We always use the highest quality plant derived ingredients that are good for skin and good for the planet
Activated charcoal is a special type of fine, odourless, black powder made from materials such as wood and coconut shells, among others. The substance is ‘activated’ by high temperatures which change the chemical structure to create much smaller particles with more surface area.
Carbon-rich materials such as wood are burnt at very high temperatures to obtain charcoal (a nearly pure form of carbon). Once the charcoal is obtained, it is passed through a variety of processes in order to “activate” it. This includes treatment with oxygen, steam and carbon dioxide.
Activated charcoal can adsorb thousands of times its own weight. This effectively cleanses the skin, unclogs pores, removes deeper impurities, and dead skin cells. The result is smooth, supple, and even-toned skin. Dirt, toxins, heavy metals, chemicals, and other poisons are attracted to the charcoal molecules and washed away.
Tea Tree & Activated Charcoal Soap Bar, Black Raspberry & Vanilla Soap Bar.
Avocado Oil originates from the the Avocado tree ‘Persea Americana’ native to Mexico and South America. The fruit of the plant also called an avocado (or avocado pear/alligator pear) have greenish to yellowish flesh that encases a large seed pip. It takes around 80 Avocado’s to produce 1kg of oil.
Avocado oil is one of the few oils not derived from seed. The process for recovering oil from ripe avocados begins when the skin is removed along with its pip leaving only the flesh of the fruit behind. It is then blended into a smooth paste and churned at a low heat for an hour to aid the extraction of the oil. The Avocado paste is then placed to a centrifuge, which spins the pulp with enough force to separate the oil and the water contained in the pulp.
Avocado Oil is extremely rich in vitamins A, B, D, and E, as well as a high level of potassium, phytonutrients, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. In addition to being an exceptional emollient and moisturizer, Avocado Oil is one of the highest penetrating oils available having the ability to quickly penetrate deep into the skin, helping transport other beneficial nutrients into the skin’s cells. Containing up to 80% omega-9 Oleic acid, this is considered to be most beneficial for dry and aging skin. Avocado oil gets its superior moisturizing ability from its high sterolin content. This hydrating property helps assists in the rejuvenation and regeneration of skin and replenish lost moisture.
Carrageenan originates from the red seaweed plant ‘Chondrus Crispus’ commonly known as Irish Moss, native to the British Isles. It has been used in traditional cooking since the fifteenth century. Although carrageenan was introduced on an industrial scale in the 1930s, it was first used in China around 600 B.C. and also Ireland around 400 A.D. It’s also widely used as a thickener and gelling agent when mixed with fluids. Unlike gelatine, which is made from animal products, carrageenan is appropriate for vegans.
The sea plant is grown from the water’s surface to a depth of about 2 metres on nylon lines strung between bamboo floats. It is harvested after three months which then the plant weighs approximately 1 kg. After harvest, the seaweed is dried, baled, and sent to the carrageenan manufacturer. There the seaweed is grounded, sifted to remove impurities such as sand, and washed thoroughly. After treatment with hot alkali solution, the cellulose is removed from the carrageenan by centrifugation and filtration. This resulting in carrageenan solution which is then concentrated by evaporation. It is dried and grounded to specification.
Carrageenan is an abundant, natural material which is very useful as a thickening agent. Other thickening agents exist, but carrageenan represents our best choice because it is a naturally sourced material with little taste or odour which has a long history of safe use in food products. We favour natural carrageenan over gelatine which is made from animal products.
Castor Oil originates from the Castor Bean or Castor oil plant ‘Ricinus Communis’ native to Eastern Africa and India. The fruit is a spiny, green to reddish-purple capsule 2.5cm across containing oval shiny, bean-like seeds. Castor is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world found in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 4000 b.c. It takes around 2.5kg of Castor seeds to produce 1kg of oil.
The seeds from the castor plant are harvested and allowed to dry so that the seed hull will split open, easily releasing the seed inside. Once the hull is removed, the seeds are heated to harden the interior of the seeds for extraction. Once extracted, the seeds are warmed in a steam press to aid the oil extraction process. After being cooked, the seeds are then dried before being placed into a hydraulic press. High pressure is then applied to extract the oil.
