Wow! My post on going palm oil free seemed quite controversial and even received a lot of negative comments, negative emails, FB messages and unsubscribes from my blog. I was actually quite shocked. I also did receive many well wishes and messages of support. Any comments with curse words or name calling were deleted and will be deleted from this post as well. I am open to views with differing opinions…just leave out the name calling and swearing. 🙂
It is such a personal decision; one I compare to deciding not to use animal products or deciding to only use essential oils versus fragrance oils. I do also realize that consuming anything…whether palm oil, shea butter, a pencil, toilet paper…really anything…is going to have consequences. But I simply can’t use that as an excuse to ignore the destruction that the palm industry is doing to rainforests, peat lands and to the wildlife in the areas including orangutans, elephants, tigers and so many other creatures. Not to mention the human inhabitants of these areas that are displaced, run off and generally mis-treated.
I don’t know. Maybe I really like oxygen and want to protect the rain forest. Maybe I have a thing for orangutans. This issue personally means something to me and I want to do something. Its my choice. I’ve educated myself for about two years now on the issue and I’ve made the decision to go palm free.
There were some good comments and discussions about using sustainable palm oil and making a demand for sustainable palm oil a priority in the industry.
I personally feel like the better solution is to cut down on the demand for palm oil but using sustainable palm oil is definitely the best alternative if you aren’t willing to cut out using it completely. People are going to keep using it. And again…it is a personal choice. It is your choice. Let’s all do our research and make the decision for ourselves.
The RSPO is the organization certifying palm oil as sustainable based on meeting specific requirements. (Unfortunately there is plenty of controversy with their certification processes, procedures and enforcement of their certifications. It has been shown time and time again that certified companies continue to destroy rainforests, displace animals and natives and not follow the guidelines of the RSPO. This is one of the main reasons that I am going palm free and simply not using sustainable palm oil. I have no guarantee or trust that the sustainable palm oil that I would use would actually be sustainable. I just don’t believe it. But maybe if we continue to demand sustainable and ask questions of our suppliers…they will ask questions of their producers and sustainable will one day actually mean something.)
Getting off track…back to sustainable palm oil.
I have reached out to two major soapmaking suppliers and asked if their palm oil was certified sustainable by the RSPO. I have been told by both that they purchase from producers that are members of the RSPO. I was actually quite surprised with this response from both of them and hope to continue in dialog with both of these companies to let them know that we as soapmakers demand (nicely demand!) certified sustainable palm oil.
And I ask that each of you that uses palm do the same. Question your suppliers. If you are going to choose to use sustainable palm oil…make sure that the supplier you are using is actually selling RSPO certified sustainable palm oil. Buying palm oil from a member of the RSPO is simply not enough at this time. That member might “be on the track to certification”. Unfortunately many palm oil producers are taking advantage of the fact that you can easily be a member of the RSPO (by paying a fee) and not actually be certified. They make promises to get on the right path to sustainability and give dates that are in 2015 or 2018 or 2022. This isn’t good enough. Too much damage will occur in that time.
-Amanda
P.D. One thing i didn’t mention: i am still figuring out what kind of organic essential oils i can use without contributing to massive land conversion. I recently researched into the production of essential oils and was amazed by the massive amounts of plant material required to produce different kinds of EOs. Unfortunately i still have not found a provider who offers fair trade organic EOs and thus i decided to limit my use of EOs to those that are produced here and use them for special soaps including those for special skin conditions. Unfortunately many people are used to strong scented soaps and i am still having headaches about this topic. I would appreciate to learn about effective soap scenting ( methods that allow to cut down amounts of EOs) and fair trade providers! Just a new challenge i guess and learning how to get the most out of those EOs that can be produced in a sustainable way…in the end rather than an obstacle i see these problems as an opportunity to boost creativity and to learn more. If there is any source of information on this topic you would recommend i would highly appreciate your advice! Thanks. Greetings and happy soapmaking!
