Primitive Earth Soap Co.

Sign up for the newsletter and enter to win!

2010-05-15T14:42:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! We are in the process of moving "Up North," so our site will be down for a month or so longer. But in the meantime, sign up for the newsletter (see the handy dandy box just at the right), and be entered to win a $50 gift basket full of natural soap and goodies! One name will be drawn before the first issue of the newsletter goes out.

Our letter will be full of articles, handy links, recipes, tips on eco-living and frugalality, photos, and of course news about the store and COUPONS! Always coupons.

Best wishes,
Amanda

Soapmaking 101 Workshop Nov. 15

2009-11-07T16:08:00.001-05:00

Just in time for the holidays, learn to make your own olive oil soap the old-fashioned way! This workshop will be Nov. 15 from 1-3:30 p.m.

All materials and supplies are provided and you will leave the class with a batch of olive oil soap that YOU made! About 8 bars worth, in the scent of your choice.

Bring only a tupperware container and a pen to take notes - oils, lye, scale and mixers are all provided.

$85 registration fee - class limited to 12. Register and pay online today to reserve your spot: http://www.primitivesoaps.com (click on the banner at right)

Soapmaking Class in Richmond, August 16

2009-07-08T20:40:00.006-04:00

Sunday, August 16, come join us for Soapmaking 101 and learn to make natural olive oil soap the old-fashioned way at home! $85 includes all materials and you will take home a batch of soap YOU made!

Click on the flyer at right to register online today!

More information about ArtWorks, the location of the class: http://www.artworksrichmond.com/Directions.htm

Coming VERY soon - lip butters!

2009-07-08T20:20:00.006-04:00

Our lip butters are on their way! Our special blend of vegetable oils is designed to truly moisturize lips, rather than just coating them in wax (which leads to the constant re-application and "lip balm addiction).

Flavors will include:

Bananer - just plain ol' banana! This is probably my favorite flavor of lip balm.

Sasparilla - Delicious sweet root beer lip balm that keeps your kisser soft.

Mai Thai - Tropical coconut with a touch of lemongrass ... close your eyes and imagine the beach!

Debutante - Honeyed peach lip butter for a juicy, fruity kiss.

Orange Creme - An Ode to that wonderful mix of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet - french vanilla and orange essential oils.

Soapmaking 101 June 28!

2009-06-20T18:04:00.003-04:00

Learn to make your own natural, homemade olive oil soap! June 28 we'll be teaching an approximately three-hour workshop at First Colony Winery. Click here to Register!

Why I love hot process soap

2009-06-17T10:03:00.004-04:00

Hot process and cold process soaps are quite different. Cold process is creamy and delicate ... nothing in the world smells as good to me as unscented, plain cold process soap.

But hot process soap is wonderful too - nothing looks as rugged and handspun as some whipped HP soap. Their qualities are different too - I find that a well-cured bar of HP soap foams a little better and works well with my local water quality (lots of chlorine, and fairly hard water). It also creates a really beautiful bar, as demonstrated above - swirling two colors of HP soap looks almost exactly like marble or granite!

Lastly, and maybe most importantly in my book, the scent is almost always stronger. Because of the way it's made, essential oils hold up better, and so the scent is stronger. Click here to view our newest iteration of the Lavender Lemon bar, which I'm really excited about! I've added lemongrass this time, and I couldn't be happier with the fragrance.

XOXO
Amanda

2nd Annual Etsy Yart Sale!

2009-06-09T09:16:00.002-04:00

Come visit at the Etsy-wide Yart Sale starting Wednesday! Yard Sale + Art = Yart! Lots of shops including my own will be having great deals.

We are offering:
• Free shipping on additional items!
• Buy two soaps, get one free! See special "YART" listings.
• Prizes with every order!

See you there!

Our first apothecary product!

2009-06-05T17:28:00.005-04:00

(Above: Mock-up packaging.)

Product development is nearly complete. After months of agonizing over the ingredients, and trying to find a microdermabrasion-quality exfoliant, I got it mixed and finalized!

Earthly face cleanser contains a base of whole-leaf aloe, pink French clay and EXTRA fine pumice - finer than sand or most microderm products on the market. It has glycerin to cleanse, a kiss of avocado butter -- to not only keep the clay from being too drying, but to moisturize skin-- sea kelp extract, essential oils and honey.

The best part is, it's a lovely pink color and the natural minerals have a little sparkle!

Tonight I'm going to also try it as a face mask. Since it's mostly clay, a thin layer, allowed to dry for 10 mins, should make for a lovely facial.

