Arcadia Aromatics
specializes in Natural Handmade
Vegan Soap, Bath & Body Products
Product of the Month:
Zesty Lemon Herb Handmade Soap | Purchase
specializes in Natural Handmade
Frequently Asked Questions
What is soap?
Not many people even know what soap really is. Several of the cleansing bars that you buy at the store, for example, are detergents, and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars, or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harsher than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates rather than oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut and palm) and is a gentle cleansing product more appropriate for use on skin than detergent and much more mild than detergents.
Is there lye in the soaps that I buy from Arcadia Aromatics?
Some people may question the use of lye in handmade soap. The fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. ALL bar soaps are made with lye, however, when made correctly, there is NO LYE remaining in the final bar of soap. Whether your soap is manufactured by large corporations, or smaller handcrafted soap makers, the above rings true, regardless. Lye must be used to make the soap, but there should never be any remaining lye in the final bar to hurt the skin.
How is soap made?
Soap is made by adding water, oil and butters together, along with something to form them into soap (an alkali). That ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide which is lye. For liquid soaps, it is Potassium Hydroxide. The chemical reaction is called saponification. The soap maker must calculate the correct amount of lye for the specific oils used in each recipe. If too much lye is used, the bar may be hard and crumbly. If too little, the bar becomes soft and will become rancid faster, due to the natural oils & butters that are used in handmade soap.
What is saponification?
Saponification is a chemical reaction that takes place when oil is mixed with an alkali solution, such as sodium hydroxide (lye), water & oils or butters. In other words, the oil and lye combine to make soap. When the proper amounts are used at the proper temperatures, all of the lye and oil are consumed by the reaction and only the soap remains. Generally, slightly more oil is used resulting in a soap that is more moisturizing for the skin and ensuring that all of the lye is used up in the curing process.
What is glycerin?
Handmade soap contains the natural forming glycerin that is normally removed from other store bought soaps. In order to make the extremely hard french milled soaps, the glycerin must be removed or the soap would be too soft. Companies may extract the glycerin through a variety of methods and then add a percentage back to say it contains glycerin. We believe that ALL handmade cold process soap is "glycerin soap". Not simply the clear transparent soap with added glycerin. Transparency does not make a glycerin soap. On average - and it changes with the recipe, made from scratch, handmade soap contains around 10% naturally retained glycerin. Glycerin soap is especially good for sensitive and delicate skin, and for children. Because it is a high quality by-product in the soap making process, many mass commercial soap manufacturers often extract the glycerin and sell it as a by-product to be used in higher priced products like lotions and skin creams. Sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself.
What about the 100% glycerin soaps that I see in the stores?
We're sorry to have to break the news to you, but there is no such thing. Not ONE in the market today. The manufacturer might have added 100% glycerin to the soap but you have no idea how much. What you can be sure of, is that the soap is not made of 100% glycerin. Read the ingredients! If there were such a thing, the soap bar would be very mushy and soft and wouldn't lather at all. Natural glycerin, is, after all, a liquid.
What are those clear soaps in the stores?
What makes soap clear most of the time? Alcohol! Obtained from corn grain alcohol to petroleum rubbing alcohols. Even though most consumers think of clear soap as "glycerin soap", they are made with a variety of foaming agents, wetting formulas (makes the water wet to lift dirt and oil) and alcohol along with the standard mix of oils, water and lye. The "feel" that many people get from this clear soap is from synthetic ingredients, detergents & foaming agents.
What is melt & pour soap, and is this the type of soap that Arcadia Aromatics makes?
Melt and pour soap is basically just what the name implies. It's a soap base, made with alcohol, purchased in large blocks. The soapmaker then melts it down in a double boiler or microwave oven, adds fragrance and color and pours it into a mold. Arcadia Aromatics soap is NOT melt and pour. We make our soap the old fashioned way, from scratch, by hand. We use only the best skin-loving ingredients in every batch. Anyone can melt and pour a pre-manufactured soap block. Not everyone can produce a good bar of natural soap. At Arcadia Aromatics, you can be assured that we certainly can, and do!
