The Forgotten Pollinators

Book Summary:

Without interaction between animals and flowering plants, the seeds and fruits that make up nearly eighty percent of the human diet would not exist.

In “The Forgotten Pollinators,” Stephen L. Buchmann, one of the world’s leading authorities on bees and pollination, and Gary Paul Nabhan, award-winning writer and renowned crop ecologist, explore the vital but little-appreciated relationship between plants and the animals they depend on for reproduction — bees, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, bats, and countless other animals, some widely recognized and other almost unknown.Scenes from around the globe — examining island flora and fauna on the Galapagos, counting bees in the Panamanian rain forest, witnessing an ancient honey-hunting ritual in Malaysia — bring to life the hidden relationships between plants and animals, and demonstrate the ways in which human society affects and is affected by those relationships.

Buchmann and Nabhan combine vignettes from the field with expository discussions of ecology, botany, and crop science to present a lively and fascinating account of the ecological and cultural context of plant-pollinator relationships. More than any other natural process, plant-pollinator relationships offer vivid examples of the connections between endangered species and threatened habitats. The authors explain how human-induced changes in pollinator populations — caused by overuse of chemical pesticides, unbridled development, and conversion of natural areas into monocultural cropland-can have a ripple effect on disparate species, ultimately leading to a “cascade of linked extinctions.”

  Book Excerpts:

The newly introduced category of kampung (countryside) gourmet products are receiving a very good response from my international customers especially….none of the fancy packaging as usual, just a very basic kraft paper packing…I was a bit tempted to re-invent the labels and go all glossy stickers and all…but then, I will be going against my own principle and philosophy: keep the packaging minimal, but no short-cuts on the quality of my ingredients…

Some people do not get the idea that when making or creating a product, I spend lavishly  on the ingredients using only the best quality ingredients I can lay my hands on. For example, when I use pure essential oils, I only choose to buy essential oils from the land/country it is grown on, usually from small producers, not from a middleman. Therefore, when I mentioned French Alpine Lavender, it comes directly from the place it is grown on, from the French Alps, not from a remote central warehouse in India or China.

You know, a few months back, an aspiring traditional medicine businessman said to me when I commented why not he just let his product stays natural and free of colors, fragrances and preservatives : “apa kelas ada pada barangan natural, no class la…(hahaha…no, I didn’t say anything. Let him think that way, I figure he must have never heard of etsy.com and such. He is putting every known cosmetic chemicals and colors and scents into his ‘natural’ wares, destroying the ‘living’ quality of his own product).

Last month, I saw a pharmaceutical chain store in Pavillion offering some organic and natural cosmetic range by a well-known Japanese brand in very pretty packagings…I was so excited, I was about to purchase some moisturizers but my spirits went down when I look at the ingredients. What’s the use of putting in “Organic & Natural Green Apple Extract” in a chemical soup? I do envy those who can actually play around with most cosmetic brands without a blemish on their skin. My sister and I (both with ultrasensitive skin) would end up with red blotches and spots even when using the so-called best cosmetic brand money can buy.

Anyway, I love making my own natural and raw products,  I’ve been making my own mineral make-up, skincare, potions,  soaps and baby care products ever since the birth of my darling eldest daughter, Nuha, 7 years ago…I am not rich but I am glad to say that I know my ‘natural’ products well and I gained great friends and fellow natural diy enthusiasts from across the globe…I’m currrently learning and acquiring knowledge in holistic medicine especially the Unani and native herbalism.

And after 5 years of GreenVanillaStore.com being online, I am also very proud of the store’s  loyal customers and suppliers from around the world who stayed with the store, lift my morale up, boost my spirit despite of the constant Murphy’s Law batterings,  hiccups and let-downs.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FAITH & TRUST IN GREENVANILLASTORE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I LOVE YOU ALL! GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

It’s very,very difficult operating without a capital, it’s equally hard trying  float an indie business here in Malaysia….but I finally pulled through, hurray!

Anyway, in my early quest to understand the wisdom of the plants, I found one very enlightened wisewoman…SUSUN S. WEED…I have learnt a lot from her, admire her philosophy and approach to life. I see her as a  mentor and guide in my botanical wanderings and approach to natural living and ancient healing. (A wisewoman is also known here in our part of the world as nenek kebayan or a bobohizan).

