Herbal Olive Soap

A collection of educational information and advice regarding Cretan-Garden soap.

Since it is impossible to add all the necessary information on the inside of the wrapper, and to inform customers directly, all needed information is available here. Information about soap is required by the Norwegian Council of Commerce, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The handmade soap sector is categorized as “cosmetics” and cosmetics is also a department of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Index

Soap
Using soap
Do not use any type of soap on newborns and infants
Using soap in nature
Herbs
Olive oil
Olive oil: body oil
The aroma of the used essential oils
Expiration date
How to store soap
Scientific research

§1. Soap

Cretan-Garden soaps are “cold-processed” [38°C] herbal olive oil soaps, with a pH level of maximum 9, which is normal for cold-processed soaps, for all existing handmade soap, industrial soap and liquid soap available on the market. In addition, the previously popular Palmolive soap had a pH value of 9. Cretan-Garden soap is hypoallergenic, which means that it minimizes a possible allergic reaction. Herbal olive soap leaves a thin film layer on the skin after washing. This layer contains all the goods from olive oil, herbs and essential oils, their vitamins and minerals, their anti-aging and moisturizing properties and the skin elasticity effect.

Cretan-Garden soaps are made from Cretan organic olive oil, herbs and essential oils. The ingredients for saponifying the oil extract are distilled water and sodium hydroxide. There are handmade liquid soaps made from distilled water and potassium hydroxide, but the pH levels of both are the same. Potassium hydroxide is used for making liquid soap. Every soap or liquid soap is alkaline. Soaps that have a neutral pH should be investigated: the chemicals used to lower the alkalinity of the soap, to make a soap neutral (pH7), can be dangerous to the skin. Always look for the ingredients in the information. If these are not added, do not buy the soap. Washing your skin when bathing or showering with herbal olive soap is essential to maintaining healthy skin and body hygiene. Also read Chapter 8: Body Oil.

The lye (distilled water plus sodium hydroxide) disappears completely during the months the soap hardens. The formulas used are derived from old traditional recipes.

Pinterest: Traditional Soap Making

§2. Using soap

NOTE: See also the following section 3: “Using soap for babies and young children”, and section 4: “Using soap in nature.”

The soap can be used in the sink, in the kitchen and bathroom, in the bathtub and shower, and also for washing hair*. Soap residue must be washed off with water. For all types of skin problems, you should first consult a dermatologist or general practitioner. However, herbal olive soap is safe to use. It is hypoallergenic, which means that it minimizes possible allergic reactions. It is also safe for aging skin and for intimate hygiene. In the case of vulvar-vaginal infections, it is necessary to consult a GP or doctor. Read also: skin problems, symptoms, temporary skin conditions, permanent skin conditions, skin conditions in children, treatment of skin conditions, causes and prevention – Healthline

Because olive oil soaps are oily, Cretan-Garden soap also cleans the black, greasy hands of car mechanics. Furthermore, the soaps eliminate unpleasant odors, while keeping the skin moisturized, elastic, protected and smelling good afterward. Oregano soap, in particular, can be used to cure or prevent the so-called “athlete’s foot”, or other types of fungus on the skin: it is more antiseptic than any other type of soap. Herbal olive soap, especially oregano soap and rosemary soap, can also be used against head lice. Herbal olive soap can also be used to rub grease stains into clothes that cannot be washed out with another detergent. Let the soap act for a while before rinsing the area with lukewarm water. Read more about using herbal olive soap in the information for each soap, see the menu above.

It is astonishing that soap manufacturers of, for example, the very popular Aleppo soap, Savon de Marseille soap, and Castile soap do not provide information about the pH value. The pH value of all natural soaps is 9. It is related to the formula of handmade natural soaps according to ancient traditions. There are manufacturers of so-called neutral soaps, or so-called biodegradable soaps, who also do not provide any information about them. There are natural soap manufacturers who add natural acidic substances or, for example, aloe vera to lower the pH level. For me, it has been a conscious choice to follow the old traditional methods and formulas. Although Cretan-Garden olive soap is alkaline, the skin only needs 15 minutes to return to its own pH. The benefits of olive oil, herbs and essential oils in the soap are still present in the thin film that remains on the skin and nourishes, protects and keeps the skin elastic.

*Advice: Use a handful (depending on the amount of hair) of homemade olive oil body oil [2 dl oil and 20 drops of essential oil] as a hair mask after washing with olive oil soap. Leave the oil to act for a while, while you shower and then rinse the oil with water. This is an effective treatment for curly, grey, dry to very dry hair. Please note: washing your hair daily is bad for your scalp and hair.

§3. Do not use any type of soap on new-borns and infants

There are websites with information that is absolutely not in line with recent scientific research results on the use of industrial soaps and also handmade soap. The claim on these websites that it is safe to use for babies and infants is not correct.