Castor oil contains high levels of Vitamin E, proteins and Omega 6 & 9 that are the key components responsible for good hair and skin health. Castor oil may have humectant properties, which means that it can draw moisture from the air into the skin, keeping the skin smooth and hydrated. Castor oil can help increase the production of lymphocytes, which are critical to proper circulation in the body. The fatty acids in this oil works to increase the lymph flow throughout the body, which eliminates toxins and helps reduce swollen lymph nodes. Castor oil contains triglycerides. These can help maintain moisture in the skin, making it a useful treatment for dry skin.
Critic Acid exists naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables, but it is most concentrated in lemons and limes, where it can comprise as much as 8 percent of the dry weight of the fruit. Citric acid was first isolated in 1784 by the chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who crystallized it from lemon juice. Industrial-scale production of citric acid first began in 1860 based on the Italian citrus fruit industry, where the juice was treated with hydrated lime.
Up until the 1900s, majority of the world’s manufactured citric acid came from Italy, where organizations extracted it from fresh fruits. Then researchers discovered that strains from a fungi known as ‘Aspergillus Niger’ could produce citric acid when fermented using a low-cost molasses as the raw material. Because of the cost efficacy and ease of use, this method is still used for approximately 90 percent of the world production of citric acid today.
The process begins when the fungi is fed on a sucrose or glucose solution to produce citric acid. The source of sugar is corn steep liquor, molasses, hydrolysed corn starch, or other inexpensive, sugary solution. After the fungi is filtered out of the resulting solution, citric acid is isolated by precipitating it with calcium hydroxide to yield calcium citrate salt, from which citric acid is regenerated by treatment with sulfuric acid which is filtered off. Finally, the liquor is concentrated in vacuum crystallizers at 20- 25°C, forming citric acid monohydrate.
It’s one of the main ingredients in bath bombs. The reaction between citric acid and Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) is what makes bath bombs fizz. When these materials come in contact with water, they create a fizzing reaction and produce carbon dioxide in the form of bubbles.
Bath bombs, Bubble Bath, Foam Hand Soap.
Coconut Oil originates from the Coconut Palm ‘Cocos nucifera’ is thought to be native to Malaysia, South Asia and Polynesia. The term Coconut comes from the Old Portuguese and Spanish word coco, meaning skull. This versatile tree often called the ‘Tree of life’ providing food, water, fuel, cosmetics, medicine and building materials among many other uses. Because Coconuts contain a high saturated fat content, it is slow to oxidize and resistant to rancidification, lasting up to six months without spoiling. It takes around 25 coconuts to produce 1kg of oil.
Coconut oil can be produced in many ways. A common way is to extract the white flesh found inside the shell, which then is dried and pressed in a large expeller press which generates heat and pressure. This produces a coconut oil that is brown in colour which is then filtered and refined to produce a clean and clear liquid.
Coconut Oil is full of antioxidants, especially vitamin E which means it protects the skin from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage cells and are linked to ageing. Vitamin E is absorbed into the skin very quickly and so gets to work almost instantly. Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids so it’s great for moisturising the skin and helps to increase skin elasticity as it repairs the skin’s natural barrier and traps in moisture. It can help to sooth rashes, redness and has been known to help cuts and scratches to heal naturally as well. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Also commonly known as Magnesium Sulfate, Epsom Salt gets its name from the town of Epsom in Surrey, England (24km from London), where it was originally discovered in a natural spring. During a drought in 1618, a local cow herder named Henry Wicker bent down to drink from a pool of water which he found the water to be acidic and bitter. As the water evaporated, Wicker noticed white residue left behind and realized after drinking the water that it had a laxative effect. Epsom’s salts became a sought-after cure for constipation for hundreds of years following this discovery. In 1755, a British chemist and physicist by the name of Joseph Black conducted experiments on the chemical properties of magnesium sulfate. He proposed that magnesium be classified as an element.
Magnesium sulfate is usually obtained directly from dry lake beds and other natural sources.
Epsom salt is commonly used as a bath salt to treat minor aches and pains, soothes sore muscles and reduces swelling. It may also soothe skin affected conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Glycerine is a natural by-product of the soap making process. The appearance is a clear, colourless and odourless thick liquid paste which is soluble in water and alcohol. It is the oldest organic molecule isolated by man, being obtained by heating fats in the presence of alkali ash rich in potassium carbonate to produce soap as early as 2800 BC. This simular method still exists, although tweaked a little, it’s the same process in which Scentric produces its soap today.
There are a couple of ways to produce glycerine.
