Every person's sense of smell is different. Not only do we perceive scents and aromas differently, but we also prefer different levels of fragrance, especially in products we use frequently. Your desired fragrance level may be purely personal preference, or it may be due to sensitivities, allergies, asthma, or other condition.
Because we know that we're all different when it comes to sense of smell, we have decided to add a new Fragrance Level option to all products where customers choose their fragrance. You can choose Light or Normal fragrancing for any product where this option appears.
While we never over-scent any product, we do realize that even our low fragrance usage might be too much for some people. Our Normal level of fragrancing in personal care products is about 1% maximum, although it does ultimately depend on the strength of the fragrance, and whether or not we are using essential oil. Our Light fragrance level will be no more than half of our Normal level.
Starting in 2009, we will also be offering a line of lightly fragranced soaps. As with personal care products, the fragrance level will be approximately half of what we typically use.
I personally know the problems that can be caused by sensitivities to fragrances and fragrance levels. I have customers with allergies and asthma. I want our customers to be able to enjoy our fragranced products without problems, and it is our hope that the new Fragrance Level option helps accomplish this.
Shop at DP Naturals
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Coconut Madness
I have gone from not being able to stand coconut in any way, shape or form (other than using the oil in soap), to really liking it. I discovered just how much I like the taste of coconut milk in food dishes (see today's post in my food blog). And the aroma of fresh coconut is simply amazing.
Coconut Oil is one of the standard oils I use in almost all of my soaps. Its fatty acid composition brings both hardness and big, fluffy bubbles to soap. I’ve made soaps without any coconut oil at all, and I didn’t like them as much.
I have a batch of All Natural Coconut Milk Soap made only with coconut oil available. It has a beautiful white color, and fluffy lather that is both creamy and silky in feel. My Spa Salt Bar is primarily coconut oil with a small amount of castor for extra conditioning.
I’m also a big fan of Fractionated Coconut Oil. This light-weight, medium chain fatty acid fraction of coconut oil is wonderful in many products, giving emolliency without being greasy. It also has an extremely long shelf life, making it useful in many applications. I use this wonderful oil in our regular Hand & Body Lotion, as well as our Silken Perfume Oil.
Using more coconut also includes using more of the milk. In addition to my current Coconut Milk Soap, I plan on using the milk in more soaps. I just love milk (any type!) in soap. I think it improves the feel of the lather, as well as providing extra conditioning and moisturizing to the skin. Milk is also wonderful in bath products. Check out the Coconut Milk version of my Foaming Milk Bath.
I’m currently testing bath & body formulations using coconut milk, including a new hand & body lotion. So far I really like this lotion. My skin had dried out quite badly while I was sick recently, and just a few applications of this lotion took care of it completely. Other products in the formulating and testing phase include shampoo and conditioner.
Still on my "To Do" list is to find the perfect coconut fragrance to use in these products. To that end, I invite you to vote in my poll in the sidebar. Also feel free to leave a comment to make a suggestion. The poll will be open until 7am CST on November 1st.
Coconut Milk Hand & Body Lotion, as well as other coconut-based products, should be available early next year. Subscribe to our blog to keep up-to-date on our Coconut Madness line.
See the companion post at our DPN Food blog
Coconut Oil is one of the standard oils I use in almost all of my soaps. Its fatty acid composition brings both hardness and big, fluffy bubbles to soap. I’ve made soaps without any coconut oil at all, and I didn’t like them as much.
I have a batch of All Natural Coconut Milk Soap made only with coconut oil available. It has a beautiful white color, and fluffy lather that is both creamy and silky in feel. My Spa Salt Bar is primarily coconut oil with a small amount of castor for extra conditioning.
I’m also a big fan of Fractionated Coconut Oil. This light-weight, medium chain fatty acid fraction of coconut oil is wonderful in many products, giving emolliency without being greasy. It also has an extremely long shelf life, making it useful in many applications. I use this wonderful oil in our regular Hand & Body Lotion, as well as our Silken Perfume Oil.