Because the skin of newborn babies, infants and toddlers is completely sensitive, my advice is not to use any soap product at all unless it is from Weleda. Weleda has a hundred years of experience in skin products, has an impeccable reputation, makes high-quality products and has a fantastic skincare line for babies. Website: here. For older children, it is safe to use herbal olive soap for handwashing, or to tear off a small piece of the soap to use in the bath or foot bath. Herbal olive soap leaves a thin film of olive oil, which protects the skin and moisturizes the skin. Advice: Parents should keep an eye on their children when they are washing their hands and hair. If they are experiencing problems with handwashing, because the child does not like to wash their hands properly, parents can, for example, read this book aloud. However, the own example is the best statement. See: You are washing your hands wrong. Also: “A complete guide to handwashing” by the University of Leicester.

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§4. Using soap in nature

In fact, no soap of any kind, regardless of pH value, should be used in nature, not even biodegradable soaps and detergents. The term “biodegradable” sounds perfect, but it is not: these soaps are not environmentally friendly. No soap is 100% environmentally friendly. Therefore, information on pH values and ingredients is largely not added. Cretan-Garden soaps are also biodegradable, but the pH value is higher(9) than the soil in nature(6) where the wastewater disappears and is transported via underground streams to the nearby river or stream.

“Before the introduction of synthetic detergents, there were problems with the effect of soaps on the ecosystem, once they have left an insoluble film on the surface of the water which, for example, reduced or even prevented the oxygen intake. Therefore, there has always been an environmental problem in relation to cleaning products. The observation of its effects on the ecosystem has always existed.” – Source: Synthetic Detergents: 100 Years of History – NCBI/PubMed

Natural soaps, all of which are cold-processed to keep the benefits of the natural ingredients at their best, are not safe to use in the wild due to pH levels. The pH of Cretan Garden soaps is 9, like all cold-processed soaps. Even if the pH value would be neutral, the soap is not soil friendly, because the pH of soil is different in the diversity of biotopes and must be protected. So-called pH-neutral industrial soaps contain synthetic ingredients, acidic chemicals, to lower the pH level. Most of the soaps on the camping and outdoor sports market do not even mention pH or the ingredients. For an eco-friendly wilderness experience, read: “Staying Clean in the Wild: The Natural Way“.

If using soap, detergent or toothpaste in nature is unavoidable, use a natural, biodegradable version, and stay at least 100 meters away from any water source, do not wash or bathe in any water source, and limit washing time. Be aware that nature needs many years to recover from imbalances.

§5. Herbs

Herbs are plants with unique aromas, flavors and nutritious properties, best known as culinary herbs. However, many herbs are also healing medicinal herbs, used in natural body care products, in phytotherapy, natural medicine and as essential oils in aromatherapy.

The location where the herbs are grown or cultivated creates the level of quality of the herb. For example: rosemary, a Mediterranean herb, does not provide the same aroma, flavor and nutritious or healing quality as the same species grown in Norway (as an example). Soil and climate, the way of growing and caring, next to the biodiversity that surrounds the herbs, are part of the harvest result and quality.

The herbs and essential oils derived from the herbs used in Cretan-Garden soaps are organic and grown in Crete, on the soil and in the climate belonging to the origin of the herb. The herbs used for the soaps are rosemary, oregano, sage and lavender. The essential oils in the Cretan-Garden soaps are also from Crete/Greece, except for the Patchouli and Ylang-Ylang oils.

Over a period of at least three months, a certain amount of olive oil is infused with a certain amount of herbs. All the benefits of the herbs are extracted, and the soap production starts by filtering out the herbs, pulverizing them and adding them back to the olive oil in a new filtration procedure. To make the color of the soap stronger, the lye is a composition of a strong tea, made from demineralized water and the same dried herbs as used in the oil. The essential oil derived from the same herb is added at the last moment of the saponification process.

More in my blog Multerland and YouTube channel Multerland:

§6. Olive oil

Cretan-Garden soaps are all Cretan-organic-olive-oil soaps. Crete is the most southern island of Greece, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Olive oil is a very healthy food product. Olive oil is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E and K and pro-vitamin A, and the minerals Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Phosphorus (P). Sulphur (S) and Silicon (Si). Olive oil is also skin food. You can use it as a body oil or massage oil. A recipe for a simple homemade body oil or massage oil can be found in the following chapter. Homemade body and massage oils no longer smell like olive oil, but like the essential oil that is added, unless the body oil is too old. Soaps also do not smell greasy: the smell disappears during the saponification process. What remains is the natural smell of added herbs, natural dyes and essential oils. The Cretan-Garden soaps Rosemary, Rosemary-YlangYlang, Rosemary-Patchouli and Rosemary-Lavender are derived from a rosemary-olive oil extract. Rosemary has many benefits: protecting the skin, nourishing the skin, healing the skin, preventing aging.

