down the good stuff in bee pollen, like all the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Plus, they go into the number of calories, fats, carbs, and protein, too. So, this is a perfect break down for any curious healthy eaters out there.What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Talk to UsWe hope that you've enjoyed learning a bit about this wonderful cosmetic herb. If you want to include even more herbs in your wholesale bath and body supplies, then check out some of our other Herbs and Spices. You can create some skin-loving products with a blend of fantastic herbs. If you have questions about bee pollen powder or any other herbs that we carry, then please ask us! You can always ask us questions in store, on the phone, and on social media. We have a Facebook page that you can use to reach us. Also, we have a Twitter account and an Instagram account (@ngscents) . We hope to hear from you soon!What is Bee Pollen Powder?: Reminder About Our HerbsNote: Natures Garden sells our bee pollen powder for external use only. While you can purchase food grade bee pollen elsewhere, we do not sell them as food items. Also, the information that we provide is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease and this information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. We suggest that you keep all herbs out of reach of children and pets. Also, pregnant and/or lactating women should take special care when handling herbs. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs. The responsibility of the customer is to test all of their own created products.

A common question to come up when creating a lip balm recipe is "What can I use to flavor lip balm?" There are so many choices that sometimes it is hard to decide! You can go with scrumptious flavoring oils, essential oils, or certain foods. It all depends on what you are trying to make. Some people prefer to go the simple, natural route with specific food ingredients or essential oils. Other people like to go with the yummy and complex flavorings. No matter what your style is we have some options for you!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Flavor OilsFirst, we have our flavoring oils! These are all of the flavorings that we had formulated specifically for lip balm. So, check out our flavor oils and find your favorite.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Black Cherry BOOM FlavoringIf you like the taste of freshly ripened black cherries, then this is the perfect flavoring for you. Our Black Cherry BOOM Flavoring oil has a bold cherry aroma that will have your mouth watering.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Blue Raspberry Slushie FlavoringNext, we have the scrumptious Blue Raspberry Slushie Flavoring. This flavor oil has an aroma that is exactly like blue raspberry slushies you can get from the theatre!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Bubble Gum FlavoringAlso, we have a flavor oil that is perfect for lovers of bubblegum. Our sweet Bubblegum Flavoring has a delicious aroma of bright, juicy bubblegum that is perfect for lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Buttercream Cupcake FlavoringAnother yummy flavor to try is the Buttercream Cupcake Flavoring. This one will transport you straight to the bakery with its inviting aroma of delicious buttercream and light fluffy vanilla cupcake.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Chocolate Bon Bons FlavoringThe Chocolate Bon Bons Flavoring is perfect for dessert lovers. This flavor oil has a rich, creamy aroma of chocolate fudge bon bons. Yum! If you want to use this in a recipe, then take a look at our Brown Sugar Lip Scrub Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Coconut FlavoringAnother great flavoring that you can use in lip balm is the Coconut Flavoring. This aroma is a perfect summer scent with its fresh coconut aroma, which was perfect for our Crazy for Coconuts Lip Balm Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Cotton Candy FlavoringNext, we have a scent that is delicious and reminiscent of when the fair would come into town. The Cotton Candy Flavoring is true and worked beautifully in our Cotton Candy Lip Balm Recipe.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Creme Brulee FlavoringAlso, you can use the sweet scent of the Creme Brulee Flavoring, which makes a scrumptious addition to your lip balm recipes. This flavor is exactly like a rich and creamy creme brulee!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: French Vanilla FlavoringPlus, we have a wonderful flavor oil for anyone that enjoys vanilla. Our French Vanilla Flavoring has an aroma of a sweet, creamy French vanilla that has rich notes that are hard to pass up.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Frozen Margarita FlavoringAnother great idea for lip balm is a Margarita flavored lip balm! The delicious Frozen Margarita Flavoring tastes like a lime margarita that will have your mouth watering. Great for cute party favors if you are looking for simple bachelorette party ideas!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Green Apple Blast FlavoringOur Green Apple Blast Flavoring is a scrumptious scent that is perfect for lovers of green apples. This flavoring has an aroma of tart green apples, but it has an extra blast of delicious goodness. Such a wonderful flavoring for lip balm!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Guava Flavoring OilIf you prefer something more exotic, then the Guava Flavoring Oil may be for you! This tasty flavoring oil has the scent of a freshly ripened guava fruit.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Horchatta (Cinnamon Rolls) FlavoringThis next flavor oil is perfect if you like cinnamon rolls. The Horchatta Flavoring was originally created to smell like rich, spicy Mexican rice pudding. But, it smells just like cinnamon rolls to us. So, you can use this flavor for a few different dessert themes.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Juicy Orange FlavoringAlso, you may want to try the Juicy Orange Flavoring in your homemade lip balm. This deliriously fresh orange aroma was used in our Super Easy Lip Gloss Recipe. Tastes just like fresh squeezed orange juice!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Juicy Watermelon FlavoringOur Juicy Watermelon Flavoring is a great one to use in diy lip balm, especially if you like the sweet taste of a juicy watermelon. This flavor is just like biting into a piece of a freshly cut watermelon.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Kiss of Death FlavoringPlus, you can create lip balm using the Kiss of Death Flavoring. While this flavoring oil sounds complex and seduction, it's actually sweet and delicious! It tastes almost just like Hawaiian Fruit Punch!