Black Kettle Soap Company

Exfoliation...Exfoliation...Exfoliation!

2011-10-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

This is my new beauty mantra. We have the Egyptians to thank for this practice of ridding oneself of the surface layer of skin revealing a beautiful, youthful, new layer underneath.

Exfoliating with our Sugar Cubes is very invigorating. You never really know just how much dead dry skin You have until you remove it. Exfoliate when your skin is super hydrated then the dead skin is removed easily without using too much pressure, which can cause skin damage.

Sugar Cubes are a wonderful way to exfoliate naturally. They combine manual and very mild chemical exfoliation, because the sugar actually releases small amounts of glycolic acid. They are a mixture of soap and Shea butter so your skin is cleansed and simultaneously moisturized in one step. Follow up with your favorite lotion for effortless beauty.

Needed an excuse to look at Lolli's

2011-08-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

Coconut Lemongrass Lolli

Watermelon Lime Lollie

Vanilla Honey with Figs

Cherry Merlot Lolli

Matcha Green Tea Lolli with Almonds and Pear

Candy Apple Lolli

Get that bee-stung look!

2011-08-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

So, you're just not ready to spread bee-venom all over your face? If you want to get that full faced, fresh look without the toxins try our Black Coffee Soap. It's loaded with skin-plumping caffeine, not so good for the inside but, great for the outside.

Here is the low-down on caffeine. Topical caffeine is being used a means of eliminating the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and creating a rejuvenated, youthful complexion. Caffeine targets abnormal skin cells to destroy but kept the healthy, normal skin cells intact. Caffeine in skincare could possibly work against both wrinkles and sun damaged skin.

Mark's Favorite Things

2011-08-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

OK, someone got a little jealous when I posted my favorite things. Black Kettle is also for men, so here are a few of Mark's favorite things.

by Jaspen Leather Goods

Here are a few of my favorite things

2011-08-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

by Slash Knots

by Eight Seasons

by Nueva Espana

by The Tropical Garden

by Let Them Eat Pie

What's up with that?

2011-08-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

So here's the thing, as a mother of seven I often receive unsolicited clothing donations. I use what and can and find a good home for the rest. The one thing I can't stand is their strong chemical, fruity, slash flowery stench. It's just foul. Who is making this fragrance and why would I want my clothes to smell this way, and why does it have to be so strong? I often have to leave clothes outside for days before they release their malodorous funk. It's true I might be bias because I usually like my clothing unscented, but I don't think so.

I know laundry, as I do more laundry than most. And as a seasoned soap maker, I know how make soap. I have combined the two to make one outstanding laundry soap. Sometimes there is nothing more beautiful than a basket of clean laundry. After a hectic day it means that you will at least have clean sheets tonight and some clean underwear to wear tomorrow.

Unlike those other detergents, our laundry soap leaves your clothes clean, nicely scented (or not) and softer than ever, no fabric softener needed. With scents like Patchouli & Vanilla Bean, Lemon Verbena and Almond Milk & Honey, your clothes have never smelled so good. It will arrive at your home in a handmade, reusable drawstring bag (I made it myself), with a gingham fabric ribbon, scoop included ready for to clean 32-64HE loads of clothes.

Our 1 lb bag of Natural laundry soap is clean, non-toxic, efficient and earth friendly. Our special soap, made specifically for laundry, is mixed with naturally occurring minerals to provide you with fresh, clean, laundry…Naturally.

Candle Burning 101

2011-03-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

How to burn a container candle. This is a little lesson that I am calling Candle Burning 101. The most important thing to remember when burning you candles is to trim the wick. The wick needs to be less than ¼ inch long. You can purchase a special wick trimmer or just use nail clippers. In a pinch scissors will work just fine. Almost all candles will smoke if the wick is too long. Did you know that candles should be burned for no longer than 4 hours at a time? After around 4 hours you wick may need to be trimmed again. Blow out your candle, let it solidify, trim your wick and then you can relight you candle for 4 more continuous hours. Now, for cool candle terminology.

Cold throw - this is the strength of a candle’s aroma when it is unlit.
Hot throw - this is the strength of a candle’s aroma when it is burning.
Burn pool – the amount of melted wax present in a burning candle.