One process is when fat and plant oils are mixed with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, a certain amount of glycerine is naturally created by the saponification reaction. Resulting in glycerine and fatty acid salts. The salt of the fatty acid is called a soap.
Vegetable glycerine (also known as glycerol) is typically made from soybean, coconut or palm oils. Palm and coconut oils are natural triglyceride mixtures, each triglyceride is made up of three fatty acids esterified with glycerine. These oils are heated under force, pressure and high temperature with water so that the ester bond breaks and causes the glycerine to split from fatty acids and be absorbed by water glycerine splits off into the water. Further distillation isolates the glycerine.
Glycerine is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, humectants, used in skincare. A humectant is a type of moisturizing agent that attract and bind with the water molecules, helping your skin and hair preserve moisture and stay hydrated. Glycerine closely matches pH levels of the skin, which makes it gentle enough to be used by those with sensitive skin and in baby skincare.
Jelly Soap, Body Wash, Bubble Bath, Whip Soap.
Goat’s milk has been used as a natural ingredient in skin care products for centuries. In fact, ancient Egyptians which are known for their innovative traditions, are believed to have been some of the first humans to use goat milk for skin care. Goats produce about 2% of the world’s total annual milk supply. Fresh goat’s milk is mainly supplied as a health product to people intolerant of cow’s milk and those suffering from bronchial and asthmatic conditions. It has also recently become more popular as a gourmet milk, as cheese and yoghurt.
One purpose of drying milk is to preserve it. Milk powder has a far longer shelf life than liquid milk and does not need to be refrigerated, due to its low moisture content. Powdered milk is usually made with the spray drying process of the goat’s milk. Pasteurized milk is first concentrated in an evaporator to approximately 50 percent milk solids. The resulting concentrated milk is then sprayed into a heated chamber where the water almost instantly evaporates, leaving fine particles of powdered milk solids.
We understand it’s not Vegan friendly, however this product is just too good not to use! This full cream powder is a natural emollient that helps soothe and moisturize the skin. It contains vitamins A, B6, B12 and E. Goats milk has 3 times more beta casein than cow’s milk. Caseins are easily absorbed into the skin and allow for quick hydration of dry skin. The content of triglycerides, capric, caprylic and caproic acid helps balance the skins natural pH and promotes natural exfoliation of dry skin. Lactic acid that goat’s milk contains may assist in breakdown of dead skin cells, is packed with essential fatty acids and amino acids. The cream found in goat’s milk has a high fat molecule content making it extremely moisturising, and helps keep the skin naturally supple. Goat’s milk powder is an excellent ingredient to include in soap, cream and lotion formulations.
Lemongrass & Goats Milk Soap Bar.
Grapeseed Oil has existed and been in use for more than 6000 years. According to the Bible, the oil was used in a dish called Pulse, which the Prophet Daniel is said to have eaten for its health-enhancing properties, which points to the fact that even then, people were aware of the health benefits offered by Grapeseed Oil.
Production of Grapeseed oil primarily occurs in the wine-growing regions around the world. Winemaking accounts for 90% of grape cultivation, with the seeds of the plant serving as a byproduct. The seeds are dried in rotary driers before being cleaned and preserved. Grapeseed Oil can be extracted through the cold pressing method. This involves first crushing the seeds in an expeller press to separate the seed oil from the seed extracts, which can be turned into wine or juice. After the oil has been completely extracted, it is set aside in a container and allowed to settle for 24 hours. This crude oil ranges in colour from yellow to yellowish green and has a subtle characteristic scent.
Grapeseed Carrier Oil easily absorbs into the skin to deliver intense moisture without, leaving an oily residue, irritating skin or clogging pores. This makes it ideal for skin types that are oily, sensitive, and mature as well as skin afflicted with acne and eczema. Rich in compounds that restore collagen, Grapeseed Carrier Oil slows the look of aging by smoothing and firming the skin, offering protection against sun damage, and reducing the appearance of blemishes, wrinkles, and stretch marks.
Kaolin Clay originates from the clay material ‘Kaolinite’ which can be found in many parts of the world. Kaolinite clay occurs in abundance in soils that have formed from the chemical weathering of rocks in hot, moist climates. The name ‘Kaolin’ was adopted from a hill in China (Kao-ling) where it was mined for hundreds of years. Australia produces around 155,000 tonnes of kaolin a year and is one of the purest and whitest in the world. Kaolin extraction occurs from all states of Australia with the majority coming from Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.
Kaolin was produced 150 million years ago. Its main content is kaolinite, occurring with other silicates such as mica, feldspar, and quartz. Once Kaolin is extracted, it goes through a crushing, drying, pulverizing process. After being reduced down into a fine powder, the Kaolin clay is then mixed with water to create a slurry the helps put the clay particles in suspension. It then goes through a purifying process where sand, mica and other impurities are extracted with the help of gravity resulting pure Kaolin.
Kaolin clay is one of the gentlest, silkiest clays, making it safe for all skin types. It’s rich in calcium, silica, zinc and magnesium, making it the ideal product for oily skin.
Kaolin is perfect for drawing out impurities and toxins from the pores. It’s soothing and gentle on redness, it’s a great exfoliate and can stimulate and tone the skin.
Bar soap, Bath bombs, Whip Soap.
Olive oil originates from the Olive tree ‘Olea Eropaea’ native to the Mediterranean, Asia, and Africa. The olive fruit is known as a drupe, similar to that of a peach or plum. It takes around 5kg of Olives to produce 1kg of oil.
The fruit is generally harvested from the tree as soon as it starts turning from yellow to brown in colour. The traditional way of harvesting olives is to shake the tree or beat its branches with sticks to make the olives drop on a net bellow. When collected, the fruit is crushed to a fine paste. This paste is then stirred thoroughly for some time before being placed into a centrifuge. The high centrifugal force created allows the oil and the water to be easily separated because of their different densities.
Olive oil highly rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K that contains high levels of fatty acids including oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids, which help protect skin against moisture loss, promote cell health and leaves skin smooth and soft. Olive oil is also high in squalene, an oil that mimics your skin’s natural sebum, so it’ll leave your skin moisturized.
Polysorbate 80 also known as ‘Tween 80’ is a surfactant and emulsifier used widely in cosmetics. This synthetic compound is a viscous, water soluble yellow liquid.
Polysorbate 80 is produced by the ethoxylated sorbitan esters which are manufactured by the reaction with ethylene oxide and the following:
Sorbitol – A sugar which is obtained from corn.
Oleic acid – A monounsaturated fatty acid naturally found in vegetable oils.
We all know water and oil don’t mix together. So the use of Polysorbate 80, a type of emulsifier that allows water and oils to bind together, is an important ingredient for bath bombs. This dispersion will ensure essential oils, carrier oils, colouring and melted butters are well diluted in the bath water. It will also reduce clean up time with the prevention of bath rings
Potassium bitartrate commonly known as ‘Cream of Tartar’ is a natural occurring salt which is present in many fruits, and is formed naturally during the winemaking process. We can date the creation of cream of tartar back for 7000 years, where the powder was discovered in some ancient village ruins in Iran. Around 1769, a Swedish chemist named CW Scheele, purified cream of tartar and developed the modern practice that is used to purify it to this day.
Cream of Tartar is a natural by product in wine making which helps assist the cold stabilisation process. As grapes develop on the vine, potassium from the soil moves into the ripening fruit and forms soluble Potassium bitartrate (KHT). The presence of KHT in wine, especially red grape skins can lead to its precipitation, or formation of crystalline deposits. These tartrate crystals are quite apparent at the bottom and sides of fermentation vessels which is collected and purified to produce the white, odourless, acidic powder used for many culinary and other household purposes.
Potassium bitartrate (Cream of Tartar) is an important ingredient for the construction of bath bombs.It is often used in bath bombs to help harden the base, while producing large stable bubbles that givea silky feel to the product. When used in combination with bicarbonate of soda it helps make a light,aerated product to create the right texture.
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a naturally occurring salt composed of a sodium cation and a bicarbonate anion. Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid crystalline, but often appears as a fine powder.
Sodium bicarbonate, comes from soda ash obtained from Trona and Nahcolite ore, a hard, crystalline material. Trona dates back 50 million years, when parts of Wyoming in the US, was covered by a 1,554-square-kilometer freshwater lake. The local climate ping-ponged from wet to dry and during the wet periods, mineral rich mud created by the erosion of igneous rocks was swept in the lakebed. Eventually the lake dried out to form a 200-billion-ton deposit of pure Trona between layers of sandstone and shale. This deposit is large enough to meet the entire world’s needs for soda ash and sodium bicarbonate for thousands of years.
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most important ingredients in bath bombs. When mixed with citric acid it forms a hard base which reacts vigorously when dissolved in water to produce their characteristic fizzing over a period of several minutes.
Sodium Coco Sulfate known as (SCS) is a natural, fine, white biodegradable powder which is water soluble. Sodium Coco Sulphate is a plant based surfactant derived from Coconut Oil and is 100% palm free. Sodium coco sulfate (SCS) is not the same as Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It performs as efficiently as the ubiquitous SLS, but is much milder, therefore gentler and offers high foaming leather.
Sodium Coco Sulfate is made from the extraction of natural oils and fibres of the Coconut plant. The blend of fatty acids from the coconut oil, react with sulfuric acid, then sodium carbonate, to create Sodium coco sulfate.
Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS) is an important ingredient for the construction of our jelly soaps and other bath products. This foaming agent creates natural bubbles, less irritating and safer to use than other surfactants.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA) is a natural, fine, white biodegradable powder derived from coconuts. It’s mild enough for the most sensitive and dry skin types. Many people assume SLSA is a sulphate because of its name (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate), however this is not the case. SLSA does not contain any sulphates, parabens, sodium chloride, gluten or drying alcohols.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is made from the extraction of natural oils and fibres of the Coconut plant. Coconut oil is used similarly in our soap products, to give fluffy, long lasting and consistent bubbles naturally.
Don’t mistake SLSA with SLS
SLSA and SLS look and sound like similar ingredients however they are VERY different. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate known as SLS, is a harsh chemical that can damage hair as well as penetrate follicle and pore openings causing skin irritation and other health issues. SLSA powder is a much safer alternative for most skin types including sensitive skin. It removes oil and bacteria without irritating the skin too much. It is a much milder cleanser that dissolves much quicker with water and rinses off much faster.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA) is an important ingredient for the construction of bath bombs. Its characteristics produces high volume, long lasting foam which is very mild and non-drying to the skin. Its use is for bubbles and makes wonderful solid bubble bath formulations. SLSA can remove dirt, oil, product build up and bacteria without causing skin irritation as it is a water loving and mild natural cleanser.
Sweet Almond Oil originates from the Almond tree ‘Prunus Amygdalus dulcis’ native to the Middle East. Almonds were one of the earliest domesticated fruit trees which appear to have been cultivated as early as the Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BC). An archaeological example of almond consumption is the fruit found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt. Ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic practices have also used almond oil for centuries to help treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. The Almond fruit is known as a drupe, similar to that of a peach or plum. The drupe has a leathery hull that surrounds it, giving it the look of a green peach.
United States is the largest sweet almond oil producer in the world. The production of sweet almond oil begins when the fruit is harvested from the tree once ripe. It is allowed to be dried before they are cleaned of impurities and loosed from their shells. The pre-cleaned seed are then gently warmed to the press temperature and then fed into a screw press. The sweet almond oil then undergo immediate further processing. The oil is generally turned into pure oil, after undergoing several stages of purification.
Almonds are naturally rich in vitamin E a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant both within your body and on your skin. It’s highly emollient, which means it helps to balance the absorption of moisture and water loss.
Shea Butter originates from the Shea Tree ‘Vitellaria Paradoxa’ native to central Africa. The tree produces fruit which resemble plums that has a smooth green texture. Beneath the skin is a thin layer of yellowish-green pulp that softens as the fruit ripens. In the centre is a large, smooth brown nut. It takes around 3kg of Shea nuts to produce 1kg of oil.
Once the fruit has ripened, it is collected and placed to dry. The nuts are then de-husked and grounded down into a smooth powder which is mixed with boiling water and kneaded by hand to form an emulsion. This continuous method results in the separation of the plant based fats rising to the surface of the water. This liquid Shea Butter is skimmed from the top and placed separately to solidify.
Shea butter is incredibly rich in vitamins A, E, F and D unsaturated fats, fatty acids and antioxidants that help keeping the skin supple and healthy. Vitamin F works as a rejuvenator which smooths rough chapped skin. It also strengthens skin by stimulating the production of collagen, leaving it more nourished and radiant. Cinnamic acid provides UV protection and has demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In Africa, Shea butter is considered sacred because of its power to heal, renew and protect both the skin and hair against harsh climates.