Hi amanda!! Greetings from spain! This commentary comes very late, but i came to your site when i was researching about sustainable soapmaking..feeling left alone in the soapmaking world! I personally only use organic oils that are produced in my mediteranean island and in the spanish mainland..and i complement my recipes with small amounts ofthose oils i can purchase via certified organic fair trade, directly or from providers i know very well. Yes, if you would put my soap recipes into a soap calculator, you would say that they do not work out since the iodine value is often between 70 and 80 or even higher (and when i started soapmaking i was told it has to be between 60 and 70!)but they work great and do not go rancid even after more than one and a half year. I mainly work with olive , almond, winegrape, pumpkinseed, hazelnut, apricote and chufa oil and fair trade babassu, shea butter and neem. Just by playing around with amounts of those oils, herbal and root infusions as well as macerations, additives such as almond and chufa milks, jogurts, wine and beer, honey, vegetables, herbs,sea salt etc…organic essential oils…i am able to create wonderful soaps. Since i use high amounts of olive ( or almond) my soaps require at least 2 months of curing ( the pure castille or almond soaps need 6) but they turn out great and i can be sure that my soap is not just good for me and those who use them, but for (nearly) everyone involved in the production of raw materials and the planet ( of course, 100% is still impossible, just think about mass lye production..i still think about this). I find it great to see that there are more soapmakers out there, like you,who really care about the ingredients we use. I always try to follow one simple rule: my soap has to be good for people( including those who produce raw materials) and the planet. For sure, this is not always easy and, as said before, not 100% achievable, but i think it is our responsibility to do so. Moreover when taking into account the fact that we are making a product which is rinsed off and whos primary function is to gently clean our skin…I often wonder when i see here in spain all these recipes that use up to 10 oils, many of them exotic ones (and actually, many of them are important food sources for communities in poorer countries!) and up to now here i didnt have found any provider who tells you in its advertisings where its oils are coming from and who produces them.This is why i only purchase directly and after a periode of deep research… So my congratulations for your decision and i hope it will inspire many other soapmakers and businesses to reflect on the topic “what does sustainable soapmaking mean to me?” warm greetings from spain and thanks for your effort and reflections!!!andrea
Hi Amanda. I just made my first batch of soap a little over a week ago, after much research. My research was not only on how to make soap that is safe for my family but is tallow-free, lard-free and palm-free as well. I’m not a vegetarian but I love animals and I love the rainforests, and I hate what is happening to them. I was very surprised to see so many soapers use palm oil and was very happy to learn that you went palm-free! Yay! But I don’t understand why people are so angry with your decision. Don’t they care about the animals? Anyway, as long as you know you’re doing the right thing and your conscience is clear who cares what they think!
Hi Amanda,
I know this is an old post but I just wanted to tell you that I have a lot of respect for you and your decision. I’ve only been making soap for a couple of months now and haven’t used palm oil yet and don’t plan on it until there is an absolute verifiable source providing sustainable, animal/people group friendly palm. I’ve had successful recipes and I know it would probably be easier to use it, but I will continue as I have been. As I’ve read a lot on this topic, most of the “certifying agencies” are not without their own conflict. I’m sorry that this decision has cost you in as many ways, but standing by your principles is more important. Thank you so much for doing what you do! I’ve seen people attack others on different sites for the decision to not use palm oil. It’s shocking to me… not sure why they get so emotionally involved with the choice to “not” use something. Oh well. Thank you for the palm free advice!
I don’t like to use palm or shortening in my soap either. I like to use olive, coconut, sunflower, caster but the bars are too soft. Even though I reduce the water. The only way I can get them harder is to up the coconut to 32% and I think will be too drying. I also don’t mind adding cocoa or Shea butter. I have tried Rice Bran, avocado and sweet almond oil but really prefer sunflower. Makes the soap silky and creamy. Does anyone have any good recipes that include sunflower oil? Does sunflower oil turn rancid in cp soap? Thanks. Leslie.
If you use a high percentage of liquid oils than your soap will be softer and take longer to cure. I don’t think going up to 32% coconut oil would be too drying as long as you have about 5% or more superfat. In fact most of my recipes are 33% coconut oil and they are very moisturizing. Hope this helps!
Wow! I can’t believe you got flack from people for this. I think its a smart decision to cut it out altogether. And who should care what you do with your soap?
I just stumbled upon your blog today and so far, I love what I see. I’m new to soapmaking so am looking for ideas and you sure do have lots to offer!
Seriously? Hate for wanting to palm of palm oil? lol I couldn’t resist and you’ve probably heard it before but… I had to but in all seriousness…
It’s sad that palm oil has the adverse effects in our planet as it does as it’s a great oil to use in soap and the quality of our soap just isn’t the same without it. I’m trying new recipes all the time and I THINK I’ve finally found the perfect combination, yes, it’s a little more expensive but other substitutions can be made for price, after all, at the end of the day you just wash yourself with it. You can substitute useless pretty coloured micas for natural colourants at a fraction of the price and still make a beautiful bar of soap.