Sadly, many modern Malaysians  have lose touch with their own natural roots. The chains of traditional wisdom  where knowledge of ‘practical magic’ that was passed from generations to generations have been broken down by fast-paced living centering mainly in instant  self-gratification, hedonistic culture, utilitarian and materialistic contemporary living.

In our society today,  slow means backward….fast means progress. Money is the new God and anything that can be cashed upon will be exploited mercilessly. Take herbal medicine for example. Every month, I noticed someone will come up with a new way to exploit a herb, promising instant beauty or a slimmer waistline, bigger everything or a better sexual life. Each time an herb is re-discovered, for example stevia, tongkat ali, kacip fatimah or acai, instant businesses and traders will sprout out like mushrooms plying their miracle products in the market. The same goes with vanilla beans and agarwood. The moment one discovered how lucrative the vanilla industry is, many jumped onto the vanilla bandwagon hoping to make fast bucks. The tagline is  ‘plant several hectares of vanilla and you’ll be a millionaire in three years’, yeah right…I have been in the businessvfor almost 5 years now here in Malaysia and I am yet to see one decent Malaysian boutique vanilla bean.

Not many take the time to get to know a plant or a herb ‘intimately’. Not many take the time to greet a plant like an old friend. Plants and herbs contains divine love and mercy. They should be treated with respect, or they will turn back against you. Anyway, in the midst of herbal this and that in Malaysia, maybe one should take some wisewoman lessons in using and preparing herbs:

 Here’s a good article from my mentor’s website susunweed.com, on using herbs safely:

Using Herbs Simply and Safely by Susun S. Weed

Are herbs “dilute forms of drugs” – and therefore dangerous? Or are they “natural” – and therefore safe? It depends on the herb! These thoughts on herbs will help you understand how safe–or dangerous– any herb might be.

Follow these four steps to prevent problems when selling or using herbs:

1. Be certain you have the correct plant
2. Use simples – One herb at a time
3. Understand that different preparations of the same herb can work differently
4. Use nourishing, tonifying, stimulating, and potentially poisonous herbs wisely

Be certain you have the correct plant.

One of the easiest ways to get into trouble with an herb is to use the “wrong” one. How could that happen? Common names for herbs overlap, causing confusion as to the proper identity. Herbs that are labeled correctly may contain extraneous material from another, more dangerous, herb. Herbs may be picked at the wrong stage of growth or handled incorrectly after harvesting, causing them to develop detrimental qualities.

If you grow the herbs you sell, be meticulous about keeping different plants separate when you harvest and dry them, and obsessive about labeling.Buy herbs only from reputable suppliers.

Only buy herbs that are labeled with their botanical name. Botanical names are specific, but the same common name can refer to several different plants. “Marigold” can be Calendula officinalis, a medicinal herb, or Tagetes, an annual used as a bedding plant.

Use simples – One herb at a time

A simple is one herb. For optimum safety, I prepare, buy, sell, teach about and use herbal simples, that is: preparations containing only one herb. (Occasionally I use will add some mint to flavor a remedy.)

The more herbs there are in a formula, the more likelihood there is of unwanted side-effects. Understandably, the public seeks combinations, hoping to get more for less. And many mistakenly believe that herbs must be used together to be effective (probably because potentially poisonous herbs are often combined with protective herbs to mitigate the damage they cause). But combining herbs with the same properties, such as goldenseal and echinacea, is counter-productive and more likely to cause trouble than a simple. A simple tincture of echinacea is more effective than any combination and much safer.)

Different people have different reactions to substances, whether drugs, foods, or herbs. When herbs are mixed together in a formula and someone taking it has distressing side effects, there is no way to determine which herb is the cause. With simples, it’s easy to tell which herb is doing what. If there’s an adverse reaction, other herbs with similar properties can be tried. Limiting the number of herbs used in any one day (to no more than four) offers added protection.

Side effects from herbs are less common than side effects from drugs and usually less severe. If an herb disturbs the digestion, it may be that the body is learning to process it. Give it a few more tries before giving up. Stop taking any herb that causes nausea, dizziness, sharp stomach pains, diarrhea, headache, or blurred vision. (These effects will generally occur quite quickly.) Slippery elm is an excellent antidote to any type of poison.