Stay tuned for this product in the next couple months!!

Welcome HOMEstyle readers!

2009-05-28T08:46:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for custom wedding favors, you've come to the right place! Whether you want custom lavender soaps to match your wedding theme, or bags of organic tea to thank your guests, we can

Please note that custom orders take a few weeks to create and send. Click the links above to visit my Online Retail store at Etsy.com or email me at snydersonline@mac.com. Thanks for visiting!

Rooibos tea - a great way to kick a caffeine habit

2009-05-26T11:53:00.005-04:00

I love coffee but I hate that I get addicted to caffeine so easily - case in point, at 3 p.m. each day, my eyes glaze over and I get cranky until I get my afternoon fix!

But I love it so much - I love the bold nutty taste, I love adding milk and sugar, and I enjoy the afternoon ritual of taking a break and fixing myself a hot beverage.

If you're in the same boat as me, give rooibos tea a try! It's smooth, mellow and has none of the tannin taste that some black teas like pekoe or most breakfast blends have. If you are new to teas, I recommend both rooibos and honeybush as a tea that ANYONE would enjoy.

Our Orange Creme tea includes organic, fair trade rooibos red tea, orange peels and ground vanilla for a creamy treat so luxe you won't even miss the coffee. You will notice a little bit of vanilla sediment in the bottom of the cup, but I usually gulp this down without even noticing.

Thanks to my visitors at the Strawberry Street Festival!

2009-05-07T10:31:00.001-04:00

What a fun fair. It was a VERY toasty and humid day, and we had to hold down the tent a few times (Oh and I forgot where I parked my car and thought it got towed... LOL).

But what a great event. I plan to go next year as well!

Countdown to Etsy Day

2009-04-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

Etsy Day is April 24! Start saving your allowance!
Photo: Treasury

Summer Soap Adventures - see you there?!

2009-03-31T10:06:00.003-04:00

Lots of plans for craft fairs this summer!! Here are a few that I've applied to ... some great summer events an easy drive from Charlottesville:

The Strawberry Street Festival May 9, Richmond.

Ashland Strawberry Faire, June 6.

The Tappahannock RivahFest, June 20.

43rd St. Festival, Richmond, Sept. 19.

Plus two more Soapmaking 101 classes! Charlottesville's date is TBA, but probably in early June. And another in Richmond in late July!

It will truly be the Summer of Soap.

Soap Sale, Blind Bunny

2008-10-05T10:08:00.000-04:00

Cagliari, Sardinia 10
Originally uploaded by charbel.akhras

So I got mildly inspired about soap again today and took a dive into the online store I had created and quickly neglected. I created a coupon called THANKS2008, good for 10% off at checkout. So, ya know, thanks.

http://primitivesoaps.com

In other news, I started thinking about what soaps I needed to make for Christmas. I went to my herb garden out front to get some patchouli and wormwood, which I macerated and put in a jar of olive oil to steep. I am a lover of patchouli, though I know some people hate it and think it smells like a sweaty hippie. I don't totally disagree with that.

But I did notice that my wormwood (yes, the same plant used in absinthe) had been nibbled away to nearly nothing. Keep an eye out for blind bunnies.

New Shop Online!

2008-09-01T16:36:00.000-04:00

Please visit PrimitiveSoaps.com to order today!

Spring Bada Bing... Bada Boom

2008-04-21T10:04:00.001-04:00

The Richmond Craft Mafia graciously invited me to their Spring Bada Bing show which was April 20. It was a great time - there were SO many amazing crafters there and some "big names" from Etsy and the crafting world. I felt like I was among celebrity! Charlottesville was well-represented; please click here for a list of the vendors who were at the show.

It poured buckets and buckets of rain that day, but lots of folks still braved the gloom to come to the show. Plant Zero - across the river from downtown - is a totally wonderful place. I love the old industrial sections of towns like Richmond or Knoxville, Tennessee. Plant Zero and some of the buildings that surround it are a great example of turning the abandoned areas into useful, community-friendly spaces. I wish Charlottesville had something similar! It probably exists, but I just don't know about it.

Luckily I had more than enough soap. Once I had it all gathered from the various cubby holes around the house and got it packed up, I had to laugh that I was ever worried. It's great fun to watch other scent-aholics smell each bar and then try to decide which one or two they'd like to buy. Everyone picked up the Mint Chocolate soap and said, "It really smells like mint chocolate!"

