Handmade Cold Processed Soaps
- Our handmade cold processed soaps are left to naturally cure for weeks so that moisture will evaporate out and the soap will become harder, longer lasting, and milder. This resting process assures the fine quality of a cold processed soap. We do not use synthetic stabilizers or preservatives like BHT or Trisodium EDTA to prolong shelf life. These materials can be skin irritants and are usually found in commercial soaps to extend their shelf life for years.
- Store your natural handmade soaps in a dry, cool place away from excessive heat and humidity. If kept in proper storage conditions, they remain good up to 24 months from the month of making.
- We use lots of extra moisturizing and conditioning oils, butters in our soaps, hence they tend to be softer. Some extra oils and their goodness remains in the final soap bar to nourish your skin. They add beneficial properties to the soap, but they can spoil over long periods of time.
- Natural soaps are normally softer than commercial soaps because they retain their natural glycerin and contain no hardening chemicals or synthetic waxes. For a long-lasting bar, keep it on a well-drained soap dish or shelf so that it can dry well.
- As all-natural soaps age, some of the natural essential oil scents may be lost over time, especially from the surface. But it will be there when you foam them up at bath time. Over time, natural color may also fade.
Balms & Salves
- Temperature changes can affect the consistency, effectiveness, and life of the product. Many commercial products contain phthalates, MEA, and petroleum oils to stabilize, emulsify and maintain thickness and same consistency through all temperature variations. Our natural organic products do not contain these or any other synthetic additives. During very warm weather, products especially balms may soften or even melt in transit as they sit in warm trucks or warm bags of delivery boys. Store them always in a cool place away from direct sunlight or heat. If this happens keep it back in a cool place to regain consistency.
- At La Flora Organics we take special care to pack and ship all balms and salves with outer insulation like thermocol so that they reach you safely, without melting and spilling.
- Once opened, close the lid tightly after each use to keep the aroma of natural oils locked. Avoid dipping contaminated or wet fingers into the balm jar. Once opened use within 4-5 months to ensure effectiveness.
Carrier Oil & Bath & Body Natural Oils
- Our Pure, natural, and organic Oils are undiluted, unrefined, and cold-pressed. They strictly do not contain any mineral oil or petroleum derivatives to improve shelf life. Most Veg oils oxidize over time and eventually become rancid. Keep them away from moisture or any kind of water contamination.
- When you pour the oil into your palm each time, make sure that your palms are dry, so as to not let any kind of water to come in contact with the oil. For example, Pure, unrefined Coconut Oil can get easily rancid with the slightest of water or moisture contamination. Need to make sure that the cap is closed tightly after each use.
- Initially, we used to have flip-open caps for all our oil bottles. But they used to cause leakage and spills in courier transits as with any physical pressure on the bottle, the flip cap tends to open causing oil to slightly leak. Hence we have now replaced them with a screw-type cap with an additional inner to ensure leakproof shipping. If you need to use only a little or a few drops of oil at a time, then you may use a sterile needle or pin to put a hole in the inner. If you need to pour a larger quantity of oil into your palms each time you can even remove the inner for easy usage.
- They are all-natural and preservative-free. To achieve the best potency please use our oils 4 – 5 months after opening. You may refrigerate them to extend the shelf life after opening. Place the bottle towards the back of the refrigerator, away from the door to avoid outside temp changes affecting it. Oils might turn cloudy due to refrigeration, but not to worry their quality will remain unaffected. Just place the bottle in a bowl of warm water to regain consistency. DO NOT PUT OIL IN FREEZER!!!
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We do have concerns about using plastic bottles and were wondering if we can replace them with glass jars or bottles the old way. The challenge is logistics and transportation with glass bottles and containers. Courier companies are not willing to accept glass bottles or breakables esp with liquids in them as it causes leakage at times damaging other consignments too. Most bottles you see with other brands selling liquids are mostly pet plastic bottles. Other than that, being transparent(which may lead to pure oils turning rancid soon by sunlight) they are not any better. We are constantly exploring various options for better sustainable packaging but solutions are not easy, especially with Oils. Hopefully, we can find more viable options soon…
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We request you reuse the bottles as much as possible. A few good washes with soap and warm water will take the greasiness of the oil normally away. Dry them well and the bottles would be ready for the next use.
Sugar Body scrubs and Natural Body scrubs
- La Flora Organics Sugar Body scrubs and all-natural body scrubs do have a shelf life of up to 18 months when stored under proper conditions. But once opened, we recommend you to use it within 3-4 months as they do not contain any strong, harsh preservatives.
For a long-lasting product, you may consider the following:
- Keep the jar lid tightly closed after each use.
- Use the eco-spoon or any dry spoon (if you lose it) when scooping scrub from the jar. Eco spoon can be washed and cleaned and stored for next time use.
- Scoop only what you need.
- For dry Body scrub powders like charcoal powder scrubs, scoop out a few spoons to a bowl, and mix with water or Pure Carrier Oil to make a smooth paste of desired consistency for body application. Make sure you close the jar lid immediately to avoid air contamination.
- For all scrubs, make sure that water does not get inside your jar and scrub! REMEMBER – bacteria love water!
- Keep in a COOL, DRY PLACE. Don’t expose it to direct heat or sun!