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Mango FlavoringAnother great fruit flavor that you can add to your lip balm recipes if the Mango Flavoring. This flavoring is sweet, tropical, and delicious just like a real mango.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Monkey Farts Fragrance OilOur Monkey Farts Flavoring is a blend of fruits and sweet notes that create a delicious combination. The flavor uses notes of fresh bananas, juicy grapefruit, kiwi, juicy bubblegum, and strawberries. Plus, this flavor has a sweet hint of vanilla.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Rootbeer FlavoringA unique and tasty option that you have for your lip balm is the Rootbeer Flavoring. This scrumptious drink scent is perfect for anyone that loves this sweet, foamy beverageWhat Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Strawberry Cheesecake FlavoringIf you are looking for a scrumptious dessert flavor, then try Strawberry Cheesecake Flavoring in your homemade lip balm! This flavor oil has rich, creamy notes of cheesecake with sweet strawberry topping.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Strawberry Sorbet FlavoringAnother great flavoring that you can use in your lip balm is the Strawberry Sorbet Flavoring. This delicious flavoring was perfect for recipes like the Vegan Silky Lip Balm Recipe. Further, we have a complete kit for this recipe that comes with printed instructions, packaging supplies, and all of the ingredients that you will need!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Tropical Paradise FlavoringNext, we have an exotic scent that is perfect for summer. Our Tropical Paradise Flavoring is a paradise of delicious tropical fruits, like coconut, pineapple, goji berries, dragon fruit, star fruit, papaya, mango, and kumquat.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Vanilla Bean FlavoringLastly, we have the aroma of sweet vanilla beans that is perfect for lip balm. The Vanilla Bean Flavoring was perfectly balanced with the raw honey in our Honey Vanilla Lip Balm Recipe to create lip care that was tasty and moisturizing.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Essential OilsWhile some essential oils are fine to put into lip balm, others are not. Just like how some plants in nature are poisonous to eat, some essential oils can't be eaten. You can use the IFRA sheet to determine how much is safely allowed in lip balm, as it is category 1. But, we find that a good rule is that if it allows for less than 1% then you may not want to have it on your lips even if IFRA technically allows it. Also, you may personally have an allergy to the essential oil. So, you may want to do a test patch on a small area of skin to see whether you are sensitive.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Lavender Essential OilFirst, we can use the Lavender Essential Oil. This lovely essential oil has a sweet, fruity aroma that is absolutely scrumptious. Plus, the IFRA sheet says that you can include up to 5% of this ingredient in your lip balm recipes. So, you can use this oil, like we did with out White Chocolate Lavender Lip Balm Recipe, to naturally flavor your lip balm recipe!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Peppermint Essential OilAnother idea for flavoring is the cool and refreshing Peppermint Essential Oil. This delightful oil is perfect for adding some mint freshness to your lip care products. If you are interested in using this flavor oil, then you may want to know that IFRA states that a maximum of 5% can be used for your lip products.If you want to find more essential oils that you can use, then check out the Essential Oils page on our website! You can find out which are body safe and their usage rate there!What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: How to Sweeten Your Lip BalmWhile flavoring oils are amazing, sometimes you just want to add a bit of extra sweetness. Not only can these sweeteners be added to enhance your flavoring oil, but these sweeteners can be used to naturally flavor lip balm all on its own! It's all up to your and what you want from your lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: SteviaFirst, we have Stevia Powder, which is a natural sweetener extracted from the Stevia plant of the Asteraceae family. This sweetener is often used as a cane sugar substitute because it is thought to have no calories and taste even sweeter than sugar. This added sweetness is especially useful for lip balm because we can get a sweet flavor without adding enough to be considered a lip scrub. While scrubs can be useful, you don't want every lip balm to be gritty. Stevia is used to sweeten the lip balm. This sweetness also enhances the flavor of the lip balm.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: HoneyAlso, you can use a natural sweetener like honey. Not only will adding this ingredient sweeten your lip balm, but it has benefits for your lips as well. Honey is known for helping lock in moisture and protect your skin and lips. Plus, it can be used to help brighten your lips or even make them look bigger and more plump.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Dark Chocolate WafersAnother perfect additive for lip balm is chocolate. What could be better than the rich taste of dark chocolate in your homemade lip balm recipes? Absolutely nothing! Chocolate is delicious and perfect for anyone that wants to naturally flavor lip balm. Adding some Dark Chocolate Wafers to your recipe will provide a fantastic taste and help keep your lips feeling soft.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: History of Lip BalmLip balm is essential for keeping your lips moisturized and healthy, but it wasn't always around. In fact, it was invented in the early 1880s by Dr. C.D. Fleet. But, this lip balm looked more like a wickless candle then what we see today. Further, flavored Chapstick wasn't even an option until 1971! If you want to learn more about the history of lip balm or are curious about the history of Carmex, then check out The History of Chapstick - The History of Carmex by ThoughtCo.What Can I Use to Flavor Lip Balm: Talk to Us at Natures GardenWe hope that you have a better idea of ingredients for you lip balm recipes. Whether you added these flavoring options to your recipes or created one of ours, we're sure you will enjoy the finished product. If you have any questions or want to share your lip balm making experience, then feel free to reach out to us. An easy way to find us is on social media. We have a Facebook page. Also, we have a Twitter account and an Instagram account (@ngscents). Hope to hear from you soon!

