We're Clearing Out Our Shaving Soap Kits

After much deliberation, we've decided to discontinue our beautiful Shaving Soap Kits...and that means fantastic savings for you! These make a distinctive gift for that hard to buy for man in your life. You know you have one or two and at this price, well, let's just say we're practically giving them away. The kit includes a sustainably harvested, sealed hardwood shaving bowl with lid, a nice matching badger hair shaving brush (not the cheap boar bristle ones you see in most kits), and of course a shaving soap...all in a rugged burlap bag. Choose Sassafras Shaving Soap or Black Willow Bark Shaving Soap.

Don't worry, we're not discontinuing the soaps, just the kits! Get yours now while supplies last.

August is Psoriasis Month

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition marked by red, itchy, scaly patches.  It's one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country today. Psoriasis develops when faulty signals in the immune system cause new skin cells to form too rapidly. The body can't shed these excess cells so they pile up and cause unsightly scales to form. While there is currently no "cure" for psoriasis, the latest research indicates that healthy skin starts with a healthy microbiome. Contrary to popular belief, psoriasis is not contagious.

One of the easiest home treatments for psoriasis is to keep your skin moisturized. Traditional creams, soaps, and ointments contain pine tar or neem oil, among other things. Commercial soaps can be very harsh and drying and can actually worsen the symptoms of psoriasis, but our moisturizing Pine Tar Neem Oil Soap does just the opposite.

Creosote free pine tar has been known to soothe the itching and flaking while anti-inflammatory neem oil is said to reduce swelling, itching, and redness. Both are believed to fight germs that become trapped in scratched, raw skin, helping to keep the skin free of infection. Our clients tell us that A Wild Soap Bar's Pine Tar Neem Oil Soap is an effective home treatment for psoriasis and eczema. They also say it works as a dandruff shampoo bar as well as a deodorant bar.

Do you have an effective home remedy for psoriasis?  Do tell.

Yucca: One Stop Shopping

Our popular Yucca Root Shampoo & Body Soap was featured in this interactive National Park Service poster which outlines the many uses of our native yucca, also known as cortadillo in Spanish.  You lift the panels to match the product with the part of the yucca used to make it.  Since you can't read the poster or lift the flaps here, I've recreated the English version below.  The educational poster is also in Spanish.

Yucca: One Stop Shopping

Imagine yourself living in the surrounding desert some 500 years ago.  Without any grocery stores, where would you get your food?  What about soap and medicine?  The soaptree yucca is your store, with more than 100 different uses!

Leaves (Hojas): used to make cords for baskets, aprons, and sandals

You can dry the leaves and weave them whole.  For finer threads, soak the leaves, scrape them, separate the fibers, and twist.

Roots & Leaves (Raiz y hojas): used to make soap & shampoo

Peel and puree the root then let dry.  Scrape the leaf, mix with water, then strain the scrapings.

Flowers (Flores comestibles): used to make frittatas & other dishes

Cook the petals with your favorite egg dish, or add them to hearty stews of beef, pork, or chicken.

Seeds (Semillas): used to dye fibers for basketry

Soak seeds in water to make a rich black dye.

Our Prickly Pear Soap Featured in Austin Monthly

Our popular Prickly Pear Soap was spotted in the July 2015 issue of Austin Monthly Magazine.  Move over argan oil while prickly pear extract emerges as the new go-to skincare ingredient!  Extremely high in essential fatty acids, omega 6's & 9's, amino acids, and antioxidants, this native cactus extract is anti-aging's best friend.  It's said to contain 150% of the vitamin e content in argan oil and it's more sustainable to boot.

We also handcraft a Prickly Pear Nourishing Facial Oil, a Prickly Pear Body Balm, and a Prickly Pear Castile Liquid Soap (not shown). We hope you'll try them all.  Of course.  Cheers!

SIDE NOTE:  As best he can remember, my husband just told me our old clawfoot bathtub (no longer in service) came out of the former Austin Monthly offices when they remodeled back in the 80's.  They needed some more pea gravel and my thrifty husband (their landscaper at the time) said he'd trade the old bathtub for some gravel.  We still have it on our property!  Small world huh?

Have You Taken A Wash On The Wild Side?

Once upon a time (many many years ago when we first moved out to the land) we had an outdoor shower.  It was a long black pipe rigged up to a shower head that was heated passively by the sun. Very low tech.  Surrounded by thick woods.  It was actually quite nice.  The stuff fond memories are made of.  Of course, it wasn't quite so nice when the weather turned cold.  And the view wasn't this spectacular either.  But somehow we managed.  We were young.

So yes, I've taken a wash on the wild side!  Many many times.  How many of you can say the same?

clean air

Did you know that lichen only grow in clean air? Guess we're safe then.  😀 #cleanair #lichen #awildsoapbar

GO Natural Handmade Bar Soap!