Using more coconut also includes using more of the milk. In addition to my current Coconut Milk Soap, I plan on using the milk in more soaps. I just love milk (any type!) in soap. I think it improves the feel of the lather, as well as providing extra conditioning and moisturizing to the skin. Milk is also wonderful in bath products. Check out the Coconut Milk version of my Foaming Milk Bath.
I’m currently testing bath & body formulations using coconut milk, including a new hand & body lotion. So far I really like this lotion. My skin had dried out quite badly while I was sick recently, and just a few applications of this lotion took care of it completely. Other products in the formulating and testing phase include shampoo and conditioner.
Still on my "To Do" list is to find the perfect coconut fragrance to use in these products. To that end, I invite you to vote in my poll in the sidebar. Also feel free to leave a comment to make a suggestion. The poll will be open until 7am CST on November 1st.
Coconut Milk Hand & Body Lotion, as well as other coconut-based products, should be available early next year. Subscribe to our blog to keep up-to-date on our Coconut Madness line.
See the companion post at our DPN Food blog
Sunday, October 19, 2008
New DPN Food Blog
Why a food related blog when I make handcrafted soap and skin care products? Why not? I enjoy food (sometimes a little too much!) and cooking (for the most part; there are those times when [insert reason here] ). I also enjoy sharing recipes and experiences.
And so I've decided to start this blog as a creative outlet for my culinary experiences and ramblings, as well as sharing recipes and items of interest that I come across during my Internet surfing.
You can find my new blog at DPN Food
Bon Appétit!
And so I've decided to start this blog as a creative outlet for my culinary experiences and ramblings, as well as sharing recipes and items of interest that I come across during my Internet surfing.
You can find my new blog at DPN Food
Bon Appétit!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Jennifer Fuller for U.S. Senator in Alabama
Tuesday, November 4th, is Election Day. We will be electing a new President and Vice President for our country. As you may or may not know, Alabama’s U.S. Senator for District 6, Spencer Bachus, is also up for re-election.
Up until about a week or so ago, Senator Bachus was unopposed in the race. Not any more. Alabaster resident (and personal friend) Jennifer Fuller has thrown her hat into the ring as a write-in candidate.
While I don’t agree with all of Jennifer’s positions (I have yet to meet anyone that I agree with completely), I support her campaign efforts. One of the reasons I support Jennifer is because she opposes the proposed FDA Globalization Act of 2008.
Jennifer enjoys using natural products, especially handcrafted ones. She also supports the efforts of small businesses, especially local cottage industries such as ours. It didn’t take her long to decide which side she supported as she read about the Act.
I encourage every crafter who makes soap and/or other bath & body products, and who lives in Alabama’s 6th U.S. Congressional District, to support Jennifer’s campaign effort. Spread the word to family, friends, and customers. Remember, if the FDA Globalization Act passes, chances are you will be out of business very quickly, and your customers will be forced to buy mass manufactured products. Electing Jennifer means we will have a friend and supporter in Congress, which is never a bad thing.
You should support Jennifer if:
* You make soap and/or cosmetic products
* You buy handcrafted soap and cosmetic products
* You buy natural (handcrafted or not) personal and skin care products
* You work in a business/industry that falls under FDA regulation/oversight
* You support local artisans and small/cottage businesses
* You’re ready for a change in our federal government
Visit Jennifer’s campaign website by clicking here
Up until about a week or so ago, Senator Bachus was unopposed in the race. Not any more. Alabaster resident (and personal friend) Jennifer Fuller has thrown her hat into the ring as a write-in candidate.
While I don’t agree with all of Jennifer’s positions (I have yet to meet anyone that I agree with completely), I support her campaign efforts. One of the reasons I support Jennifer is because she opposes the proposed FDA Globalization Act of 2008.
Jennifer enjoys using natural products, especially handcrafted ones. She also supports the efforts of small businesses, especially local cottage industries such as ours. It didn’t take her long to decide which side she supported as she read about the Act.
I encourage every crafter who makes soap and/or other bath & body products, and who lives in Alabama’s 6th U.S. Congressional District, to support Jennifer’s campaign effort. Spread the word to family, friends, and customers. Remember, if the FDA Globalization Act passes, chances are you will be out of business very quickly, and your customers will be forced to buy mass manufactured products. Electing Jennifer means we will have a friend and supporter in Congress, which is never a bad thing.