What is trace? Baby, don t blend me; don't stir me, just pour. Trace is when you've reached emulsion- your oils are blended with your lye mixture and are no longer capable of separating. How can you tell when your mixture is at trace? The easiest way is to use your stirring utensil: hold it a few inches above your mixing container and move it back and forth. If the soap batter dripping off the stirring utensil leaves little lines that sit on top of the mixture in the bowl- that s trace. It can be difficult to capture in photographs, but you ll know it when you see it in motion. So I reach trace and that's it? Well, yes and no. There are different degrees of trace, but the important thing to remember is that once a mixture has reached trace- it s only going to continue to solidify from there. Light trace is considered the bare minimum. Light trace is helpful when you're looking to make swirls or other designs that require easily pourable, almost-liquid soap. Moderate trace is in the middle and means you're ready to pour your soap into the mold. Heavy trace is when your soap gets thick. The picture above shows heavy trace. A soap batter at heavy trace is resistant to change shape and almost impossible to pour into a mold. Heavy trace may result in the need to scoop your soap into the mold, seen in the photo on the left. Not a pretty sight. Work quickly to ensure the soap does not set before you are ready. What Causes Different Levels of Trace? Trace can be affected both by your ingredients and your blending method. Ingredients: 'Hard' oils, including palm oil and coconut oil, and butters will reach trace much faster. Using softer oils such as olive oil or canola will decrease the speed of trace, but your end product soap will be much softer. Increasing the amount of oil to superfat your recipe will also slow down trace. (Be careful not to add too much or you'll have an excess of unreacted oils.) In addition, fragrance oils can accelerate trace. (Check out our CP Soap Testing results to see how our fragrance oils perform in the CP soaping process.) Inversely, the more water you use, the slower your soap will reach trace. A water discount (using less water than the recipe called for) will accelerate trace and is recommended for only advanced soapers when they see fit. Blending: The speed at which you blend can accelerate trace. Using a stick blender as opposed to stirring manually with a spatula will increase the speed of the reaction and trace will be reached faster. If you suspect that the mixture will accelerate, stir it manually to slow the rate of trace. Furthermore, the temperature at which you blend your ingredients will affect trace. Higher temperatures accelerate trace. If you wish to slow down trace, let your lye mixture cool down to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit before you add it to your oils. The order also matters. If the fragrance oil you're using is known to have a tendency to accelerate trace, be sure to add it last, after you've made your soap mixture and added any colorant, and be ready to move. False Trace All this talk about trace and the need to rush your soap process may have you running around like a chicken with its head cut off- but BEWARE FALSE TRACE. False trace usually occurs when oils in your mixture begin to cool down and solidify without going through emulsion or saponification. So, much like Goldilocks, you don't want your mixture to be too hot or too cold, but juuuuust right. Ahhh! I know it seems like a lot- but if you pay attention to the factors listed here- you should be alright. Remember to have all of your ingredients ready before you start soaping (always, but especially) in case of any unexpected trace acceleration. You can do this, I promise. And if something goes wrong, you can always melt down your soap and try again. Thanks for reading and happy soaping!

Have you ever thought about using powdered yogurt or powdered milk in soap making? If you haven't heard, you can use both milk and yogurt to create some fantastic soap recipes. So, you can use the nourishing properties found in milk and yogurt to care for your skin. These two soaping ingredients are perfect to include along with other luscious cosmetic ingredients available from Natures Garden. This will allow you to create handcrafted soap recipes that are even more conditioning and skin loving! If you are interested in trying out either milk or yogurt in your cold process soap recipe, then check out our soap making tutorial using powdered buttermilk and powdered yogurt.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Clean and SanitizeBefore you get started making this handmade soap recipe, you are going to want to clean and sanitize your soaping equipment. In addition, you will want to gather your soap making supplies. Also, you will need to collect and wash any other equipment that you are going to need to create this bath and body recipe. Further, you will want to give yourself enough space to work comfortably. Giving yourself a good work space will make the process easier and even more fun!Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Prepare a Bottle of VinegarAlso, you will need to prepare a bottle of vinegar before you start making this cold process soap recipe. This vinegar will be useful for cold process soap safety, as it can be used to deactivate the lye. Also, you can use the vinegar for cleaning your work station after making cold process soap. So, you will want to fill a bottle with vinegar and set it aside until it is needed later during the process.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Soap Making InformationIf you have never made handmade soap from scratch before, then you will want to check out a soap making class that we have on cold process soap safety. First, you will definitely need to be familiar with soap making safety, which you can find in our Soap Making Safety Class. Also, you may want to look at our Basic CP Soap Making Class. We definitely recommend having some soap making experience before trying this type of recipe. If you feel like you are ready to make a luscious soap making recipe, then you will want to continue reading this blog! Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Ingredients Available at Natures Garden -Lye - Sodium HydroxideApricot Kernel OilCastor OilMango ButterPalm OilCoconut OilShea ButterSunflower Oil6 Cavity Flower Silicone Soap MoldSafety GlovesNatures Garden ApronSafety MaskThermometerSafety Glasses8 oz. Clear PET Bullet BottlesBlack Fine Mist Sprayers 24/410Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Other Needed Ingredients -Distilled WaterPowdered MilkYogurtMixing BowlsMixing SpoonsRubber SpatulaScaleKnifeStick BlenderVinegarMeasuring SpoonsIce Cube Tray (We used the 24 hearts silicone mold)Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Milk Soap Making Amounts -8 ounces of Distilled Water1 ounce of the Powered Milk53 grams of the Lye26 grams of the Apricot Kernel Oil49 grams of the Shea Butter14 grams of the Castor Oil63 grams of the Sunflower Oil53 grams of the Mango Butter57 grams of the Palm Oil113 grams of the Coconut OilUsing Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Yogurt Soap Making Amounts -8 ounces of the Distilled Water1 ounce of the Powdered Yogurt53 grams of the Lye26 grams of the Apricot Kernel Oil49 grams of the Shea Butter14 grams of the Castor Oil63 grams of the Sunflower Oil53 grams of the Mango Butter57 grams of the Palm Oil113 grams of the Coconut OilUsing Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Creating Frozen Milk Soap -In order to begin making soap you are going to want to prepare the milk for your cp soap recipe. So, you will want to weigh out the powdered milk and the distilled water to create the milk solution. You will need to use eight ounces of the water and one ounce of the powdered milk. You will want to mix these ingredients together well to create the powdered milk solution.