Resource Library

A wealth of information about natural soap, cosmetics
and body care products and their ingredients.

Soaps and body care items probably touch your body more than any other single thing, except maybe water and/or clothing. Therefore, it is important to have all the information you need to choose the products that will work best for you. Some people make those decisions based on moral reasons (e.g. no animal products or testing); some decide based on specific physical needs (such as allergies); other people choose based on their own personal likes and dislikes, such as a preference toward a certain scent. I believe most people choose their products based on a combination of those reasons.

However you decide which soaps or cosmetics to put on your body, having all the necessary information available is the key. Hopefully within these links you will find the information to help you make your own decisions.

Note: When a link takes you to a different website, you'll notice it opens in a new window. This is so you can easily return to this page when you're done - just close that new window.

General

• Glossary of Terms
  

Soap

• How Is Soap Made? (by Marie Chandler-Gale)
  
• Commercial vs. Handmade Soaps (by Marie Chandler-Gale)
  
• Commercial Soapmaking Process (by Marie Chandler-Gale)
  
• A Brief History of Soap in America  (by Marie Chandler-Gale)
  
• The Chemistry of Soap  (by Marie Chandler-Gale)
  
• All That Lathers Is Not Soap  (from the FDA)
  
• Soap Trivia
  

The Bath

• History of Ancient Roman Baths (from Kentucky Education Television)

Cosmetics

• Cosmetic Labeling (from the FDA)
• Cosmetic Ingredients: Understanding the Puffery  (from the FDA)
  
• Cosmetic Safety: More Complex Than At First Blush  (from the FDA)
  
• Cosmetic vs Over-The-Counter Drug  (from the FDA)

Scents and Aromatherapy

• A History of Fragrance  (HealthWorldOnLine)
  
• Therapeutic Uses of Aromatherapy  (HealthWorldOnLine)
  
• Aromatherapy  (from the FDA)

Have a Question?

If you have a related question that isn't answered here, send it to me! I'll do my best to answer you and also post the information in our library. (Your name and e-mail will remain confidential.)