Why does handmade soap need to cure, and how long does that take?
Handmade soap needs to slowly cure over time to harden. As the bars harden, they become more mild. Like a fine wine, the longer the handmade soap cures, the better it is. We utilize the discounted water cold process method of soapmaking which allows us to cure our soaps for 2 weeks before they are ready for sale. i.e. Saponification has been completed and all traces of lye is used up and not remaining in the finished bars. Optimally, handmade soap should cure for 4-6 weeks. Remember, the longer, the better. The completely cured bar will be much harder due to all the moisture being evaporated out, which makes the bar less soluble (it will last longer)
What are the benefits of using handmade soap?
Evidence abounds of the healing properties of a handmade bar of soap. Those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic often find immediate relief by switching to handmade soap. Compared to store bought soap, handmade soap is very mild. They are often made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in conventional bar soap. One of the biggest differences between commercial soap and handmade soap is glycerin. Glycerin is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy.
How should I take care of my handmade soap to make it last?
Handmade soap is a special product. Because it contains glycerin, it can retain more moisture than other soaps. To extend the life of your handcrafted soap, place it in a well-draining soap dish. (see our massage, salon & spa page to purchase proper soap dishes) Keep unused bars in a cool, dry place out of direct contact with water. A good soap is like a good wine, the longer it cures, the better and more mild it becomes. Our soaps will last approximately 3 weeks for single use.
What is your turn around time from order placement to delivery?
On handmade soap ONLY, we ship all orders within 2 business days, unless the item is out of stock. We keep a small supply of all our handcrafted soap on hand and replenish as they are ordered so that they arrive to the consumer at the peak of freshness. Please note that our normal ship time on all orders is 4-5 business days (7-10 business days during the busy holiday seasons). If your order contains other items beside handmade soap and you would like just the soap portion shipped out within the 2 business days, please make a notation of that in your final checkout. We will ship out just your soap order and the remainder will be shipped in the normal time frame.
Why do the bars vary in size?
All of our soaps are made in small batches by hand from start to finish. Making them all unique. We hand cut each and every batch and individual bar, and this is where they will vary a little in size. The average weight on all our bars is 5.5 oz.
Terms & Conditions
Everything that you see or read on our website is the sole property of Arcadia Aromatics. You should assume that all materials, data, text or images are copyrighted, unless otherwise noted and may not be used in any way. You may not modify, transmit, report, frame, distribute or reuse the contents of this site, including for public or commercial purposes, without the prior written permission from Arcadia Aromatics.
All images appearing on our website are either the property of, or used with permission by Arcadia Aromatics. The use of these images by you, or anyone else authorized by you, is specifically prohibited. Any unauthorized use of any images within our website, may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, the laws of privacy and publicity, and communications regulations and statutes.
Arcadia Aromatics has no way of reviewing ALL of the sites that link to bathandbodycare.com and therefore is not responsible for the contents of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to bathandbodycare.com. Your linking to any other off-site pages or other sites that claim linking partnerships with Arcadia Aromatics, is at your own risk.
Ordering from Us
There are several ways in which to place an order with us. For your convenience, you may email or use postal mail to send us your order. Or use the convenience of our secure online checkout process within our website. At the end of the checkout process via our website, you will have the opportunity to correct any errors to ensure accuracy of your order. Based on availability, we reserve the right to limit quantities of our products. In the event that your order could be divided up and a partial order shipped out, we will notify you promptly. It is our goal to ship all orders in a timely fashion, however we have no control over delays in delivery, and therefore cannot guarantee delivery dates. We accept no liability for delayed shipments due to the carrier.