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Creating Frozen Yogurt Soap - Alternatively, you can create this soap making recipe using powdered yogurt instead of the powdered milk. Of course, the yogurt will provide your skin with all kinds of benefits. The powdered yogurt is just another great soap making ingredient that you can include. So, you are going to want to prepare the yogurt solution, which includes eight ounces of the water and one ounce of the powdered yogurt. You will create the homemade soap in the exact same way.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Freezing the Milk or Yogurt Solution -Now that you have created either a milk solution or yogurt solution, you are going to need to fill up your mold. You can use an ice cube tray or even a small soap mold. We decided to use the 24 hearts silicone mold. After you have filled up your chosen mold for the buttermilk solution mixture, you will want to transfer your soap mold to the freezer. You will need to wait for your milk solution to completely freeze before moving on to the next step. So, make sure that you have solid, frozen pieces before moving onto the next step.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Preparing the Oils for Your Soap RecipeNow, you are going to want to weigh out all of your cosmetic oils. You will want to add 26 grams of Apricot Kernel Oil, 49 grams of Shea Butter, 14 grams of Castor Oil, 63 grams of Sunflower Oil, 53 grams of Mango Butter, 57 grams of Palm Oil, and 113 grams of Coconut Oil. Then, you will want to completely melt your cosmetic ingredients. After melting these ingredients you will want to wait for your melted oils to room temperature.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Mixing Up the Lye Solution -Next, once the temperature of your oils has dropped to room temperature, you are ready to prepare your lye solution. For this cp soap recipe, we will want to soap at the lowest temperature possible. So, we will prepare our lye solution and soap right away to keep the temperature as low as possible. Soaping at a low temperature will prevent the milk from overheating and creating an unpleasant smell.Once your buttermilk or yogurt has completely frozen, you can remove it from the mold. Now, you will want to measure out 144 grams of your frozen yogurt or buttermilk. Also, you will need to weigh out 53 grams of the lye in a separate bowl. You are going to want to mix up your lye solution in a well ventilated area. Of course, you will want to make sure that you wear a face mask and protective clothing. Now, you are able to add the measured amount of lye to the frozen milk. Make sure that you stir your mixture as you are adding the lye. Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Continue Creating the Lye Solution -As you continue to mix the lye the frozen buttermilk or yogurt, you will notice that it will begin to melt. Since this mixture will include milk, we don't want the temperature to reach levels that will create a sour smell. This is why we needed to freeze the milk prior to creating your lye solution. So, you will notice that your lye solution does not reach a temperature that is too high. This will allow you to add powdered yogurts or milks to your soap while maintaining the integrity and quality of each bar.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Combining the Lye Solution and Cosmetic Oils - Now, combine your soaping oils and lye solution. After combining these two mixtures of soap making ingredients, you will need to blend all of these soaping ingredients together. You will want to use a stick blender to do this. Once you hit trace for your soap batter, you are ready to move on to the next step of the soap making process. This means that you are ready to pour your soap into the mold.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Filling Up the Soap Mold -Now that all of your soap making ingredients are mixed together, you are ready to fill the soap mold! Once you have used all of your soap batter to fill up your soap mold, you will want to place the soap in the freezer for about 24 hours. This way the temperature of the soap batter will remain low. Finally, remove the soap from the soap mold. Then, you are going to want to wait for your soaps to cure before using your finished bars of soap.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Using Your Finished Yogurt Soap and Milk Soap -Once your cold process soaps have completely cured you will be ready to use your skin loving cp soap recipe! So, after a four to six weeks, you can use your skin nourishing soap bars. Also, the beneficial properties of the yogurt and milk in this cold process soap recipe will add to the benefits of your soap bars. So, you can use these cosmetic ingredients in your lovely soap to nourish and care for your skin. We hope that you enjoy the nourishing properties of milk and yogurt in this luscious soap recipe for your skin!Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Benefits of Using Milk in Soap -If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of adding milk and milk based products to your body, then you will definitely want to check out Top 5 Skin Benefits of Raw Milk & Beauty Tips from Bellatory. First, milk can be used as a natural cleanser for your skin, as it can be used to clean out clogged pores. This is perfect for helping to prevent future breakouts. Also, this potential soaping ingredient has fantastic moisturizer and exfoliation properties. Further, adding milk or yogurt can provide you with even more wonderful benefits for cold process soap as well as your skin! If you want to learn a bit more about all the benefits these products can have for your body, then you can learn more about this possible soaping ingredient in this beauty article.Using Yogurt and Powdered Milk in Soap Making: Reach Out to Us -We hope that you have enjoyed all of the benefits of adding milk and yogurt to your homemade cold process soap! If you have any questions about these cosmetic ingredients, then feel free to reach out to us. You can find us on our HUG Line, in the store, and online. An easy way to find us online is to reach out to us on social media. You can find us on the Natures Garden Facebook page. Also, you can use the handle @ngscents to find us on both Instagram and Twitter. Not only can you use these social platforms to reach out to us or ask us questions, but you can share your own experience with adding milk or yogurt to your cold process soap. So, we hope that you enjoyed the benefits of this soaping ingredient and that we hear from you soon!