You ideally want a candle with both good cold and hot throw. You want an even burn pool. A quality candle should burn evenly across and not leave any waxy residue on the jar. Candles have a memory so the first time you burn you candle you need to let it burn evenly across the container before you blow it out. The next time your light you candle it will remember the way it should burn.

Cheap candles are cheap because they either have very little fragrance or poor quality fragrance. They are best used as a light source. If you’re purchasing a candle for its fragrance, you should purchase the best quality candle in your budget range.

New Product...Honey Shea Soap

2010-12-31T13:53:00.000-08:00

Looking for a new scent to love, Honey Shea is good, clean fun. You can smell the sweetness of the honey combined with the natural, clean scent of the Shea Butter. A luxurious soap made with Shea butter combined with a bottom layer of humectant, honey rich, soap.

Sugar Cubes...one lump or two?

2010-12-01T19:29:00.000-08:00

Well, baby it's cold outside. Cold air means dry flaky skin but, before you moisturize you need to exfoliate. We've created an exfoliating Shea butter sugar scrub in a convenient single-use cube. Take one or more cubes into the shower or tub with you, rub over your skin, paying special attention to any rough spots. We have scrumptious scents like classic chocolate and creamy vanilla cubes. Sweet pumpkin is sweet and little spicy. Decadent Tres Leches is milky, sweet and smooth. Cider House is a comforting apple and cinnamon blend. Figs & Brown Sugar is to die for. Salted caramel is heavely and White Cranberry is sassy, sweet and tart. All leave skin moisturized and pleasantly scented

Easy, Breezy Summer Days

2010-07-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Lavender & Oat Soap

Say goodbye to Lavender Castile. In it's place is the new improved Lavender & Oat. If you've been told to "chill out" a time or two, this might be your new best friend.

A great soap for cleaning the face and the body. With these hectic days, who can't use a little more RELAX.

New Stuff

2010-07-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

TEA TREE ESPRESSO SOAP

The antiseptic properties of Tea Tree and refreshing Peppermint combined with the gentle cleansing power of Goat milk and a jolt of caffeine.

A great soap for cleaning the face. Tea tree and peppermint essential oils aids in treating acne and oily skin. The addition of the coffee greatly improves the tea tree scent. It's also very cute and lovely shade of blue.
Net Wt. 4oz

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO...I HATE GREASY!

2010-05-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

I was watching HSN the other day and they were demonstrating an all natural body spray. The 'big deal' was it was not made with silicone. I was thinking, maybe that is something that I should try. She sprayed it on, and there it was, The Shine! They assured me that this would absorb quickly. Well it was not quick enough for me.

I HATE GREASY! I do not want to be greasy for one second. I also don't want to be shiny. I remember when my grandmother would grease me down with Vaseline. I'd be shiny and sticky and everything I touched would be greasy . It's a mess. And of course, I have brought all of this baggage with me into the present.

The past has helped me formulate great lotions and creams that are, non-greasy. I have taken the best of all worlds. You have that really cheap lotion that is watery. It's mostly water so it soaks in really quickly (I like that) but in two seconds you skin is dry and your back where you started. Then, there is the other lotion that is thick and waxy, it sits on top of the skin and you have dry creases. If you apply most lotions after a bath or shower you have to re-apply in about 5 min. The ingredients in these lotions are absolutely ridiculous.

On the opposite side there are the natural lotions. I have notice that some lotion makers have taken to adding every extract they could find and throwing it in there. The ingredient list takes up half the bottle but, the lotion still feel tacky. I have also been at shows where people are testing products and they come to me with greasy, sticky arms. They are so oiled down they can't touch anything for the next 5 minutes.

Some have forgotten the purpose of lotion. The purpose is to apply moisture to the skin, make sure it is absorbed and lock it in. A lotion must have water. Water is good for the body, period! Water absorbs into the skin quickly. Water also evaporates quickly, because of this you emulsify it with oils. The oils will trap the water in the skin and keep it from drying out. Everything else about lotion is texture.

Lotion should feel a certain way. Most people prefer a thick to thin, light and not sticky. It should go on smooth, absorb quickly (not get all over your clothes), and feel moisturizing. You should not need to reapply during the day unless it is washed off. I feel that our products meet all these requirements. Moisturized , silky skin with a satin finish, great ingredients, paraben free. Now that's BK.

A Little Soap History

2010-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Customers often tell tales of the 'good ole' soapmaking days. This is one of my favorite stories. If you're a pig farmer you must boil the pigs to remove the hair. This is done over a wood fire in a large iron kettle. The hot water causes the fat in the pigs skin to melt. At the end of the day they are left with water and pigs fat. Ashes are thrown into the water and stirred over the fire to make soap. This soap is the family's soap for the entire year. Very resourceful!

Saving Money...Saving Time

2010-02-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

Live green, reduce the landfills, say goodbye to dryer sheets forever. 100% Wool. Soft and static free clothing , naturally. Wool dryer balls will help you to save energy by cutting drying time. Toss in 2 to 6 balls per load of laundry.

More balls = less time and less time = lower utilities bills.

Air dry them after each use. Over time they may begin to fuzz, shave them as you would any wool sweater.

I have to add my own testimony. I have 5 dryer balls in my dryer. For the first time ever, the clothers were dry before the washing machine was finished. I guess I can finally give up my fantasy of having two dryers. Now one is sufficient.

3 East Steps to a Healthier Life

2009-03-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Step 1 Reduce your intake of partially hydrogenated fats.

I grew up eating margarine. It's healthier than butter, right?
As a child I don't remember ever having any butter in the house. Now, my life is the exact opposite. No margarine allowed!! Butter is a fat but it is all natural and can be burned off as fuel. Of course, everything in moderation. We are not sitting around eating butter from a teaspoon, spreading slice of bread with dollops of butter, or stewing meat in it. We simply use it as a flavor enhancer, a sauce thickener, and a preferred source of fat for certain baked good. I know that butter comes from milk, which comes from cows. Where does margarine come from? Why are the French women skinny? Well, could it be that we eat margarine and they eat butter.

Please, step away from the Crisco. Partially hydrogenated fats alter the fatty acid chains, producing trans fats. They have no nutritional value and cannot be used by the body so they sit, and sit, and sit. The food industry is very tricky. When reading food labels; in addition to partially hydrogenated oils; also look for mono-diglycerides.

Fats are essential to our diets. While, not eating fats may make you skinny, it will also make you stupid. Your brain works on fat power. Choose products with low levels of saturated fats and high levels of mono and polyunsaturated fats. Also, look for omega fatty acids in foods. Also don't forget to include fat soluble vitamins like A, D & E.

Don't you feel healthier and smarter already?

Tomorrow, Step 2 Reduce your intake of high fructose corn syrup and chemical sweeteners.

Organic Canola Oil
An everyday cooking oil, made from certified organic, non-GEO (no genetically engineered organism) canola seed, with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and a high smoke point that makes it ideal for high heat cooking. Low in saturated fat and rich in monounsaturated fats, considered the healthiest fat for people to consume.

Black Kettle Farm's organic canola oil has a light, golden color and very clean taste. It's great in salad dressing and vinaigrette, and for all cooking and baking needs. Its very high smoke point makes it ideal for deep frying, stir-fry and sautéing.

34oz bottle swing top glass bottle with pour spout $ 18.95ea

What's New!

2009-03-02T12:33:00.000-08:00

We are please to present the first oil in our new line of Organic oils.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
A flavorful oil, made from certified organic, first press olives. Low in saturated fat and rich in monounsaturated fats, considered the healthiest fat for people to consume. Rich in omega-nine oleic acid which can lower total cholesterol levels and raise levels of HDL while lowering LDL levels. Oleic acid promotes the body's production of antioxidants.

Black Kettle Farm's organic extra virgin olive oil has a mild, fruity flavor profile. It's great in salad dressing, vinaigrette, or on raw salads. It is delicate and suitable for cooking vegetables, poultry, meat and fish.

12oz bottle $ 10.25ea / 32oz refill $ 21.95ea
Chrome pour spout $ 3.25ea.
12oz bottle in handmade satin wine tote with spout $ 17.25ea, makes a lovely housewarming gift.

Naturally Nourishing