All orders must be paid in full prior to shipping. We do not ship COD. We accept the following forms of payment in US funds: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cashiers check, money order, paypal or personal check. If paying by personal check, your order will be shipped after payment is received and has cleared the bank (usually 10 business days). Returned checks will be subject to applicable bank fees.
Out of Stock Items
We make every attempt possible to keep a full inventory on all of our handcrafted products, however there are times that we do run low on an item and may need to backorder that particular product. Even so, all backordered items are usually made, packaged & shipped within 7 business days. On rare occasions, our suppliers of the natural raw ingredients that we use to formulate our products, will be out of stock as well. In this event, we will contact you immediately to let you know and may offer you a substite product.
Disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability
Arcadia Aromatics' products serve a variety of industries, and in so doing, our products are sold without warranty of any kind. As the customer, we recommend that you test and evaluate the products to determine suitability for a specific use. We assume no liability for injury or damage from the use of products supplied by Arcadia Aromatics. In no event will we be liable for consequential or indirect damages resulting from loss of use or loss of profits in connection with the use and/or suitability of our products. Our products are not to be used in the place of proper medical attention.
Minimum Order Requirements
We have no minimum order requirements. Please see our wholesale page for more information on purchasing in bulk to receive further discounts.
Shipping
Most orders are shipped within 4-5 business days, 7-10 business days during busy Holiday seasons. We take great care in packaging each order with high quality shipping supplies, including peanuts, bubble wrap, newspaper, etc. We have never received a complaint that a product has arrived broken. In the rare even that this should happen with your order, it is usually the responsibility of the shipping carrier (ie UPS, USPS, FedEX) for careless handling of the package. Should your order arrive in such condition, we ask that you file a claim immediately with the carrier. Take your package directly to your local post office, ups store or fedex shipping center so that they may examine the damage caused. Arcadia Aromatics cannot be held responsible for damage caused by the shipping carrier. That is why we highly recommend that you opt to pay the additional amount for insurance on your package. Once the package has been inspected by the shipping carrier as to the shipping guidelines regarding security in packaging, it is out of our hands and we no longer have control. You will then need to deal directly with the shipping carrier. Again, this is why they have optional insurance, and we highly recommend that you opt to take it.
Shipping During Summer Months
Due to the extremely high temperatures during the summer months, we reserve the right to request that all orders placed in June through August be picked up, rather than shipped. If that is not possible, please refrain from ordering products with a high probability of melting. UPS, Fedx & the USPS, all state that the inside of their mail trucks are intensely hot, reaching well over 150 degrees at times. This will ruin your natural product order. Please keep this fact in mind, when placing your order in the hot summer months of June through August.
Cancellations & Returns
If you wish to cancel your order: You can notify us by email or by telephone before we have shipped the items to you.
Arcadia Aromatics wants you to be thrilled with your handcrafted, natural products, however, due to the nature of these products, if the products have been opened and/or used, we cannot accept any returns or exchanges. From a sanitary standpoint, it is impossible to verify the quality of our products once they have left our possession and per certain Federal sanitary guidelines, we are unable to re-stock them. Please choose your products carefully as they cannot be returned, exchanged or refunded if they have been opened and/or used in any way. In the rare instance that we have shipped the wrong product to you in error, we ask that you notify us within 72 hours after receiving your order. In the few times that this has occured, we have been more than happy to send the correct product out to you, priority mail, at our expense, and ask you to keep the product that you did receive, as a gift for our mistake.
Privacy Policy
We will not collect personally identifiable information from you, other than what you voluntarily supply to us on your own. Information that you send to us via email or through our website contact form, is stored in an online database. We will only use that information to respond to your email or website contact. Arcadia Aromatics does not engage in commercial marketing and will not use any of the information that you have sent us, for those purposes. We do not and will not sell or otherwise give out your name, email address or any other pertinent information that you have volunteered to us. The supplying of any personal information is strictly voluntary on your part. Please keep that in mind when transmitting any personal data over the internet. If you receive contact from us that was not solicited or you wish to be removed from our database, please let us know immediately and we will remove your name from our email list.