What is lemon verbena used for? There are many benefits that can be had from using this Natures Garden cosmetic herb. First, this herb has a bold, lemon flavor that is fantastic for creating foods and beverages. Also, this herb has a lemon aroma that is perfect for naturally scenting homemade bath and body recipes. Additionally, there are some benefits that can be gained from this tasty herb from both the herbal teas as well as the lovely skin care products, which provides both health and cosmetic benefits. So, let's learn about all the wonderful reasons for using lemon verbena leaf!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Growing ConditionsMost people who grow their own lemon verbena at home will say that the plant takes a bit of work. However, it is often said that the reward is well worth the effort put in. Additionally, this plant is likely to drop its leaves at the slightest issue. However, a plant without leaves is not always dead. In fact, many people have assumed their plant to be dead and found it growing vigorously after it was thrown to the side. So, you will find that this herb is a bit temperamental.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Growing and Harvesting Your HerbsFirst, this refreshing plant requires soil that is loose and well draining. It is very important that the water is about to drain, as the plant will die if the roots constantly stay wet. Additionally, a larger pot can be useful for insulating the roots against changes in soil temperature. Also, you will find that full sun will provide you plant with the best opportunity for growth as well as stronger, flavorful leaves. While the plant can benefit from light shade in dessert-like areas, you will want to make sure that the lemon verbena gets a larger amount of sun compared to shade. Also, you will want to provide frequent fertilization, which would be required throughout the growing season, for your plant.Since this plant will provide a new growth beneath the cut that you make, harvesting your lemon verbena leaves isn't harmful to your plant. Throughout the growing season you can continue to cut what you need. In fact, frequent cutting will prevent your plant from getting too leggy. You will want to harvest the leaves before they turn yellow. After you dry your harvested leaves you can store them in dry, sealed containers. Additionally, you can freeze some of the leaves that you will want to preserve for longer lengths of time. You will want to crumble your leaves before using to increase the flavor.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Industrial UsesYou can use this cosmetic herb to create all kinds of beneficial products to nourish your body inside and out. First, you can create delightful teas as well as some delicious recipes with this lemon-flavored herb. Plus, adding this cosmetic herb to your diet can provide your body with a plethora of benefits. Also, you can include our cosmetic lemon verbena Leaf to create fantastic bath and body recipes that smell great and are wonderful for your skin. Now, let's get into exactly what this cosmetic herb can do.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Medicinal UsesWhile lemon verbena leaves are well known for their delicious flavor, there are some beneficial properties available for your health, too. It is thought to help your immune system, reduce inflammation, and more! So, there are plenty of properties to enjoy from this botanical herb. Between the medicinal benefits of this herb and the pleasant flavor, you are sure to enjoy using lemon verbena leaf.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Medicinal BenefitsAlso, you can use this herb to reduce inflammation in the body. So, the antioxidants in lemon verbena have been known to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Further, you may find that this herb can be used to promote a faster recovery for joint injuries. Additionally, some have found that this herb can be useful for kidney or liver problems as well as urinary tract issues, as this herb can help flush out your system.Additionally, it has been found that this herb can be used to help break a fever. Further, it is thought that this herb can be used to help boost your immunity. Since this herb is used to reduce the level of oxidative stress on your body, it is thought to help promote your body's immune system. So, this wonderful herb could be beneficial to use during a bout of sickness, as it may get you to recover quicker. Further, it has been found that you can use this delightful herb to help with congestion. It is thought that Lemon Verbena tea can be used to reduce phlegm and mucus, which is perfect for eliminating congestion in the respiratory tracts.Another benefit of this lovely herb is helping to aid in digestion. This herb has been known to help calm the stomach and reduce minor issues, like cramping and bloating. Also, it has been found that you can use lemon verbena to help reduce anxiety. The antioxidants in this herb are thought to help balance any possible hormonal imbalance and gently reduce stress to help ease the mind and body.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Bath and Body UsesThere are many benefits that you can gain from this fantastic herb. You can use this herb as a natural scented oil, as it has a fantastic and strong aroma. So, this would be a great pick for anyone looking for herbs for soap making. Further, there are many beneficial properties that you can use to nourish your skin. So, you can use this fantastic herb to create cosmetic recipes that smell delightful and care for the body.First of all, this wonderful herb can be used to provide a wonderful aroma to your bath and body products. The scent of this wonderful cosmetic herb has been described as very strong, too! So, you can use this herb to naturally scent your various bath and body products with the aroma of refreshing lemon. Further, this strong, lemon aroma has been found to have a calming aroma for the entire body. So, this is a fantastic cosmetic herb that you can include in your bath and body recipe, which will allow you to soak in the wonderful aroma and calming properties of the cosmetic recipe.Additionally, the anti-inflammatory properties of lemon verbena can be useful for reducing certain skin conditions. For example, issues with eczema may be reduced by using this cosmetic herb. Also, this cosmetic herb has been found to be able to fight off staph skin infections. Since this bacteria can range in severity from a minor skin irritation to a life threatening issue, it is wonderful to have an herbal remedy on hand. While doctors should be contacted after an outbreak, this herb may be a useful tool to begin treatment at home along with your doctor's recommendations, which can be useful for preventing growth and keep it from getting worse.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Food and BeveragesYou can use this lovely herb to create all kinds of delightful recipes. Due to this herb's bold and refreshing flavor you are able to create recipes that are both delicious and natural. Not only is the flavor amazing, but the herb is thought to be useful for improving mood. So, drinking this herbal tea could be useful for dealing with anxiety, depression, or even insomnia. This means that adding this herb to your typical diet could result in some wonderful mood improvements.First, you can use this herb to create a lovely herbal tea. Although you will steep these leaves like you would for any other tea, it may be beneficial for you to crush or break the leaves immediately before steeping. It has been found that the flavor and aroma of these leaves are emboldened after the whole leaves are broken up. Breaking up the leaves allows more of the flavor and nutrients to be released during the steeping process.Furthermore, you can use this flavorful herb to create all kinds of wonderful dishes. For example, you can include this herb in recipes for fish, chicken, or salads to increase the flavor and make your food even more irresistible. Also, you can use this herb to create delicious cooking ingredients, like the Lemon Verbena Butter by Genius Kitchen. This recipe is such an easy way to step up your average butter and create something phenomenal to cook with. Not only can you use this herbal ingredient to step up recipes and enhance your food, but you can create unique recipes centered around this wonderful flavor. For example, the homemade Lemon Verbena Ice Cream recipe is a fantastic choice for anyone with an ice cream maker!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Other UsesSome people have found that this wonderful herb can be used as a weight loss tool. Creating a tea with this herb will provide only a couple of calories and is known to help reduce your appetite. Not only is it thought that this herb will reduce your hunger, but it may be useful for promoting a faster rate of burning fat. The herb is thought to be able to improve this rate by optimizing some of your body's natural processes.Additionally, it is thought that this herb could be useful for improving healthy muscle building. Drinking lemon verbena tea along with a regular exercise routine is thought to be useful before a workout. The nutritional elements in this herb are thought to decrease the damage done to muscles without inhibiting your body's natural development of muscle mass. So, you can gain even more from the same exercise routine.Additionally, this herb can be used to keep certain pests away, like flies or mosquitoes. Often, this herb would be tossed around a horse stable. This would allow the horses to step on the leaves, release the scent, and repel pests from the stable. Furthermore, this herb can be used to help reduce the levels of candida in your gut. This fungus can be the root cause to oral thrush as well as some chronic intestinal issues.Also, you can use this cosmetic herb to improve your natural cleaning product recipes. The lemon verbena is perfect for providing a fresh, clean lemon scent that is sure to enhance your homemade cleaning recipes.What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Ask Us Your QuestionsWe hope that you have enjoyed learning about this wonderful herb! If you have any more questions about using Lemon Verbana Leaf or any of our other herbs and spices, then feel free to reach out. You can find us in the store, on the phone, or even online. Anyone that wants to find us online can find us on social media. We have a Natures Garden Facebook page. Also, you can use @ngscents to find us on either Twitter and Instagram. Further, you can use these platforms to share your own creations or opinions on this herb. We hope that you enjoy the Lemon Verbena Leaf and that we hear from you soon!What is Lemon Verbena Used For?: Note About Our HerbsNote: Natures Garden sells our herbs, like the lemon verbana leaf cut and sifted, for external use only. We do not sell our herbs as food items. The information we provide is for educational purposes only. We do not intend to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease with this information. Also, the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the information that we provide. You should be sure to keep all herbs out of reach of both your children and pets. Further, pregnant and/or lactating women should take special care when handling herbs. Lastly, Natures Garden accepts no responsibility (written or implied) for any products you make with our herbs and all testing is the responsibility of the customer.

