Teach Soap

I would also make sure that you don't put the word "healing" anywhere on your soap packaging. As soon as you do, it becomes a cosmetic or an OTC (over the counter) drug. http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/guidanceco ... 074201.htm

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Does it smell different when mixed in the other oils? I have a bottle of it here, and it just smells nutty to me?

Neem seed oil has a very distinctive smell. It's scent will be predominent in soap. Having said that, the smell of Neem does not bother me. I use it in a dog shampoo bar and in ointments. The shampoo bar is for my Great Pyr and it has never had any ill effects on her. On the contrary, the neem oil in the soap has helped clear up hot spots and repel fleas.

Here is a link concerning the use of neem seed oil on dogs. It has a lot of good info.

http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil-for-dogs.html

TY lsg! I appreciate the link!

If the neem is too offensive to your olfactory senses you could try Karanja Oil. It is a cousin to neem and has virtually the same properties, yet the scent is much milder, and more nutty.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

The one and only time I had a batch of soap "volcano" on me was a neem soap. My own fault--I accidentally left the burner on under my oils after they had melted down, so when I put in the lye, it spewed out all over creation! What a toxic mess to clean up! And yes, it reeks like nothing else! I've heard it described as "rotting garlic", which is pretty accurate.

I would like to say that the smell goes away after saponification, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My only solution was to fragrance it with some more "earthy" fragrances, like sage or rosemary, and tell people that it has a strong "herbal" scent.

I was thinking of making a soap with 25% neem oil for an Army friend to take to Iraq, as I have read it will repel sandflies and other pests. I suppose the nasty smell is livable when insects stay away from you. Or not.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Of course, if his bunk mates can't stand the smell, he may be sleeping outside and need the bug repellent properties!

Seriously though, if you don't have the neem already, you could use Karanja oil and get the same properties without such a strong odor.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Lol soapbuddy! I'm gonna have to agree! Lol