If you are allergic to any foods or medicines, it is especially important to consult resources that list the side effects of herbs before you use them.

Different preparations of the same herb work differently

The safety of any herbal remedy is dependent on the way it is prepared and used.

Tinctures and extracts contain the alkaloids, or poisonous, parts of plants and need to be used with care and wisdom. Tinctures are as safe as the herb involved (see cautions below for tonifying, stimulating, sedating, or potentially poisonous herbs). Best used/sold as simples, not combinations, especially when strong herbs are being used.

Dried herbs made into teas or infusions contain the nourishing aspects of the plants and are usually quite safe, especially when nourishing or tonifying herbs are used.

Dried herbs in capsules are generally the least effective way to use herbs. They are poorly digested, poorly utilized, often stale or ineffective, and quite expensive.

Infused herbal oils are available as is, or thickened into ointments. They are much safer than essential oils, which are highly concentrated and can be lethal if taken internally.

Herbal vinegars are not only decorative but mineral-rich as well. A good medium for nourishing and tonifying herbs; not as strong as tinctures for stimulants/sedatives.

Herbal glycerins are available for those who prefer to avoid alcohol but are usually weaker in action than tinctures.

Use nourishing, tonifying, stimulating, and poisonous herbs wisely

Herbs comprise a group of several thousand plants with widely varying actions. Some are nourishers, some tonifiers, some stimulants and sedatives, and some are potential poisons. To use them wisely and well, we need to understand each category, its uses, best manner of preparation, and usual dosage range.

Nourishing herbs are the safest of all herbs; side effects are rare. Nourishing herbs are taken in any quantity for any length of time. They are used as foods, just like spinach and kale. Nourishing herbs provide high levels of proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, carotenes, and essential fatty acids. Examples of nourishing herbs are: alfalfa, amaranth, astragalus, calendula flowers, chickweed, comfrey leaves, dandelion, fenugreek, flax seeds, honeysuckle flowers, lamb’s quarter, marshmallow, nettles, oatstraw, plantain (leaves/seeds), purslane, red clover blossoms, seaweed, Siberian ginseng, slippery elm, violet leaves, and wild mushrooms.

Tonifying herbs act slowly in the body and have a cumulative, rather than immediate, effect. They build the functional ability of an organ (like the liver) or a system (like the immune system). Tonifying herbs are most beneficial when they are used in small quantities for extended periods of time. The more bitter the tonic tastes, the less you need to take. Bland tonics may be used in quantity, like nourishing herbs.

Side effects occasionally occur with tonics, but are usually quite short-term. Many older herbals mistakenly equated stimulating herbs with tonifying herbs, leading to widespread misuse of many herbs, and severe side effects. Examples of tonifying herbs are: barberry bark, burdock root/seeds, chaste tree, crone(mug)wort, dandelion root, echinacea, elecampane, fennel, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, ground ivy, hawthorn berries, horsetail, lady’s mantle, lemon balm, milk thistle seeds, motherwort, mullein, pau d’arco, raspberry leaves, schisandra berries, St. Joan’s wort, turmeric root, usnea, wild yam, and yellow dock.

Sedating and stimulating herbs cause a variety of rapid reactions, some of which may be unwanted. Some parts of the person may be stressed in order to help other parts. Strong sedatives and stimulants, whether herbs or drugs, push us outside our normal ranges of activity and may cause strong side effects. If we rely on them and then try to function without them, we wind up more agitated (or depressed) than before we began. Habitual use of strong sedatives and stimulants-whether opium, rhubarb root, cayenne, or coffee-leads to loss of tone, impairment of functioning, and even physical dependency. The stronger the herb, the more moderate the dose needs to be, and the shorter the duration of its use.

Herbs that tonify and nourish while sedating/stimulating are some of my favorite herbs. I use them freely, as they do not cause dependency. Sedating/stimulating herbs that also tonify or nourish: boneset, catnip, citrus peel, cleavers, ginger, hops, lavender, marjoram, motherwort, oatstraw, passion flower, peppermint, rosemary, sage, skullcap.

