Shopping for a new soap brand probably means that you are pretty picky about the ingredients...

Shopping for a new soap brand probably means that you are pretty picky about the ingredients in your bars. I don’t blame you, and that is probably why most of us made the switch to cold or hot process natural soap to begin with.

What’s in the bar matters.

One of the most common questions amongst fans of soap is about natural and synthetic fragrances. Let me tell you, there is a bunch of misinformation out there. The amount of sensationalist articles and YouTube videos claiming that essential oils are healthy, and synthetics are bad is alarming, and it can be difficult to weave through the web of internet “truths”.

I have been writing about fragrances for years, and in that time, I have learned a lot from perfumers and personal experience. The truth is still murky, and there can be no absolute stance on it. The gist of it is that not all essential oils are healthy, and they certainly aren’t always superior. I love natural fragrances and essential oils, as they smell the most like nature, and it was a difficult reality to accept that man-made oils are sometimes better.

SYNTHETICS ARE JUST AS SAFE, AND IN SOME CASES,

SAFER THAN ESSENTIAL OILS

The long-held belief that synthetic fragrances are bad for you is unfounded, unless they are ones loaded nasty chemicals like phthalates in them, which Lathr would never expose their soap buds to. Synthetics are just as safe, and in some cases, safer than essential oils and natural fragrances.

There are essential oils and naturals that are highly restricted or banned altogether, such as sweet birch oil, wintergreen, coumarin (an extract of tonka bean), and oakmoss. Those are only a handful of them, but it’s evident that natural essences can be just as harmful as low-quality synthetics in some cases.

The thing about fragrance oils is that many of them are crafted as alternatives to naturals, and they are carefully engineered to be free of many harsh chemicals and skin sensitizers. The smell can certainly be different, and some can feel like you were just exposed to a teenage locker room full of Axe lovers.

I have seen many people claim that synthetic oils cause them to dry out, and yes, it is possible for this to happen due to a reaction, but I highly doubt that every lab-created oil is doing the same thing to you.

I must say that this doesn’t extend to the soap itself. There are many ingredients in mass market soap that are simply horrible for your body, and they can cause you to feel like a desert wanderer looking for anything to quench your dry wasteland of skin. You certainly want nature’s nourishing power for your body’s largest organ.

The other issue is that there is no industry standard or law about labeling things as essential oils or natural fragrance, so many of the products are actually synthetically derived. You loved them while you thought they were naturally scented, which further shows that part of it is a stigma pushed on us. Luckily, Lathr isn’t afraid to tell you what is exactly in your bar, right down to the percent of naturals to fragrance oils.

LATHR ISN’T AFRAID TO TELL YOU WHAT IS EXACTLY IN YOUR BAR

However, this does not mean that essential oils and real natural fragrances are bad for you. Many of the ones on the market today are made by responsible soap makers who do thorough research into what levels are acceptable, as the last thing that they want is for someone to have a poor experience.

After all, the impact of naturals is limited in a product that washes off. The average fragrance load for a cold process soap is around 2-4%. If it is only your skin for 30 seconds, then all those benefits that are so highly touted are negated, and the skin sensitivity of some are also minimized. However, it must be said that the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils do still stay relevant in soap.

ESSENTIAL OILS, NATURAL FRAGRANCES, OR FRAGRANCE OILS,

THEY ARE SAFE WITHIN THE LIMITS

In closing, whether it’s essential oils, natural fragrances, or fragrance oils, they are safe within the limits that many are used in. Make sure the soap itself is made with natural oils and butters to get that silky smooth feeling after your daily routine. The most important thing of all is to enjoy the scent and how it makes you feel.

Let it transport you to a tropical Island with Coco Loco or a mountaintop forest with Cedar Peaks. Just enjoy the ride, buds.