35 Years of HandMade Soap Coming To An End. Candles Will Still Be Available. Thank you For the Love!

In the early 90’s when I first began my soap-making journey, I was delighted to have found my passion for creating a beautiful, handmade product that encompassed everything about my life. Your beautiful support and encouragement opened a whole new world for me.

Soap-making indulged my love for herbs, holistic living, aromatherapy, alchemy, creativity and had a component that awakened my spiritual senses. Soap making has been spiritual journey for me, much like monks that bake bread or make wine. It was my calling and many of you witnessed the evolution of my craft.

I spent many years honing the tradition of pouring 100# soap blocks, perfecting my recipes and researching time-honored methods of production with my handmade tools.

Many of you may not know, I had a profound spiritual (kundalini) awakening in the early 90’s. My awakening journey has been about staying sane, balanced, and understanding the nature of the Divine, the Natural World and mystical experiences that ensued. For the past 20 years I have worked, studied and mentored under the guidance of a master healer. I am deeply grateful.

As an Energy Healer, Certified Holistic-Life Practitioner and Artisan, the mystery and the grace of life continually unfolds gradually revealing what the Universe has in store for me. I can hear the Universe calling me to step in and embrace my Authentic Self, Authentic Service and Authentic Expression.

I am gratefully announcing my segue into my full-time Energy Healing Client Practice. I have been seeing clients for many years in my personal healing studio and am now expanding my practice to add several more days to the weekly calendar. This work is priceless, gratifying and heart- centered.

The Candles will continue to be available for sale. It has been a beautiful labor of love but effective immediately and until we run out, I will no longer be making soap. The Soap requires love, labor and full time attention which I am no longer able to give with the expansion of my Client Practice. My heart is where my service is.

I know I have many long-time customers and supporters, some of you for at least 30 years. Thank you for your love, support and understanding. I have valued your beautiful presence. My children have grown up with you at the farmers markets and I have learned a great deal about business and life.

I ask for your continued love, graciousness and support. If you are inclined please continue to buy my beautiful candles. If we have not worked together yet, please consider experiencing an Energy Session.

I am grateful to know that people like yourself have loved something that I created. It touches my heart deeply and I am honored to have walked this path with you. Thank you.

Big Love,

xoxo Blue Star

Learn More About Energy Healing or Book A Session with Blue Star

“One of the most amazing healing sessions I’ve ever experienced. Each day after I felt more at peace than I had felt in years.”

— Chris P.

The Power of Pure Essential Oils

Beginning with the Egyptians who used them for ceremonial purposes, essential oils have had a significant role in the ancient trade industry. However, it wasn’t until World War II where Frenchman Jean Valnut used them to treat the injuries of the soldiers that their healing properties were acknowledged by the modern world.

Since that time, essential oils have been studied and used to treat not only physical illness, but also mental ailments such as anxiety and depression. 
    
Essential oils are consumed in three different ways: as a dietary supplement, applied indirectly to the skin in a carrier such as a base oil or bath salts, or through aromatherapy. Not all essential oils can be consumed by mouth, but those who can are used to treat conditions such as inflammation as well as boost immune system and promote antioxidants. 

Essential oils consumable by ingestion will have the designation FCC on the label. FCC stands for FOOD CHEMICAL CODEX, suitable for use either for ingestion or external use according to suppliers. As a natural disinfectant for bug bites or fungus, a few oils, such as tea tree and lavender can be applied directly to the skin. Their calming nature works well in beauty and massage therapy as it is absorbed easily through the skin and into the bloodstream. 

Aromatherapy is used to promote stimulation or soothing environments and rid the air of unwanted odors. 

Essential oils are extracted in one of three ways: compression, steam, or with the use of solvents. 

When using compression, the plant is squeezed until the oil is able to be extracted. 
In the steaming process, the plant is infused with low heat steam and combines with the oil. Once the mixture cools the oils separate from the water. 
Some methods of extraction include binding the oil to a solvent which is later removed before distribution. 

The highest quality of extraction that keeps the purest form of the oil is the steaming process. The way these are handled affect the quality and effectiveness of the oil. Many producers dilute or use chemicals in making the oil or fragrance taking away from the initial reason and purpose of using essential oils.

Here at Alchemy of Sol, we believe that scent is a powerful sense. It has the capacity to trigger memories, evoke moods and facilitate healing. Aromatherapy is the science of essential oils and plant extracts harnessing the powerful chemistry of the brain in order to heal and uplift.

Only pure essential oils have the power to do this.

What is All Natural Shea Butter Soap?

Here at Alchemy of Sol, shea butter is one of  the base ingredients that we use for all of our soaps. But what makes it “natural”? It’s the extraction process. 

Originally used as a sunblock and cooking oil in West Africa, Shea Butter has various uses from holding hairstyles in place to soothing and improving eczema. This oily substance is extracted out of the nut from the Shea Nut Tree, also known as Karite Nut Tree.

After extraction, shea butter can be combined with other organic and natural ingredients to create hair and skin products without the risk of drying or stripping the skin of natural oils. 

Shea butter naturally encourages collagen production which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can also act as an anti-inflammatory due to it’s high volume of cinnamic acid when combined with essential oils and other products to act as a base. 

In the traditional method, the shea nut is dried and ground into a powdery substance. Afterwards, the powder is mixed with water and then boiled to bring what we know as the “butter” to the surface of the water. 

Unfortunately, most distributors use harsh chemicals such as hexane during the extraction process. Hexane is a petroleum based resource and is toxic not only to humans and animals, but also to the environment as it is recognized to be a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

What goes onto our skin is just as important to what goes into our body. From start to finish, we honor the ingredients and strive to preserve the quality of each of our products for your nourishment, health and beauty. 

With respect to the environment, we lovingly handcraft every one of our soaps from the finest African Shea Nut Trees. Our natural cold processes bring out the richest quality shea butter which is the foundation of all of our all natural, vegan shea butter soaps.

All About the Cold Process of Soap Making for All Natural Soap

Cold process soap making is an ancient artisan method of making all natural soap that dates back all the way to the Babylonian times. We like do things the old fashioned way. 

Make no mistake about it, even though it’s labeled cold, this process is all about generating some natural heat. 

Traditionally in the old english soap companies, soap was poured in 1000 - 2000 blocks. This mass of saponified oils created enough heat to drive the soap through it’s process in order to create real soap.

The catalyzing agent in the soap-making process is lye, also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide. Although it can sound scary, it’s a completely naturally occurring change agent and powerfully transformative when used correctly. Called saponification, the cold process of soap making harnesses the alkalizing power of lye to heat up the warm oils in a safe and effective way. 

Using organic oils of Olive, Sunflower, Coconut, Sustainable Palm, Castor and Unrefined, Ghana Beige Shea Butter, the saponification process produces enough heat to create a whole new molecule of soap. When cured, there is no more lye left in the soap.  The saponified mixture of oils transforms into solid bar of soap that you can use to holistically nourish and cleanse your body.

While most handmade soaps made with the cold process are curated and cultivated in small batches, here at Alchemy of Sol we pour our 100 pound batches of  soap into fifty pound molds that we cut into logs and bars. We cure our soaps from 2-6 weeks dependent on how much fat is remaining in the soap.

So what are the benefits of using all natural soap versus the soap you can find in your local supermarket? Naturalnews.com says it all. 

“Commercial soap manufacturers make it a practice to remove the glycerine that is produced during the saponification (soap-making) process. The glycerine is a highly profitable substance, often sold to other companies who use it to make lotions and moisturizers, which your skin, now dried out from the harsh detergent 'soap,' desperately needs.”

All natural soap doesn’t just cleanse, it nourishes your skin.

A Better Laundry Detergent: All Natural Soap

Have you ever looked at the ingredients that are listed and labeled out on the back of your laundry detergent? Many laundry detergents include harmful and even toxic chemicals, like phosphates, surfactants and even bleach.

• Phosphates are actually really dangerous for the environment, not just our bodies and our skin. Recent studies have shown some pretty devastating effects of phosphates on water-based ecosystem, indiscriminately killing off both fish and plants.
   
• Surfactants is a catch-all label for a lot of abrasive chemicals and compounds the do the hard work of getting the grease out of clothes, etc. The only problem is that the way that surfactants operate is that they rob the water of oxygen, which works to clean your clothes, but continues as a pollutant once it goes down the drain.
   
• Bleach is bleach. It's super abrasive, harmful to breathe, bad for your skin and bad for pretty much anything and everything.

Whether you're actively transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, going green, or looking for a detergent that doesn't irritate your skin, there are plenty of alternative all natural soap alternatives available.

Here at Alchemy of Sol, our Lavender Washing Powder is a sustainable alternative to mass-market laundry detergents and best of all, it's local. The washing powder is great for sensitive skin. It's biodegradable, vegetarian, and it doesn't have any petroleum detergent bi-products.

For those of us who actively working toward reducing our negative environmental impact, you should know that all natural washing powders are better for the water supply, septic safe, reduce plastic packaging and best of all, it doesn't kill fish or plants. That's a good thing.

Our all-purpose, low-sudsing Lavender Washing Powder is safe for high-efficiency or top-loading washing machines. All it takes is one good, heavy, heaping tablespoon of washing powder and you're all set to wash your clothes. There's no need to add any thing else.

If you're looking for all natural washing powder in the Nashville area, you can pick up a bag of our washing powder from Cosmic Connections, The Green Wagon, or find us at our local markets.