Strongly sedating/stimulating herbs include: angelica, black pepper, blessed thistle root, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, licorice, opium poppy, osha root, shepherd’s purse, sweet woodruff, turkey rhubarb root, uva ursu leaves, valerian root, wild lettuce sap, willow bark, and wintergreen leaves.

Potentially poisonous herbs are intense, potent medicines that are taken in tiny amounts and only for as long as needed. Side effects are common. Examples of potentially poisonous herbs are: belladonna, blood-root, celandine, chaparral, foxglove, goldenseal, henbane, iris root, Jimson weed, lobelia, May apple (American mandrake), mistletoe, poke root, poison hemlock, stillingia root, turkey corn root, wild cucumber root.

In addition, consider these thoughts on using herbs safely:

•  Respect the power of plants to change the body and spirit in dramatic ways.
• Increase trust in the healing effectiveness of plants by trying remedies for minor or external problems before, or while, working with major and internal problems.
• Develop ongoing relationships with knowledgeable healers-in person or in books-who are interested in herbal medicine.
• Honor the uniqueness of every plant, every person, every situation.
• Remember that each person becomes whole and healed in their own unique way, at their own speed. People, plants, and animals can help in this process. But it is the body/spirit that does the healing.
• Don’t expect plants to be cure-alls.

You may notice the letters “INCI” listed under some ingredients. INCI stands for The International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients. It is a system for labeling and declaring ingredients.

The multilingual and multinational labeling requirements implemented by the European Union require a full declaration of ingredients on personal care packaging.

This labeling standard denotes all ingredients according to their Latin (Chemical / Scientific) designation. Those manufacturers following the INCI are therefore required to label their ingredients as specified by the regulatory board.

All companies selling personal care products in Europe and Canada are required by law to list their ingredients according to the INCI. All ingredients are listed by their quantity of presence, greatest to least, in the product.

Due to its full ingredient disclosure policy, the INCI standards strive to allow the consumer to make informed and healthy purchases, helping him/her avoid any ingredients to which he/she may be allergic.

 I do noticed that there has been an increasing interest in MYO soaps lately here in Malaysia. I was even approached by some customers who want to learn about the process of soapmaking. I’m a big fan of natural soaps and really love the luxurious feel of a good bar of ol’ -fashioned lye soap. Making your own soap is fun and satisfying and the soaps  you made from scratch without the addition of SLS or other synthetics are the best luxury you can make for your own self. It’s an affordable hobby and the soaps you make can be given out as gifts to friends and family.

Next year,  I’m planning to come up with my own handcrafted range of cold-processed goatsmilk and vanilla-themed soap for GreenVanillaStore.com made with olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and fresh  goats milk scented primarily  with real vanilla. Hopefully I’ll be able to offer these soaps by middle of 2010.

Anyway, for would-be soapmaking enthusiasts, don’t be tricked by anyone who’d charged you an exhorbitant sum of money for teaching kitchen-science. Soapmaking is not exactly rocket-science you know…if you can cook a decent meal, you can make a decent bar of soap . So, if you want to get started with soapmaking, you need to learn/know the basics first. Hope the list below that I’ve compiled for you helps:

1. SOAPMAKING RESOURCE,TUTORIALS & SUPPLIES - A great site to get started, plenty of  STEP-BY-STEP instructions and guide with pictures, tutorials on soapmaking basics, ingredients explanation, plenty of tips and guidance. You can even contact Steve, the site owner if you need any clarification and assistance  on soapmaking. Steve is very helpful and won’t charge you $10k for answering your questions To get started check out the site’s links:

How Soap is  Made:Saponification Explained

How To Make Soaps

Soapmaking Ingredients Explained

Making Cold-Process Soaps: Step by Step With Pictures

Making Melt-n-Pour Soaps: Step By Step With Pictures

• HOW TO MAKE COLD-PROCESS SOAP FROM SCRAP – a great soapmaking picture tutorial by David Fisher at About.com

• SOAPMAKING TUTORIALS & RECIPES – www.teachsoap.com another fabulous site…a must visit for newbie and veteran soapmakers

For video tutorials on soapmaking, there are plenty of them on youtube.com, here are some of my faves:

-from ourharps

 from howtomakeart

-from wholesalesupplies

  Look at these fabulous melt-n-pour glycerine soaps from MishMash Soap:

By doing so, we will “primarily be offering products deemed “natural” as defined by the Natural Ingredient Resource Center guidelines. Furthermore, we will disclose when a product on our website/marketing materials contains synthetic ingredients, such as fragrance oils or petrochemicals, in a way that is clear to the consumer.”