Whenever something is being burned, there will be some amount of smoke. Naturally, when you limit the amount of oxygen, you will see more smoke than when ample oxygen is supplied. However, you can prevent your homemade candles from excessively smoking by making your candles the right way in the first place. There are a few reasons as to why a candle may smoke once lit. The first check point to examine is whether or not the correct amount of fragrance oil was used in the process. Using more than the recommended amount of fragrance oil per pound of wax may sound like it is a good idea to have extreme scent, but in the end it is only wasteful (and costly), and can cause your candles to smoke. Wax has a fragrance load limit. Since it is a porous object, once each and every pore has been filled, there is no more area for the fragrance to go.The second reason your candle may be smoking is the wick. Using the proper wick for the diameter size of the candle is the best way to ensure a clean and even burn in the candle. Go here to read a very interesting blog post on the science of candle wicks. A smoking wick will occur if the wick of the candle is too large for the container. To view a wick suggestion chart for your sized candle container click here for Natures Garden s wick recommendations. Avoid allowing the debris from wick clippings from entering into your melted wax, and keep your wicks trimmed to 1/4".Finally, your colorant may cause your candle to smoke. It is important to know that pigments can clog your wick and can cause increased smoking when burning your candle. That is why only candle dyes should be used to color the interior wax of candles. Never use crayons to color your candles as they contain pigments instead of dyes. When using candle dyes, understand that using alot of candle dye may also cause your candles to smoke more.How to Solve It!When it comes to fragrance oil percentage, never use more than the suggested amount of fragrance oil per pound of wax. Remember, using more may result in a candle with a fragrance oil slick that is a fire hazard.Do your research first. In order to know which wick to use in candle making, you must first know your candle's diameter. You can figure this out by measuring the bottom of your candle container with a ruler. You will want to measure horizontally across the center. Once you have this information, simply look at the wick suggestion chart and select which kind of wick you need. Keep wick trimmings out of your melted wax, and keep wicks trimmed to 1/4". Also, avoid burning your candles where there are fans or drafts. This can cause your wick to move around and burn too quickly; potentially smoking more.In candle making temperature is very important. Many waxes offer a range in temperature for their key steps (melting temperature, scenting temperature, pouring temperature). It is a very good idea to monitor these temperatures with the help of a testing notebook and thermometer. Within a few times of making candles, you can have your temperatures down to a specific degree. With well taken notes, it is possible to have your candle making process replicated exactly time and time again.Lastly, you always want to avoid using pigments in the interior of your candle. Only candle dyes should be used to color the interior of your candle wax.

Using a wax like Golden Foods Soy Wax 464, and a few preventative measures can help eliminate wet spots from your candles. What are Wet Spots in Candles?The term wet spots in candle making refers to the spots or patches in container candles that appear to have air, or a wet spot showing through the glass or transparent container and the candle wax. Wet spots are extremely common and are one of the most common complaints among candle makers. However, wet spots will not inhibit the functionality of your candle, just the aesthetic appeal.What causes Wet Spots?1. Pouring hot candle wax into too cold of a container.2. Pouring your melted candle wax at a temperature much cooler than what is suggested.3. Using a pillar/votive wax for container candles instead of a container wax that is formulated for that purpose.4. Cooling your candles too fast; subjecting your candles to an environment which has drafts or is lower than 70-72 degrees.5. Pouring candle wax into dirty containers.How to Avoid Wet Spots?1. Try to eliminate or prevent wet spots by thoroughly washing and drying your containers before using. This will get any dust or debris out that may have fallen into your jars.2. Be sure to use a container wax so that your wax adheres properly to your container. Votive/pillar waxes are not suggested for container candles. Wax like Golden Foods Soy Wax 464, is a great start. This type of soy wax has a wonderful adhesion to glass containers, therefore minimizing the chances of getting wet spots.3. Heat your jars/containers at the lowest setting on a cookie sheet in the oven for twenty minutes prior to filling them. This also allows for the candle wax to cool slowly which allows for better adhesion to the container.4. Another thing that tends to reduce the occurrence of wet spots is pouring your candles inside the box the candle jars came in. This helps to insulate your candles while they cool slowly. Allow your candles to set up at room temperature, in a room that has no drafts.5. If you start to see the wet spots taking place as the candle is cooling, this means you should consider increasing your pour temperature. Testing with a thermometer is key here. Follow the manufacturer's recommended pour temperature.