But the fun doesn't stop. Next week I will try to make it to Bizarre Market at Chop Suey Books - a combination craft fair and yard sale. Ten percent of sales go to benefit Books on Wheels, which gives out books and repairs bikes. The handmade revolution in full force ... selling awesome products made in the USA ... giving back to the community. Wal-Mart sure can't say that.

Well Lye in My Eye!

2008-04-15T10:06:00.000-04:00

Preparations are underway for my next craft show - Spring Bada Bing in Richmond April 20. This is probably one of the bigger shows I've been to, and I'm nervous I don't have enough soap! Also, I'm nervous because my humble little Table O' Soap will be among vendors such as Jackson Sage.

Jackson Sage is another bath & beauty artisan who has absolutely gorgeous products. Their packaging is consistent and professional; my own is a bit down-home. They also have a variety of different products including toners, creams and bath teas. I might have to treat myself to some of their items ... market research of course! I've debated taking my little shop beyond just soap, bath soaks and lip balms, but I haven't quite found containers (must be recycled) - or for that matter, recipes - I love. Plus, storage space and investment dollars are always at a premium.

So tonight I'm making some more hot process soaps, which are both fun to cook and FAST (they'll be ready in time for the show). In the pot tonight: Licorice Mint and Just Oats. However, once again I have splashed hot oily soap in my eye. I'm also cooking soap barefoot which is most likey a bad idea. It's difficult discerning if the burning sensation in my eyes and sinus is from the waft of spearmint essential oil that I added to the kettle of hot soap or from the very hot, caustic chemicals that are no doubt burning through my cornea.

Happy Cooking!

Holiday Shopping time!

2007-12-07T19:15:00.000-05:00

It's shameless self promotion time...

This weekend, head on over to the Richmond SPCA for the Winter Craft-n-Art Market. You can shop for handmade goods made by local women artists (including me! woot), enjoy some snacks in a festive holiday atmosphere, and support the SPCA. It's a win-win-win! The Friday evening portion of the event will run in tandem with the SPCA’s Third Annual “Home for the Holidays” Shopping Event with specials in their retail shop and other vendors with pet-related gifts.

More info at: http://www.vacraft-n-istas.com/calendar.htm

About us

2006-05-05T15:48:00.000-04:00

Some years ago, I had the desire to use only natural bath and body products (and avoid all of the excess plastic packaging and chemicals in drugstore products) so I began making soap for myself. With the first batch I discovered that handmade soap is not only lovely and fresh and gentle, but a batch lasts A LONG TIME! Soon family and friends were receiving soap as gifts, and when I ran out of holidays, I took my soap to the public!

"Primitive"

Each soap is different, and I make very small batches. I don't go to great lengths to make all the bars identical. When I cut a big block of soap, I cut it so each bar looks nice, not minding bubbles, scratches or wrinkles. I don't shave off and waste the misshapen parts.

"Earth"

I make all natural soaps using ingredients from the kitchen pantry or the garden. In other words, except for the lye** my ingredients are edible. I believe in using natural materials that are easily traced back to earth. Some of my favorite batches are the result of a fit of inspiration. For instance, the Frankincense, Sea Salt and Spice soap (seen at top) came to be after doing some research on frankincense. I threw in sea salt, cinnamon, whole oats, and gave it a little color just for fun. What a great, scrubby bar!

Natural Ingredients:

Most soaps are olive oil-based. I occasionally use lard when its available, as well as canola (very gentle) and coconut oil (adds hardness and foam). I no longer use synthetic fragrance oils (only essential oils, whole herbs, infusions or hydrosols). I have never used synthetic colorants; Red, Blue and Black colorings come from natural iron oxide pigments. I use spirulina (green), turmeric (yellow), cocoa (brown), teas and clays for other colors. These natural pigments and fragrances will fade over time. Expect your soap to stay bright and pretty for three to four months. After that, the scent and color may fade, but it's still a perfectly fine bar!

Full Disclosure:

I recognize the concerns of a varying customer base, so I provide ALL ingredients on the label. Soaps in my shop are clearly labeled vegan or vegetarian when applicable. Please feel free to ask me any questions about my ingredients!

Environmentally Conscious:

You can feel good about purchasing from my shop because I use minimal packaging, recycled or recyclable wrapping/packing whenever possible, and the cans, bottles, or jugs that my base ingredients arrive in are recycled. Most soaps are wrapped in remnant fabric with a card label (A great excuse to go to the craft store and look at fabric ...haha). I try to re-use shipping materials whenever possible, so don't be surprised if your order arrives in a shoe box!