The Natural Ingredient Resource Center was founded in the US to help consumers, manufacturers and retailers, focusing on natural personal care products for the home and family, to learn more about the natural ingredients in the products they buy, make or sell. It is also an effort to encourage and provide an opportunity for manufacturers of these products to voluntarily show that they support “truth in labeling” and to provide a resource for education about natural ingredients. The NIRC does not certify ingredients, products or police compliance.

NIRC’S NATURAL PRODUCT LABELING GUIDELINES

The NIRC Guidelines mirror those established by the USDA for organic food, and are inspired in part by the hard work of the organizations working to establish similar labeling guidelines for the term “organic” for cosmetics. Please visit the NIRC Resources web pages for links and contact information for those groups.

• 100% Natural/All Natural

The NIRC guidelines are that products labeled as “100 percent Natural” or “All Natural” can only contain ingredients that fit the NIRC criteria for natural ingredients.

• Natural

The NIRC guidelines are that in order for products to be labeled as “Natural,” 95% of the ingredients must fit the NIRC criteria for natural ingredients. The remaining 5% may come from ingredients that do not meet the NIRC Criteria for natural, and which DO NOT include synthetic fragrances, artificial colors or ingredients from petrochemicals. The toxicity of each ingredient must be minimal. All percentages are based upon weight.

• Made with Natural Ingredients/Made from Natural Ingredients

Products labeled as “Made with/from Natural Ingredients” must contain at least 70% natural ingredients that meet the NIRC Criteria. The remaining 30% may come from ingredients that do not meet the NIRC Criteria for natural, however, products that include synthetic fragrances, artificial colors or ingredients from petrochemicals MAY NOT display the NIRC “Seal”. All percentages are based upon weight.

• “True Soap” Exception…Natural Soap

The NIRC has made an exception for “True Soap” that fits the following criteria;

• “True Soap” may be labeled as “natural soap” ONLY if the ingredients that go into the soap are lye plus 100% natural ingredients, according to the NIRC Criteria for natural ingredients.

• “True Soap” may be labeled as “natural soap” ONLY if all of the ingredients are listed. We require that “True Soap”, labeled as “natural soap”, have ingredient labeling in order to help prevent the misuse of the “natural soap” label. Soap labeled as “natural soap” may not contain the addition of any synthetic or artificial ingredients including but not limited to artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, man-made vitamins, solvent extracted oils or additional glycerin.

fresh, luscious strawberries

Fragaria vesca. A nourishing and fragrant oil, light in texture, skin invigorating, penetrating and fast absorbing. Its color may vary from pale to medium yellow and its aroma is fresh, sweet and a subtle reminiscent of fresh strawberries.

Pressed from strawberry seeds, this oil is high in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, and an excellent addition to any anti-aging, dry, anti-inflammatory and damaged skin formulation.  Strawberry seed oil is a very  stable oil, meaning it has a long shelf life of up to 2 years.

Strawberry seed oil is excellent as a sun care oil (sun protection, after-sun & self tanning) and also as a skincare oil for facial care, cleansing, body care and baby care. It is a very soothing oil and particularly rich in gamma tocopherol linoleic, alpha-linolenic and oleic fatty acids particularly the Omega 3, 6 and 9. It may help repairs skin’s moisture barrier, thus boosting moisture, smoothness and suppleness to the skin. The oil is also excellent in reducing skin’s roughness. For OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) lovers, this oil is a great addition to your daily cleansing routine.

This very basic cleansing lotion is based on a traditional recipe and it is gentle enough for daily use. You’ll need

1/2 Cup Floral Hydrosol (read tips below)

1/2 Cup Glycerine (I prefer vegetable glycerine)

3-5 drops Pure Essential Oil (of your choice)

1. Stir the hydrosol and glycerine in a heat-proof glass bowl, preferably a pyrex or an arcopal. Pour the mixture into a small pot, set the heat to medium.