There are many wonderful cosmetic herbs that are available to you from Natures Garden your wholesale herb supplier. In fact, there are so many that it can be hard to figure out what to do with them all. So, don't worry if you have been wondering "What Can Paprika Be Used For?". While this herb may seem common place in the kitchen as a spice, there are many benefits that can be had for the skin. So, adding this cosmetic ingredient to your handcrafted cosmetic recipes would be perfect for helping your bath and body recipes care for the skin.What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Growing ConditionsThis powdered herb can be created from either bell peppers or mild chili peppers. These fresh, crisp peppers will be dried and ground into a flake or powder form. After, it is then considered paprika and can be used in cosmetics as well as food recipes. So, making paprika means that you will be growing a kind of pepper from the Capsicum Annuum family. There are a few plant varieties that you can find, which include the Hungarian or the Spanish varieties of this well known spice.These peppers prefer similar conditions to many other peppers. This means that they enjoy soil that will drain fairly well and is fertile. Plus, this plant enjoys sunny areas and a climate that is on the warmer side. If you live in a warm climate, then you will be able to start your seeds outside. Otherwise, you will want to either start your seeds inside or buy seedlings that are already started. Make sure that any possibility of frost has passed before you decide to transplant your peppers. You will want to have your plants about 12 inches apart from each other in a row and have each row about 3 feet from the others. After the peppers have grown and turned a bright red color they will be ready to use!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: From Garden Fresh Peppers to PaprikaNow that you have grown the peppers, you will need to dry and grind them. You can use an electric dehydrator or try yourself. If you try dehydrating yourself, then you may want to hang them in mesh bags. You should store these bags in a heated container or room thin the formulation of various cosmetic recipes. Also, the paprika spice can be used to add to the flavor of a meal. Plus, you can use this herb medicinally to help with various issues. So, this cosmetic herb is perfect for creating all kinds of wonderful recipes!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Making Bath and Body ProductsYou can use this cosmetic herb to create various homemade recipes, which includes wonderful soap making recipes. There are many ways that your products can benefit from including the wholesale papriks. Our paprika powder herb can be used to naturally color your products, as it will provide a natural salmon color. Also, you can use this herb to provide some skin nourishing benefits! So, you will absolutely want to try out this herb in your various bath and body recipes!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Cosmetic BenefitsFirst, you can use this powdered herb to naturally color your bath and body recipes. So, adding this natural soap colorant to your recipes will provide you with a natural salmon color. Not only can you use this herb as a cosmetic colorant, but this ingredient has some other benefits, too. Also, this cosmetic herb can be used to help provide a youthful glow to your skin. The carotenoids in this cosmetic herb are powerful antioxidants that can help protect the skin. So, this allows the herb to help your skin fight free radicals that would further age our skin and helps keep the skin looking youthful. Further, this cosmetic herb has beta carotene, which is an antioxidant and provides anti-inflammatory properties. So, this property can be used to reduce wrinkles and protect the skin from sun damage.Additionally, this lovely herb can be used to help reduce inflammation based skin issues, like eczema or rashes. Also, paprika has been thought to help increase circulation to the skin, which provides you with healthier, glowing skin. Plus, this herb has been known to help fight bacteria, which means this herb is useful for reducing acne and blackheads.Next, you can use this herb to help with hair care recipes. The herb can be useful for providing the hair with vitamin B6, which has shown to prevent hair loss. Further, this beneficial property will help improve circulation and promote better hair growth.What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Natures Garden Cosmetic RecipeOne great way to utilize all of Paprika's skin benefits is our Pineapple Paprika Cold Process Soap Recipe. This cosmetic recipe uses cosmetic oils and butters to create a luscious skin care recipe that will love your body. Further, the cosmetic herb added to this recipe has some skin care properties of its own. These properties will help care for the skin and leave you feeling youthful and glowing. Plus, this soap recipe includes the unique and strong aroma of our Pineapple Paprika Fragrance Oil. So, this is a fantastic soap-making recipe for your skin and senses!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Food and BeveragesThere are a few different types of paprika that can be used in food recipes. Although the taste can differ, this spice is often best in savory dishes. The Hungarian and Spanish types of paprika are most commonly used as a spice for enhancing the flavor of certain recipes. However, the type that is found in our grocery stores is a different type of paprika that is mold bland. So, this version of the spice is more likely to be used as a garnish to make the food appear more appetizing. But, all these types of the same spice have benefits that enhance the food in some way as well as properties that benefit the body.What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Medicinal UsesSome people have found that taking this cosmetic herb can provide the body with a variety of health benefits. Luckily, this spice is often enjoyed for creating good food and you won't have to disguise the taste. So, adding this wonderful spice to your diet can help boost your health and improve many issues and conditions. Due to these benefits you may want to add some more of this spice to your typical diet. You can easily add this spice to a typical meal to change things up and gain even more benefits from your food!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Medicinal BenefitsFirst, some people find that using this cosmetic can be useful for lowering cholesterol. It is thought that this herb can be used to help reduce your bad cholesterol in the body. Plus, this cosmetic herb is full of vitamins and minerals that can be used by your body to promote health and well being. First, the vitamin A in this spice is thought to boost the immune system and fight infections. This herb can be useful for fighting off certain bacteria, like E. coli or Salmonella, so this herb can help to keep you feeling great.Additionally, you can use this herb to promote healthy skin. This cosmetic ingredient is full of great antioxidants that will help fight free radicals that have the potential to damage your cells. Further, this vitamin is helpful for reducing wrinkles, sagging, and fine lines. So, this nutrient rich spice will leave your skin healthy and glowing. Also, Vitamin C is useful for those with anemia, as this vitamin will help the body absorb iron and create red blood cells. What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Other UsesThere are so many different ways that you can incorporate paprika powder into your daily life. Not only can you use this herb for cooking, cosmetic recipes, and boosting your health, but there are a few other random uses for this herb that you may enjoy. If weight loss or reducing the time of a cold sound good to you, then you may be interested in using this spice.First, this cosmetic herb may be useful for helping with a cold. This herb has properties that aid in congestion. So, this herb can be useful for clearing mucus from the nose and lungs. So, you may want to increase your paprika intake during your next cold. A second possible benefit of this cosmetic herb is helping you lose weight. An ingredient in paprika, called Capsaicin, has been known to help burn fat and lead to increased weight loss. It has properties that lead to your body burning extra calories after eating for up to 20 minutes. Of course, paprika isn't going to get the job done on its own, but paprika can help you in your efforts. So, regular use of paprika along with a healthy diet and some exercise can lead to some amazing results!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Background of PaprikaAlthough this spice is very prevalent in Hungarian cuisine, paprika did not originate there. While there is a Hungarian strain of paprika that can be traced back to Turkey, this herb didn't originate there. Rather the spice was first grown in Mexico, like the Spanish variety of paprika. So, these two different types had similar origins. If you are curious and want to learn more about this spice, then check out The History and Origins of Paprika by DESIblitz.While these different types of paprika are similar in many ways, there are some distinct differences between the types that are available. First, you have traditional paprika, which is often found in the grocery store. It is most often used to add color to a dish and has a mild, neutral flavor. Second there is Spanish Paprika that has a rich, smoky flavor from smoked peppers, which can be sweet, mild, or hot. Now, our paprika herb is Hungarian Paprika.What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Ask Us Your QuestionsAnyone that has more questions about our ground paprika or any of our other herbs and spices should feel free to reach out to us to ask! Also, we are able to answer any other cosmetic making questions that you may have. If you want to ask us something related to your homemade cosmetics, then just reach out to us in the store, on the phone, or on social media. We have a Facebook page that you can reach us on. Also, you can use @ngscents to talk to us on Twitter and Instagram. Have fun creating your herbal recipes and we hope to hear from you soon!What Can Paprika Be Used For?: Note About Our HerbsNatures Garden sells our paprika powder for external use only. We do not sell paprika powder or any other herbs as food items. The information that we provide about our Paprika Hungarian Ground is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Keep all the cosmetic herbs out of reach of children and pets. If you are a pregnant and/or lactating women, then you should take special care when you are handling any herbs. Natures Garden accepts no responsibility, written or implied, for any products you make with our herbs. All of the testing is the sole responsibility of the customer.

Melt and Pour Soap Bases contain high levels of vegetable glycerin. Glycerin is a natural byproduct of the saponification process. The ingredient glycerin is a humectant. A humectant is a substance that can retain and preserve moisture, therefore also preventing loss of moisture as well. Humectants are very important in bath and body products. Having a moisturizing aspect to your products is especially crucial for the dry skin type products.Sometimes, during the manufacturing process of melt and pour soaps, extra glycerin is added. Glycerin is a key ingredient for making clear soaps. Some types of melt and pour soaps even have up to 20% of pure glycerin in them (this would be why glycerin is listed so highly on the ingredients label). But remember this glycerin is what gives melt and pour soap some of its highly sought after qualities, easy to color and mold, skin loving nature, mild and gentle soap (good for children and sensitive skinned), and very highly moisturizing naturally.In fact, it is believed that in theory when you wash your hands with glycerin soap, there will be a thin layer of glycerin that is left behind after you rinse off the lather. This layer of glycerin then does its humectant job and pulls moisture from the air, keeping your hand moisturized until the next wash. But, it is also this same ingredient which is causing your melt and pour soap to sweat. Some people believe that m&p sweat is inevitable, but there are some steps you can take to help avoid and reduce sweat.Because glycerin is a humectant, the sweat that is produced after m&p soap in unmolded is actually condensation from the air that the glycerin drew out unto itself. This is a very important element to remember if you live in an area with high heat and high humidity, or if you are soaping while it is raining outside. Humidity is the number one cause for sweat.How to Reduce M&P Soap Sweat:One of the best suggestions that we have for reducing the amount of sweat on your soaps is to have a dehumidifier in your soaping area. You also want to keep the temperature of the room where you are soaping constant. Drastic changes in temperature will also enhance soap sweat.The first option in reducing sweat on m&p soap, especially if you live in a very humid area, is to store unmolded soaps in an airtight container. By doing this, you are eliminating any extra moisture to be retained by the glycerin. One tip we have learned from our customers is to spread a thin layer of aroma beads into the bottom of the air tight container. Since aroma beads absorb liquid, this will also better your chances of having an air tight moisture free environment for your soaps to dry and harden.In addition to the aroma beads, you will want to use drying racks in your containers if possible. Setting your soap directly on top of the aroma beads for long periods of time will also dry out your soaps. The time limit that the soaps can be in the air tight container is 2 hrs. The soaps should also be checked and rotated every 30 minutes.Some soap crafters use muslin bags to lay their soap out to dry, rotating them once a day. This however will only work if you live in an area that does not have high humidity.Although there is some debate as to when you can wrap your soap to avoid sweat, the general consensus is to wrap your soaps immediately after unmolding, if you are not storing them in an airtight container. Regardless of whether you are using, plastic wrap or saran wrap (sealed with a heat gun), or shrink wrap, the sooner you get the soaps covered, the less chance glycerin has to draw moisture to the outside of the soap.Another way to reduce sweat forming on the soap is to allow the soap to cool and harden naturally. You want your soaps to harden at room temperature (70-72 degrees). Even though you can speed up the hardening process by placing your molds in the fridge/freezer, it should NEVER be any longer than 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your mold. Also, this step should never occur right after you poured the hot melted soap in the mold. Wait until your soap has already started to harden. The drastic temperature change from piping hot to freezing cold will lead to soap sweat. And, you never want to completely freeze soap. When the frozen soap thaws, you can almost guarantee soap sweat.On a closing note, soap sweat does not affect any of the soap's abilities. Soap sweat happens naturally in humid environments that the soap is in. Although using the preventative measures listed above will help to reduce the amount of soap sweat that occurs on your bars of soap, soap sweat may still appear. The humectant agents in your soap are just doing their job, collecting moisture from the air, just as it will to moisturize your skin.