GLOSSARY

A list of terms you’ll find throughout our website and their meanings

ANALGESIC: Acting to relieve pain.
ANTIBACTERIAL: Anything that destroys bacteria or suppresses their growth or their ability to reproduce.  NOTE: Natural antibacterials do not destroy beneficial bacteria.
ANTI-FUNGAL: Used to prevent fungal growth; active against fungi.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Anti-inflammatories reduce inflammation and swelling.
ANTIMICROBIAL: Kills or stops the growth of microorganisms.
ANTIOXIDANT: Antioxidants inhibit oxidation which may damage cells. Antioxidants slow this deterioration, helping to keep cells healthy, delay skin aging, and minimize damage from UV rays.
ANTISEPTIC: Antimicrobial substances applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction.
ANTI-SPASMATIC: Reduces muscle spasms.
ANTIVIRAL: Effective against viruses.
ANTI-WHEAL: Effective against burning or itching eminence on the skin.
ASTRINGENT: Causing the contraction of skin cells and other body tissues.
CICATRISANT: Skin-healing, wound healing or cell regenerative.
DEMULCENT: Relieving inflammation or irritation.
DEPURATIVE: Herbs that are considered to have purifying and detoxifying effects. 
EMOLLIENT: Having qualities of soothing or softening the skin.
HUMECTANT: Naturally retains and preserves moisture.
NaOH / SODIUM HYDROXIDE / LYE / CAUSTIC SODA: A return to chemistry class and the periodic table for just a moment! Na (sodium), O (oxygen), H (hydrogen). OH = hydroxide, consists of an oxygen and hydrogen atom held together by a single covalent bond. It is an important but usually minor constituent of water. NaOH = Sodium Hydroxide. A compound with a high basic pH, sodium hydroxide is made through the process of electrolysis (passing an electric current through a solution) of sodium chloride (table salt). The result is sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas. (Chlorine, another naturally occurring chemical element, and the twenty-first most abundant chemical element in Earth's crust, is collected separately for use in reagents and disinfectants among other things). Sodium hydroxide bonds to plant oils during the soap making process creating a natural chemical reaction called saponification (see definition below). Following this reaction ALL NaOH molecules have attached themselves to fat molecules. Therefore NO sodium hydroxide is ever in a finished bar of soap. BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? I compare it to eggs in a cake. It’s not advisable to eat raw eggs, but once these eggs have been added to a cake, and the cake making process is complete, the eggs are perfectly safe. Same goes for NaOH in a finished batch of soap. Especially if the soap is superfatted (see definition below).
NERVINE: Nourish and support the central nervous system. Reportedly restore balance and restfulness in the body.
OCCLUSIVE: Creates a barrier on the skin to keep moisture locked in.
RUBEFACIENT: Increases circulation.
SAPONIFICATION: The process that involves conversion of fat or oil into soap by the action of heat in the presence of NaOH.
SUPERFAT: Superfatting is the process of using less lye or more fat in the soap making process. Soap making is a scientific process which involves a few mathematical equations. Each oil has its own saponification (SAP) value. This is the amount of lye it takes to turn an amount of oil into an equal amount of soap. Using the exact amount of lye to bind to the exact amount of oils with nothing leftover is 0% superfat. To superfat a soap recipe means to add extra oil that will not have the reciprocal amount of lye to react with. We always superfat our soaps at 5%. It adds a richness without making the soap too soft. Therefore, in all of our soaps there is some leftover oil that is not bound to lye. This leaves behind more unsaponified fat, providing more moisture. Superfatted soap is less harsh and more moisturizing on the skin. Our unscented soap is extra superfatted at 8%, ensuring that it is even more gentle than our scented soaps.
STYPTIC: Capable of stopping bleeding when applied to a wound.
VULNERARY: Used in the healing of wounds.