2. Stir the mixture gently until bubbles start forming from the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat immediately, pour the mixture back into the bowl.

3. When the mixture has cooled off to just ‘warm to the touch’, mix in your essential oils, stir with a glass rod,  then pour the mixture  into an airtight container/bottle. I prefer to use amber glass bottle. In Kuala Lumpur, you  can buy it at MS Ally Pharmacy.

5. Keep refrigerated. This lotion will keep well  for up to a month.

To Use: Shake the mixture gently. Massage the lotion  gently to your face in a circular motion. Rinse off several times with a warm, damp face cloth. Follow with a natural toner like our Floral Hydrosols and a moisturizer.

Tips:

1. Which hydrosol & pure essential oil to use? You can use a single hydrosol/essential oil or a combination/synergy of 2-3 hydrosols/essential oils to suit your skin type. For example:

Normal Skin:  I suggest Roman Chamomile, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Neroli, Rose Geranium.

Dry/Mature Skin: Rose, Frankincense, Rose Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Lavender,

Sensitive/Fragile/Damaged Skin: Rose, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Jasmine, Neroli, Immortelle

Oily/Combination Skin: Rose, Melissa, Neroli, Rosemary, Lemon, Ylang-Ylang, Lavender

Congested Skin/Clogged Pores: Rosemary, Lemon, Immortelle

Oily-Dehydrated Skin/Hormonal Acne: Melissa

Ingredients Glossary:

1. Hydrosol/Floral Water

Hydrosol is the liquid by-product of the steam distillation process that produces Pure Essential Oils. This aromatic liquid contains both minute molecules of the essential oil, as well as all the water soluble elements of the plant that are not present in the essential oil. A hydrosol contains all the beneficial quality of the same pure essential oil but at a much lower concentration making it more suitable for use on sensitive skin. It is a very versatile product, it can be used in a bath, as a gentle toner and astringent, cooling face and body mist, baby wipes, linen water, ironing aid, gentle perfume, room fragrance mist, fragrant hair spray and more!

2. Glycerine USP

Glycerin is one of the most versatile and valuable chemical substances known to man. It possesses a unique combination of physical and chemical properties that are utilized in myriad products. Glycerin has over 1,500 known end uses, including many applications as an ingredient or processing aid in cosmetics, toiletries, personal care, drugs, and food products. It may be synthetically produced (from petrochemicals) or naturally produced, as in from fats and oils during soap and fatty acid production and by transesterification (an interchange of fatty acid groups with another alcohol). Glycerine is a soothing, humectant which draws moisture from the air to the skin. It is an emollient, which makes the skin feel softer and smoother, reduce rough feeling, cracking and irritation. Glycerine has a high hydrophilic (water) factor and a low lipophilic (fat) factor. Vegetable glycerine is non-toxic, nonirritating and non-allergenic and suitable for vegan and halal consumer. A very sweet syrup, about half as sweet as sugar.

3. Pure Essential Oil

An essential oil is the volatile essence distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils, contrary to the use of the word “oil” are not the same as your regular fixed/cooking oil. It is the essential element in aromatherapy. Aromatherapists believed that essential oils help mobilize the body’s own self-healing powers. Unlike conventional drugs, essential oils when properly administered, produced no harmful side-effects. Some pure essential oils are being clinically studied for its antiviral, antibacterial and healing properties. Pure essential oils are ‘living essence’, each has its own vital energy and vibrations that can actually be seen with Kirlian photography.

Can you believe it that this soap is made from a 2,000 year old soap recipe that goes back to Hammurabi’s  ancient Babylon? It is the first hard soap and the great, grandfather of all soap bars in history! This is the original castile soap…Savon de Marseille is just a mere baby compared to the Savon d’Alep and is actually a 15th century copycat of the latter.

Savon d’Alep is also known as the Aleppo Soap, Hammam Soap and Ghar Soap. Made in UNESCO world heritage city of Aleppo, this olive oil hammam soap is still hand made in the traditional way, exclusively from home-grown olive oil, laurel berries oil, and sodium hydroxide ( extracted from sea salt ). It contains no animal fat, colors, perfume,  chemical or synthetic derivative. If there’s one product that has gone through the test of time with flying colors, then this soap is the winner.