Wholesale
Arcadia Aromatics offers a wonderful opportunity to sell our handcrafted soaps in your retail establishment. You can receive substantial discounts, as a wholesaler, by purchasing in bulk, which amounts to larger profits for you.
You will enjoy full access to our wholesale pricing as a Retailer of Arcadia Aromatics Products.
Because we sell all our handcrafted soaps unwrapped, this also affords you, the retailer, the opportunity to private label with your own logos or designs. Develop your own name brand with private label while offering your customers the very best product available. Of course, if you prefer, we can also offer our handmade soaps wrapped & labelled for a very small additional charge per bar.
For wholesale/bulk inquiries, please send us an email with the following information:
Your Name:
Business Name:
Tax ID #:
Address:
Phone #:
Email:
Tell us a little about your business:
Contact
Email:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 34 Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Arcadia Aromatics is a family owned business that we started in 2002 in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Each bar of soap - made, cut and trimmed by hand - is unique. In buying our products, you are supporting a small family owned & operated business, making natural massage, salon & spa products, skin care, facial care, bath products and handmade soaps. We use "time tested & true" recipes & formulas, enhanced with the modern knowledge of herbalism and aromatherapy. Our herbal products are carefully formulated to combine the healing properties of specific herbs with the pure essential oils that have the same therapeutic purpose. This increases the potency of the products along with giving them their own wonderfully unique aroma. However there are times when a particular scent cannot be found in nature and therefore we must use a comparible synthetic fragrance oil. The use of natural ingredients make our formulas safe, gentle and effective for all skin types; especially sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Please keep in mind that we do not make any official health claims to the therapeutic value of any of our products. If you suspect you have a serious illness or disease, please contact a competent healthcare practitioner.
Meet the owner
Lissa Lee, Certified Neuromuscular Massage Therapist.
I started my journey into creating natural products, because of my massage practice. I felt hyprocritical in applying sub-standard products which contained harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients, to my client's skin, when I was working on them. I read quite a bit in herbal books and decided to make my first herbally infused massage oil. Next, I wanted to create a nice gliding cream or lotion. I made these products in small quantities so I used them up right away.
Through the years, I became involved in different networks, guild's, organizations, forums that taught me what I know today about properly preserving my products for consumer safety. You'd be surprised how many people have the misunderstanding that grapfruit seed extract, vitamin e & rosemary extract, are proper preservatives to prevent microbial growth. I was one such person. I'm very grateful for the knowledge I've gained along the way and am proud to say that all of our products are properly preserved, complying with the FDA regulations and meet with the manufacturers guidelines, without the use of parabens or harmful toxins. We use an extremely mild (paraben free) preservative system in the lowest % recommended by the manufacturer to ensure consumer safetey with ALL of our products. Don't be fooled by companies that make the "all natural, no preservatives" claim. These companies clearly are not complying with FDA regulations regarding the sale of consumer products and their safety. To date, there is NO natural preservative available anywhere on the planet that will inhibit microbial growth & bacteria. If there were, we'd all be using it.
After I had created many bath and body products, I was convinced by many other soapers (that's what we call ourselves) to make my first batch of soap. I really had no desire to do so, but after that first batch, I was hooked. It really brings out the creative, artist side in me and I love it. The rest, as they say, is history. Arcadia Aromatics was formed in 2002 and we're still going strong today. I love this business, I love my craft, I love helping others to improve their health via wellness modalities and natural skin care.
We are committed to the development and creation of premium quality products from nature that contribute to natural beauty and wellness. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have to the best of our ability. We're constantly updating and adding to our web site. Stay tuned (bookmark this site) and check back frequently to see what's new.
For wholesale/bulk inquiries, please include the following information in your email:
Your Name:
Business Name:
Tax ID #:
Address:
Phone #:
Email:
Tell us a little about your business:
