Comments on: Botanie organic soap recommended for canaries

By: CatherineWO

CatherineWO — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:10:10 +0000

Susie asked me to chime in here. I have used the unscented Botanie soap for a couple of years now, and it works for me. I really understand that what works for one sensitive person won’t work for another. I can’t tolerate vinegar at all, so I don’t have it in my house, but I do tolerate baking soda, so I use that for much of my cleaning.
Leslie,
I also have celiac disease and DH (the skin variation of celiac) so everything I use has to be gluten free also. The Botanie unscented soap is gf.
I understand the potenetial problem with cross contamination. I haven’t had any problem with this soap, but others might. I do know that the last time I ordered it, they sent me a brand new batch and packaged it specifically for me as soon as it was made, and then shipped it off to me, so it didn’t have a chance to sit with other soaps.
This company is very customer-friendly. If you have any questions, just call them. They are small enough that anyone who answers the phone should be able to give you information. If you’re concerned, you should have them send you just one bar to try (or ask where you can buy it locally).
BTW, I don’t have any commercial interest in this company. I just know how frustrating it is to find soap. I spent years trying different soaps (sometimes just using none).
Happy soap hunting to all of you. And thanks for such a great site, Susie. Sorry I don’t get here more often.

By: Susie Collins

Susie Collins — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 03:12:58 +0000

Linda, what kind of soap have you been using?

Who else has ideas about soap?

By: linda

linda — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:48:53 +0000

I might be trying to mix up a bit of baking soda and water before showering, to use as soap and shampoo. It doesn’t look as if I’ll be finding anything else I can use. My only safe soap changed the formula recently, and I’m almost out.
I’m hoping that extra spoonfuls of olive and flax oil internally will help keep me balanced somehow.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:44:51 +0000

I have never found a soap i could use, because not only did it have to be scent free, toxin free but then also 100% gluten free – with non of those bad things cross contaminating into it ! UHG!
That is just too crazy to bother with – so i use a dry brush and a hemp knotted rope scrubber for my skin. Luckily my armpitts only smell like once or twice a month

By: linda

linda — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:16:44 +0000

I so wish I could eat coconut, and use coconut milk, coconut oil, coconut based soap (I think all of the laundry products are coconut based) …

I ate too many non-organic chocolate drizzled macaroons one week a few years ago, and since then, my body rejects all things coconut based
: (

By: Susie Collins

Susie Collins — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:38:19 +0000

Mokihana, I still have some Bronners on the shelf, not time to restock yet. But Catherine over at Breathez could probably tell you more about Botanie. I think she may be even more sensitive to soaps than I am. Your Tropical Traditions soap sounds very interesting, versatile. I read in one of your posts that you put coconut milk in your tea! You can take the girl out of the islands, but not the islands out of the girl, yeah?

By: mokihana

mokihana — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:07:03 +0000

Susie, just wondering whether you ordered the unscented Botanie, and how it is for you? At this point I only used Tropical Traditions unscented virgin coconut oil soap … I use it on my hair, skin and use it to brush my teeth.

By: Susie Collins

Susie Collins — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:36:28 +0000

Thanks for the tip, Linda. Like peanuts in food manufacturing, but worse b/c I can see how even stacking the bars or boxes of the bars in close proximity with other scented bars could potentially cross contaminate.

I’d like to give this Botanie soap a try. I don’t have super sensitivity, I can use Bronners lavender bar or liquid (but not any of the mints). My biggest concern with soap after the fragrance issue is how well it rinses off. I can’t tolerate any soap that does not fully rinse off, even natural, nontoxic soap.

By: linda

linda — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:21:08 +0000

Note of caution to people sensitized to patchouli and other EO’s, (even organic) -many soapmakers and vendors do not protect their unscented versions from contact with the scented versions, so they may become contaminated.
I’ve yet to find a company that has prevented such cross-contamination. I’d love to know how these guys do, because using organic base oils is great!