I try to be conscious of the materials and ingredients I use - so we do not use Palm oil. (Though I've heard some companies are making sustainable palm oil. Which is great! I just haven't found/purchased any yet.)

What makes it "Real" soap?

Real soap is special. Simply type "real soap" into Google and you'll find all sorts of articles about why it is better. Speaking from my own experience, real handmade soap is gentle and does not make my sensitive skin itch. Commerical bodywashes clean by corrosion - they are very acidic and strip away not only the dirt, but the moisture from your skin! (How convenient all the drugstore soap brands also sell lotion!) Look at the ingredients - alcohol and sodium laurel sulfate? Yuck! That's the same stuff in laundry detergent or dish liquid.

When I use handmade soaps, my hair and skin are silky, soft and calm. Using my clay, seaweed and tea tree facial bar not only keeps blemishes at bay, but I don't get the 4 o'clock grease slick on my forehead (I surmise that this is because my skin isn't trying to overproduce oil to make up for all the moisture that was stripped away by a harsh acidic cleanser).

Additionally, commercial soaps have all of the glycerin removed - it is a valuable "by-product" for cosmetic companies that can be sold or used in other products. Real soap retains this vegetable glycerin, which is great on skin!

Real soap cleanses by grabbing the dirt molecules and taking them away with water. You need an acid and a base to saponify the ingredients. Back in ye olde time, soapmakers used hardwood ash or potash as the base, and fats saved from cooking as the acid. Nowadays we use luxurious vegetable oils or tallow as the acid, and sodium hydroxide, or **lye as the base.

These are not clear alcohol/glycerin or melt-and-pour soaps.

Soap bars are economical!

Most bars, if kept on a rack out of puddles, will easily outlast a bottle of bodywash or a 99-cent bar of Ivory. Bars will foam up and last differently depending on your local water quality.

Shampoo bars are great too! One bar typically lasts me a few months. I have fine, frizzy, naturally curly hair that is prone to dryness ... and I don't use conditioner! Most any soap can be used on your hair - just lather up your hands and use as normal shampoo. Or do like me and rub the bar right on your scalp! Don't use peppermint or cinnamon soaps on your hair, however. These essential oils can strip the cuticle and leave you with hay.

Flavors - The Fun Part

Typical flavors in my shop or at my craft booth include:

Pure Lavender - just olive oil soap with lavender!

Sensitive Skin Soap (Calendula, Marshmallow root and Chamomile - no fragrance)

Feel Better Soap (A blend of citrus and mint)

Spiced Tea (Orange, cinnamon, juniper and other essential oils create a fresh smell)

Fig & Nutmeg Goat's Milk soap

Fiji Spa (Neroli and orange: a tropical delight)

Hippie Soap (Patchouli with ground flax)

Apple Rosemary Shampoo Bar

Cowboy Soap (Sassafrass and cedar adorably wrapped in denim and bandana)

Lemongrass Ginger - My Favorite!! (fresh lemon and ginger smell like a spa)

Lavender Lime and/or Lavender Lemon (herbal and fruity)

Just Oatmeal

Pumpkin Spice (real pumpkin, cinnamon and clove)

Don't forget some yummy bath milks and soothing natural soy candles!!

Custom Gift Baskets

If I have the items you need in stock, I can make you a gift basket to order. What a treat!

Welcome

2006-05-04T15:52:00.000-04:00

Herbal ...

Natural ...

Handcrafted ...

Olive Oil ...

Gentle ...

Eco friendly ....

Do these phrases appeal to you? If so, you'll love our all-natural artisan soaps that are designed with nature in mind. Our mission has always been to use ingredients that are close to the earth - whole herbs, essential oils, olive oil and occasionally minerals and clay. Free of dyes or synthetic ingredients such as sodium laurel sulfate or preservatives, our soaps are gentle on the skin while being beautifully fragrant!

Primitive Earth soaps are not heavily-perfumed "designer" soaps - they are rustic and unique, but I think you'll be amazed at how your skin responds! Try them once and you'll be hooked.

We invite you to browse through our store, create an account, or shop as a guest. Either way, your shopping cart will be active until you leave the store.

House pics

2001-07-17T13:29:00.000-04:00

Dining room

High chair

Clean basement and new window!

Window that replaced rotten wood door

Living room

Nursery

Bedroom

Deck

Kitchen and dirty dishes

Bathroom and proper door!

Guest room/office

Porch and cat platform

View from the front step

Landscaped corner: