Pacific Rain Soap

Glossary of Terms
Definitions of terms in this glossary are limited to their application in soapmaking.

Alkali Any base or hydroxide soluble in water and able to neutralize acids. Pacific Rain Soaps are made using sodium hydroxide for the alkali.

Antibacterial A substance that creates an environment hostile to bacteria. All Pacific Rain soaps have this quality without being too powerful. The object is to live in balance with bacteria not to eliminate it.

Anti-fungal A substance that checks the growth of spores, molds or fungi.

Anti-microbial A substance that kills disease causing micro-organisms

Anti-oxidant A substance that inhibits oxygen from reacting with other molecules to form unstable compounds.

Antiseptic A substance that destroys or inhibits the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms on living tissue.

Aphrodisiac A substance that arouses sexual desire.

Aromatherapy The practice of using essential oils of plants for physical and emotional therapeutic effects. It is believed that Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist, coined the term in 1928 but its practice is recorded as early as 1425 BC in Egyptian papyri records.

Aromatic Having a noticeable smell

Astringent A substance that causes tissues to contract. In other words, it tightens your pores. Used to clean the skin of oils & cellular debris. The herbal astringents used in Pacific Rain Soaps are soothing, not painful, and can be used by everyone.

Biodegradable A substance that can be broken down by natural processes into chemical components that can reenter the natural world without changing it.

Botanical Obtained from plants.

Carcinogenic A substance that causes cancer

Caustic soda See "sodium hydroxide"

Cell regenerative A substance that encourages the production of new skin cells. The term for plants with this quality is "cytophylactic."

Cold-pressed A process for obtaining the oil of a plant by crushing it and then filtering it. Citrus essential oils and vegetable oils are obtained this way.

Cold-process A soapmaking method that does not use an external source of heat once the ingredients have been blended.

Cure The process that soap bars experience over 4-8 weeks where the soapmaking reaction continues until the final bars are hard and mild.

Cytophylactic See "cell regenerative"

Deodorant A substance that reduces perspiration odor.

Emollient A substance that soothes inflamed skin.

Essential oil A highly concentrated, aromatic, usually liquid, volatile oil extracted from plants. Pacific Rain only uses essential oils obtained by steam distillation or expression.

Exfoliant A substance with irregular texture used to remove dirt & dead skin cells on the skin's surface. The plant exfoliants used in Pacific Rain Soaps do their job gently and never require a heavy hand.

Expeller pressed A process for obtaining the oil of a plant by machine pressing, normally around 140 to 210 degrees Farenheit. Rose Hips Seed Oil is obtained this way.

Expressed A process for obtaining the oil of plant by squeezing or pressing it, without heat.

FCC Food Chemicals Codex, the industry-standard listing of food-grade ingredients - indicates that the substance is safe for use in food.

FDA Food and Drug Administration of the United States.

Food-grade Substance is safe for use in food.

Fragrance Term used to describe the chemical formulation added to a product to give it an aroma. The word "Fragrance" on a cosmetic (soap) label can indicate the presence of any of 4000 separate ingredients - as many as 600 different chemicals can be used in a single formulation. In a 1991 joint study by the U.S. House subcommittee for Business Opportunities and The National Institute of Occupational Health it was found that 314 fragrance chemicals are known to cause biological mutation, 218 caused reproduction problems, and 778 caused skin & eye irritations. Pacific Rain will never use fragrance in any of its products..

Fragrance oil A synthetic imitation of an essential oil. Fragrance oils do not have the botanical properties found within essential oils. Pacific Rain will never use fragrance oils.

Glycerin A thick, sweet-tasting clear fluid. It is derived from vegetable oils and naturally occurs in the process of making soap. Pacific Rain Soaps retain their moisturizing glycerin. The manufacturers of commercial soaps remove the glycerin for profits in other markets.

Humectant A substance that preserves the moisture of the skin by attracting & holding water to the skin. Most dry skin is lacking in moisture rather than oil. The natural glycerin found in all Pacific Rain Soaps is one of the most effective humectants.

Infused Plant material has soaked in oil or water imparting its essential oil. At Pacific Rain, depending on the botanical, infusing times range from 2 weeks to 2 months.

Lye see "Sodium hydroxide"

Moisturizer A substance that is used to add water (moisture) to the skin. All Pacific Rain soaps are moisturizing.

Organic Produced without the use of synthetic chemicals.

Perfume Aromatic fluid produced from synthetic chemicals, even the most expensive perfumes contain only as much as 20% essential oils. Pacific Rain will never use perfumes.

Preservative A substance that slows spoilage.

pH (potential hydrogen) The measure of a substance's acidity or alkalinity. The scale ranges from 0 to 14, the lower the number, the more acid, and the higher the number, the more alkaline. Neutral is 7, being neither acid nor alkaline. Skin & hair are acid. Plain water & blood are neutral. Wood ashes and most soils are alkaline. Pacific Rain soaps have a neutral pH.

Saponification The chemical reaction which converts a fatty acid (vegetable oils) and an alkali (sodium hydroxide) into soap and glycerin when you combine them in the proper ratio within a specific temperature range.

Sebum Secretion of the sebaceous glands; also known as "skin oil."

Soap A cleanser that works by making the surface of your skin wet and by holding on to dirt so that it can be rinsed away. Soap is the product of a chemical reaction, called saponification, involving fatty acids and sodium hydroxide. Soap is actually a salt.

Sodium Hydroxide A strong alkali that is also called caustic soda or lye. It is produced by the electrolysis of brine (seawater). It has a pH of around 12.

Solvent Extracted Using a solvent, like benzene or butane, to obtain the essential oil from a plant. Pacific Rain will never use solvent extracted essential oils.

donna@flatcreekfarm.com