Guess who made it into Whole Foods Magazine?  Yours truly.  I'd be lying if I said I'm not the least bit excited. Check out the bar soap section in their newly released Personal Care Primer!

One small step for A Wild Soap Bar...one giant leap for natural handmade bar soap!

And sure...you can say you knew me when...  :P

The Rock Man

Meet Mike... the get down and get dirty kinda guy who cuts up all those limestone soap rocks.  It's a noisy, dusty job, but hey, somebody's gotta do it.  Right?

First he treks 30 miles out into the Texas Hill Country where he picks up these HUGE slabs of ancient fossilized limestone from the local quarry.  Next, he hauls 'em back to his workshop where he carefully saws them up (watch those fingers!) into the rectangular soap holder you see in our popular soap on the rocks gift set. Then he carves 3 shallow grooves into each stone to promote drainage.  And finally, he scrubs them squeaky clean and sets them up on end in the hot Texas sun to dry.

Before you know it, they're making their way to hundreds, even thousands, of satisfied a wild soap bar customers all over the country.  Thanks Mike.  Now go get yourself an ice cold beer!

Maggie's Never Ending Too Much To Do List

I crossed a few things off my list this weekend...but added a few more too!  I guess that's an accomplishment (even though it feels like a wash)?  I'm talking about my to do "now" list for work (below).  I have separate lists for "soon" and "someday...if ever"... LOL.  And I don't even bother to make a list for the personal stuff.  That seems to get done eventually anyway.  And if it doesn't, well.. it probably wasn't all that important anyway.

So let's get back to this list. Because I need to feel good about those crossed out lines down there!  Keep in mind that these tasks are in addition to the M-F daily tasks which occupy most of my day like typing up invoices, answering the phone, responding to customer emails, ordering supplies, updating the website, addressing social media, dealing with private label clients, dealing with PIA clients! (there's always several), and anything else that crops up.  Trust me.  Stuff happens.

OK.  Let's take a look at this list now (deep breath).

1.  new item paperwork for Whole Foods Market (2 regions), HEB/Central Market, & Mother's Mkt.
2.  new item samples to WFM, HEB/CM, & MM
3.  2015 promo plan & all paperwork for WFM/HEB/CM/MM (huge!)
4.  post the expense receipts (every other weekend)
5.  reconcile the bank account (at least 4 hours every other weekend, on a good day)
6.  do end of year paperwork (Forms 941/940/1099's/1096/W2's/W3 (head spinning already)
7.  pay everything we owe the government (#%$@!!! UGH!!!)
8.  design new holiday merchandise & packaging (samples due to WFM in March!)
9.  get new packaging to the printer
10. upload weekly invoices to Buc'ees new online portal (double work for us vendors...nice)
11. begin work on 2014 tax workbook for accountant (almost as bad as doing your own taxes!)
12. major cleaning and de-cluttering of the soap shop (did 4 hours today, but MILES to go)
13. take inventory (DONE...HALLELUJAH)
14.  design our 20 year anniversary soap + packaging + get to printer (at least I got an idea!!!)
15 do a blog post 
16.  all the other stuff I forgot :o)

So how do you handle your never ending too much to do list?

a.  do your best to cross one or two things off each day (highly recommended)
b.  spend your free time pondering, re-arranging and re-writing your to do lists (fun, but not particularly productive)
c.  shove that bad boy in a drawer and hit the neighborhood bar after work! (not saying I've never done it, but thank goodness, not my usual M.O.)

HINT:  If you're inclined to be that "b" or "c" person, please do not apply for a job here at A Wild Soap Bar.  Because we only hire DOERS!  And no, we're not hiring...but just sayin'.

Now go out and make it a productive week!  And don't forget to give thanks for the ability to do so!

3 Cheers for 20 Years!

Hip Hip HOORAY! Hip Hip HOORAY! Hip Hip HOORAY!

No really. This feels like a huge milestone and we couldn't be happier. Please join us in celebrating 20 years of making the best natural soap and organic body care products on earth! It's been quite a ride. We're truly blessed. 

To say thanks, we'll be featuring 20% OFF on 3 of our natural products each month. That adds up to a whole lot of savings for you this year. So stock up and stay clean.

GET 20% OFF WITH OUR 3 CHEERS FOR 20 YEARS SALE ON:

pine tar neem oil soap  soap on deck  desert sage soap

(note: sale may end a few days before or after the end of the month, 

but then 3 new products will go on sale) 

Wishing you the best of success in 2015 and beyond. 

Happy New Year...and C H E E R S!

We're In!

A Wild Soap Bar is super excited to be included in Organic Spa's 6th Annual Skin Care Directory, the ultimate guide to some of the best natural and organic beauty and personal care brands out there. It's a real pleasure to see so many wonderful companies listed. I've been checking out their websites all morning and I must say...we're in incredibly good company!