§7. Olive oil: body oil

Make your own skin conditioner: buy organic olive oil and the essential oil used in the soap you bought. Add 200 ml of olive oil plus 20 drops of essential oil [for external use only!] to an empty and well-cleaned liquid soap bottle with a pump. Simply add a small handful of the homemade body oil immediately after washing, to your wet and warm body from face to toes and spread it all over your skin. Then dry yourself with a towel. A very thin film remains. It gives a matt-shiny effect to the skin, without weighing it down, without leaving greasy traces. It improves the elasticity of the skin while preventing the loss of moisture that can contribute to the aging process. Furthermore, it keeps the skin smooth and soft, while leaving a natural healthy glow, a younger result and the wonderful scent of the essential oil.

§8. The aroma of the used essential oils

Cretan-Garden soaps contain essential oils, mixed with the extract made from the herb and olive oil, a natural dye of the dried herb. Rosemary-olive oil extract has a prominent place in the Cretan-Garden series due to its skin-protecting and nourishing properties.

Essential oils – Essential oils are extracted from the leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, bark and resins of trees and plants. They are aromatic volatile substances with very different compositions. The oils occur as small droplets in the sap flow of the plant. The odorant in the aromatic plants is formed in superficial glands or sacs on the underside of the leaf. In trees, the scent is found in the tubes located in the tree cores. In the case of citrus fruits, the scent is stored in the peel in fairly large storage spaces. In the plant itself, the aromatic oil strengthens the plant’s defense system against bacteria and parasites. Source: Academy SAGHO, Netherlands / Aromatherapy. Due to their extremely strong concentration of active ingredients, essential oils should never be taken internally without consulting a licensed therapist. Essential oils should never be applied undiluted to the skin.

Lavender – The scent is strong, charismatic and intensely botanical – behind its floral sweetness are green and spicy notes, which combine to give lavender a somewhat woody, herbal quality. Balances the fourth chakra – heart chakra; fifth chakra – throat chakra; sixth chakra – third eye; seventh chakra – crown chakra. Lavender relaxes. See also here.

Oregano – Oregano has a very strong aroma. The scent is charismatic, intense, warm, savory, spicy, herbal, and balances the second chakra – the sacral chakra. Oregano soap is a disinfectant soap: it is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Avoid using near the eyes and in intimate areas. It can be used in foot baths to treat the so-called “athlete’s foot”: Tear off a small part of the bar of soap and stir it for a while until all particles are dissolved. It can also be used to spray the leaves of plants, to kill aphids. Do not let children use the soap unsupervised. Oregano improves concentration and mood. See also here.

Patchouli – Patchouli has a strong, sweet base scent that is earthy, balancing, and calming. It falls into the musky earth category. Balances the first chakra [root chakra], the second chakra [sacral chakra], and the sixth chakra [third eye chakra]. Patchouli is popular with men. See also here.

Rosemary – Rosemary smells woody, herbaceous, refreshing and uplifting. It stimulates the third chakra / solar plexus; balances the fifth chakra – the throat chakra. The herb Rosemary contains potent antioxidants, rosemary leaf extract protects the skin and prevents signs of premature aging. Rosmarinic acid (the main component of rosemary leaf extract) is a powerful reliever for skin conditions such as eczema and acne, and is anti-aging. It is safe for daily use. See also here.

Sage – The scent is warm, camphoraceous, spicy, earthy, herbaceous, soft but flavorful and perhaps a little lemony. Balances the fifth chakra – the throat chakra. Sage Essential Oil is known to stimulate and cleanse the mind while also showing a balancing, uplifting, calming and strengthening effect on the senses to relieve negative moods. See also here.

Ylang Ylang – Ylang Ylang smells sweet, slightly exotic, gentle, feminine. It balances the fourth chakra – the heart chakra. Ylang Ylang is often used to relieve stress and boost mood. The Ylang Ylang scent is relaxing and can act as an aphrodisiac. See also here.

§9. Expiration date

Shelf life: the soap, if stored properly (§2, §10), has no expiration date. However, the scent of the soap, as well as its color, may fade over many years. Keep soaps that are in use on a dry surface.

§10. How to store soap

Store it in a dry place, such as in a drawer, or in a cardboard box in a drawer or cupboard. Do not wrap soap in plastic. You can use baking paper instead. Bathroom: Keep the bar on a dry surface, such as a dry washcloth, away from water or wet spots, otherwise the soap will dissolve too quickly.

§11. Scientific Research

Cretan-Garden’s information is based on scientific research, found on PubMed, ResearchGate, and other scientific platforms.