The Aleppo hammam soap is ‘cooked’ to more than a 200 degree Celsius in a cauldron. The base ingredient would be olive oil and soda ash obtained from a desert plant called the salsola kali. After saponification took place, that is when the olive oil separated into glycerine and sodium salt, bay laurel oil is added. Further saponification will take place, later the caustic soda solution is drained off from the cauldron and the soap mixture is rinsed off any alkalinity with fresh water. The soap is spread out to solidify before being cut by hand, by traditional methods, into rectangular bars and individually stamped and left to cure or dried for at least 9 months.  The longer the soap is cured, the harder the soap will be and the milder and gentler the soap is. This soap age like fine wine. Some people in Aleppo actually bragged around about 20-30 years old soaps kept in the attic.

This soap is mild, nourishing and moisturizing. It won’t dry your skin out and excellent to be used from head-to-toe. Do you know that this soap bar actually floats in your bath due to its density? When cut into two, you can see the beige outer rind with a lovely leafy green on the inside

The Savon d’Alep offered at GreenVanillaStore contains 92% Pure Olive Oil.  This is a really traditional Aleppo Soap handmade by the Zanabili family of Aleppo, Syria. They have been making this soap using the traditional methods for almost 2 centuries! Sales support the survival of traditional businesses in UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aleppo’s Old City. The making of this soap is totally environmental friendly and involves no animal testing. This 230g soap bar with luxurious, creamy lather can last you for up to a month!

How to Use the Savon d’Alep

1. This soap can be used from head-to-toe, from moisturizing facial cleansing to conditioning hair shampooing. Excellent when used with a loofah or exfoliating fibre mitt.

2. Makes a great shaving soap.

3. Adds body and volume to hair when used as shampoo. On dyed hair, it actually helps prolong the color.

4. When used as a hammam-style massage soap , it has a smooth, deep and warming effect that leaves your skin feeling deeply-cleansed and refreshed.

5. Use a a deep cleansing face masque. Wet face, lather the soap and massage the lather to your face, leave about 2-3 minutes. Wipe off with warm wet towel.

6. Gentle enough for baby (avoid eye areas), and those with sensitive and troubled skin.

7. Use the soap instead of your usual detergent for fine laundry and baby clothings.

1. Mother Earth Soaps

Mother Earth Soap from the UK is simply wonderful. These incredibly gentle handcrafted herbal soaps are made from the purest palm oil, natural unrefined herbs and pure essential oils. My particular favorite is  Calendula and Honey…very beautiful and freshly scented! Each soap is mild, long-lasting and lathers luxuriously. Contains no parabens, sls or artificial colors. Comes in 6 varieties: Calendula & Honey, Kava-Kava & Myrrh, Chamomile Flowers, Lavender Blossoms, Mint & Rosemary and Seaweed & Fresh Orange Peel. Each soap will be individually  gift-wrapped in lovely ‘plantable’ handmade recycled paper.

2. Organic Floral Waters/Hydrosols

We have a lovely selection of artisan-distilled organic floral waters/hydrosols some certified organic by the UK Soil Association,  and some by EU ECOCERT. Each hydrosol comes in a 100ml amber glass bottle fitted with atomizer spray, for ease of use and convenience. Our hydrosols are 100% pure with no added preservatives, colors and emulsifying agent.

3. Specialty Botanical Oils

Oh, how I love botanical oils! I’m really proud to offer these fabulous selection of pure, cold-pressed skin-loving oils for my customers. I have in store Moroccan Argan Oil, Strawberry Seed Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, White Camellia Oil, Cherry Kernel Oil and Watermelon Seed Oil…these oils are of the best quality money can buy, very versatile, skin-nourishing and safe to use. Great as moisturizing facial oils to keep those lines and wrinkles at bay…Comes in a 10ml amber glass bottle with a  glass dropper. I’ll be adding more fabulous oils soon…

Hope you’ll love and enjoy these natural beauty gifts from mother nature as much as I do.