Besides A Wild Soap Bar of course, what are some of your favorite brands?

Soap Couch

Have you ever seen a soap couch?  You have now.  Relax.  Take a load off.  Sink in.  Lather up.  :)  #soapgonebad

A Simple, Natural Face Powder Recipe

I don't use many "beauty" products, but when I do, I make them myself when I can with simple, natural ingredients. I save a little money that way, but more importantly, I have piece of mind knowing that the stuff I'm using is safe for me, my family, and the planet.

As I was blending up my morning smoothie, it dawned on me that I could use that deliciously dark organic cocoa powder to tint a natural face powder. So I rushed on over to the soap shop to grab a few more things and give it a whirl.

The results were fantastic!  My simple recipe is below.  The cornstarch and clay absorb oils and reduce shine while the cocoa powder and cinnamon give it a nice scent as well as a little color. You can tweak how much to use to match your skin tone. Or try substituting other powders for the base like arrow root, kaolin clay, green clay or tapioca starch.

Experiment and have fun with this.  But do keep it simple. Because simple is almost always better.  Enjoy!

Natural Face Powder

1/8 C cornstarch

1/8 C calcium bentonite clay (I recommend Living Clay®)

1 TBS organic cocoa powder

1 TBS organic cinnamon powder

So You Say You Got an Organic Garden?

Actually yes. We do. (Check out our squash and watermelons.)  We need some actual rain. But until then our automatic watering system's working out very nicely.  Thank you Jory!

How does your garden grow?

those are some pretty ugly soaps

Hey, they said it, not me. All I did was search Google for "ugly soap" and this is what I got. Luckily, a wild soap bar did NOT pop up (knock on wood). These represent some hard lessons learned. Soapmaking can be so very much fun at times...

too much honey

misbehavin' fragrance oils

looks like mold (ewe)

stayed out on the porch a bit too long

    

1st batch in a pringles can...beginners luck?

thought she could wing it on the measurements
ummmm...no

So what's your worst soap making mistake?  You DO know there'll be others, right?

Copycats

They've done it again.  Another soap company has copied our natural soap page....sigh....

Oh they changed a few words, added a couple of headlines, and threw in some bullet points, but those are still my words.  Ask me how I know.

They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  Well guess what?  It's also illegal.  I've given them 7 days to remove our copyrighted content.  Should they be silly enough to choose not to, I'll be contacting my lawyers.

And of course Google!  'Cause they don't take kindly to plagiarism either.  <insert evil grin here>

The thing I find absolutely delightful in all this is that another soap maker turned them in.  They always do.  Never EVER underestimate the power of the soapmaking community.  In addition to being squeaky clean, we watch each other's backs pretty closely.  :)

Life's Too Short...

For a prickly pear cactus flower. Each delicate bloom lasts only about 8 hours, but what an incredibly beautiful bloom it is! And they're edible too (bonus point). This one has a bee rummaging around inside, which is typical, so harvest them carefully. 

I once thought there were both yellow and peach colored blossoms, but I have since learned that the peach color comes only in its final hours, as evidenced in this Prickly Pear Flower Time Lapse video.

If you're so inclined, try our Prickly Pear Soap which is made with the dried pads, not the blooms. We also have a Prickly Pear Liquid Castile Soap if you prefer liquid to bars.

Either way, it's all in a day in a year in the wild. :)

Whole Foods SW Holiday Show

Christmas in April?

Apparently so.

A Wild Soap Bar had the privilege of attending the Whole Foods Market SW Holiday Show yesterday in Austin, TX where we presented 4 exciting new holiday products to approximately 45 buyers and team leaders. Each of them went home with a free bar of our new & improved hand stamped Peace on Earth Soap.

So stay tuned...coming to a holiday season near you!

No Heartbleed Here

By now, you've probably heard about the ominous Heartbleed bug, a recent breech affecting the security of millions of websites that use the vulnerable OpenSSL.  Well I'm happy to report that A Wild Soap Bar's online shopping cart was not affected in any way.  Whew!

OpenSSL is used primarily on linux servers, but our shopping cart uses Windows servers. As always, when you shop online with A Wild Soap Bar, you can be assured of the privacy and security of your personal information.  I hope this puts your mind at ease.

Our New Mini Soap Loaves Are Here!

But only for the holidays. Our festive new 8.5 oz. mini soap loaf will make a fragrant useful gift for almost anyone on your list (including you). Just remove it from the paper loaf pan and cut to the desired bar size with a large kitchen knife. Or leave it sitting in the bathroom for a while and cut it up after the holidays. Choose Orange Walnut or Brown Sugar Fig. Available now through December only. Limited quantities so order early!

PS: I'm using the Brown Sugar Fig right now and it is...TO DIE FOR!!!  Honestly, it smells so delicious I just want to take a big bite out of it. Orange Walnut will be up next. :)