You should support Jennifer if:
* You make soap and/or cosmetic products
* You buy handcrafted soap and cosmetic products
* You buy natural (handcrafted or not) personal and skin care products
* You work in a business/industry that falls under FDA regulation/oversight
* You support local artisans and small/cottage businesses
* You’re ready for a change in our federal government
Visit Jennifer’s campaign website by clicking here
Friday, October 17, 2008
Stop the FDA Globalization Act of 2008
An Open Letter to Our Elected Officials at the Federal, State and Local Levels:
I own a small cosmetics business in Alabama, and I am writing because I am familiar with your commitment to small businesses in our country. The draft discussion of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is now being marked up in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and I am strongly opposed to it.
The stated purposes of the draft law are to provide FDA with funding and to protect consumers. But cosmetics have a stellar safety record and there is no need to pass laws that would hurt small businesses while offering no safety benefits consumers.
If passed, the new law would impose fees on my business of anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000 per year, and require me to comply with burdensome paperwork and manufacturing requirements that no small business can afford.
I write to ask you to vote against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 when the time comes. At a time when small and family businesses like mine are dealing with increased shipping and materials costs, as well as increases in consumer prices, it is unfair and unnecessary to enact new laws that would put small businesses out of business. If the FDA Globalization Act passes, I will be out of business the very same day. I cannot afford the fees, employees, or the time required to fulfill the Act’s provisions.
Please refer to a petition that a trade group I am familiar with has prepared to help spread the word. At the link, you can watch a short video, read the petition and then read the comments of literally thousands of people across the nation who oppose this new law.
Click here to watch the video, read the petition and comments, and to sign the petition.
Links for Additional Information:
Essential Wholesale Blog *
Wholesale Supplies Plus Blog *
The Organic Beauty Expert Blog - The FDA Globalization Act and why the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is full of hooey
Soap Queen (Bramble Berry) Blog *
* Indicates Multiple Articles on the Topic
I own a small cosmetics business in Alabama, and I am writing because I am familiar with your commitment to small businesses in our country. The draft discussion of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 is now being marked up in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and I am strongly opposed to it.
The stated purposes of the draft law are to provide FDA with funding and to protect consumers. But cosmetics have a stellar safety record and there is no need to pass laws that would hurt small businesses while offering no safety benefits consumers.
If passed, the new law would impose fees on my business of anywhere from $2,000 to $12,000 per year, and require me to comply with burdensome paperwork and manufacturing requirements that no small business can afford.
I write to ask you to vote against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 when the time comes. At a time when small and family businesses like mine are dealing with increased shipping and materials costs, as well as increases in consumer prices, it is unfair and unnecessary to enact new laws that would put small businesses out of business. If the FDA Globalization Act passes, I will be out of business the very same day. I cannot afford the fees, employees, or the time required to fulfill the Act’s provisions.
Please refer to a petition that a trade group I am familiar with has prepared to help spread the word. At the link, you can watch a short video, read the petition and then read the comments of literally thousands of people across the nation who oppose this new law.
Click here to watch the video, read the petition and comments, and to sign the petition.
Links for Additional Information:
Essential Wholesale Blog *
Wholesale Supplies Plus Blog *
The Organic Beauty Expert Blog - The FDA Globalization Act and why the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is full of hooey
Soap Queen (Bramble Berry) Blog *
* Indicates Multiple Articles on the Topic
About Us
We are a small, home-based creator of artisan soap, and personal and skin care products. Our mission is to bring nature and science together to offer the best in innovative, natural source products.
Dragon's Pearls Naturals is built around our commitment to quality and ethics, and the best in customer service. We are passionate about what we do, and strive to share this passion with our customers.
Dragon's Pearls Naturals offers a selection of products for personal and skin care needs, from basic cleansing to specialty skin care. Most of our products are based on natural ingredients, such as shea butter, sunflower seed oil, aloe vera, herbs, and other botanicals.
We offer Custom Formulation for those with specific needs. If you have allergies to specific ingredients, asthma, or other special needs, we will be happy to work with you to create products you can use and enjoy.
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