Monday, 2 April 2007
When is soap Natural
Today’s cosmic question:
I have a simple question, when is a soap natural.
For example with sodium hydroxide, fragrance etc. Surely these are not natural.
Interesting and important question, which requires all but “simple” answers.
Firstly- “natural” has (sadly) become such an ambiguous and controversial term, that I cannot answer unless its meaning is better qualified. What does “natural” refer to in this context, and what do you mean by “natural”?
For example, sodium hydroxide “naturally” reacts with fatty acids to give soap. This seems to me to contradict your conclusion that making soap with sodium hydroxide (if I understand correctly what you are saying) is not natural.
And if not natural refers to fragrance etc., we would first need to better qualify and describe what “fragrance” one could be using, and what “etc’s” were they planning to add to the soap.
In short, the best answer I can give to this Cosmic Question, is to recommend that you refer to the Soap Naturally book. In my opinion, this book contains enough information for each of us to decide whether and how we can make as natural as possible soap to our own liking. And, of course, (although not so “obviously” for a number of people, I found), I suggest that, at the very minimum, you actually read Chapters 1, 2 and 5 of this book.
May the Soap Bubble Fairy inspire and purify your thoughts!