I look at it this way, yes, the soap isn’t how your customers are used to it, the quality isn’t the same for them but I don’t care how upset they are that I’m phazing out Palm Oil, even using sustainable palm oil isn’t acceptable for me, all I care about is the rainforests and Orangatans quality (or lack there of) of life that we destroy using a product that isn’t necessary.
After reading your blog, I understand why you dont use palm oil but I am a vegan. I wont use animal products especially with the horrible treatment of animals in corporate farming but thats another soapbox (watch food, inc or vegacated if you dont know what I am talking about or are curious in such matters). I was wondering why not consider “CRISCO OIL” as a substitute for palm oil and lard. It a hydrogenated blend of cottonseed and soybean oils. Its has a light lather and its a nice cheap alternative. Wouldn’t it be considered a “hard” soap?? Im newbie to soapmaking. So maybe im wrong. Im just trying to give a nice, eco-friendly, vegan, and cheap suggestion out there for other soapmakers to consider.
Peace, Love and Joy to all =)
I personally stay away from Crisco as I don’t like soybean oil either (just personally don’t). But I thought Palm oil was in Crisco as well. It’s on the ingredients list here http://www.crisco.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?GroupID=17&ProdID=315 Maybe there are different types. Crisco does make a good bar of soap…I just don’t prefer it.
Amanda, so pleased you have made the correct decision to be palm oil free. Those who have given negative feedback on your decision are uneducated to what is happening in the palm oil industry and the land of the Orang Utan. ‘SUSTAINABLE’ PALM OIL DOES NOT EXIST!!!!!!!!!!!! The RSPO are the palm oil companies that certify themselves. There is no international, independent body that certifies the palm oil industry. For a little monetary exchange you can get anything certified in Indonesia. My philosophy – if in doubt, keep it out!
http://www.ecobeings.com/palm-oil-free
I applaud your decision to go palm-free! I started out with sustainable palm, but question the certification process, not to mention labor practices, etc. Many of my recipes are both palm- and animal product-free. However, I sometimes use tallow from a local farmer and believe it is the lesser to two evils (when compared to palm). The rationale is I can go visit the farm and see how the animals are treated, but there is no way for me to fly 20,000 miles to Malaysia or Indonesia or wherever to verify that the oil I get does come from some sustainable plantation.
While I love all kinds of animals, cows are not endangered. Orangutans are.
Thank you for posting so many wonderful palm-free recipes on your blog!
We’ve struggled with this issue as well and only use Certified Sustainable Palm Oil. We do also make a number of soaps without Palm oil so customers can choose what they like. Anne-Marie’s article was a good one too. The only reason we’ve continued with Palm is because we are finding it very difficult to get certain EO’s to stick in our palm free recipes and we’ve tried everything. So for those recipes we use Palm which seems to help with EO scent sticking at least in our case.
Everytime we run out of our Certified Sustainable Palm Oil though we decide if we are going to continue using Palm. Maybe you have some EO staying power palm free secrets.
I went palm free last winter. I have been using Beef Tallow and Lard. Both are sustainable. Render my own tallow I purchased from a local processor. The lard comes from a farmer with pastured raised hogs. Both make excellent high quality soap. I made a tallow based shaving soap with castor oil and love it. I have also used sheep tallow and that made a fantastic soap. I eat only grass fed and finished beef from local farmers I personally know. Research grass fed beef at the Weston A. Price Foundation.
Went palm free a few months ago. Just clearing out the last of my palm oil included soaps. Never looking back. Good for you!!
Hi Amanda
Like the others, I applaud your decision, and your willingness to be open in your views. I think that the strength of feeling aroused in those who hurl abuse is a good indicator that they know they have something to defend and feel guilty about it. It’s a defense mechanism. Like Mitchell, there are times when I am tempted to rationalise my decision to go palm free and sometimes think that my soap-making life would be so much easier if I could just sneak a bit of palm oil past my conscience. But then sanity prevails and I think of the consequences of that selfishness. It’s easy enough to hold the moral ground if it’s a big corporation who are the bad guys, but in the end, the Big Guys simply equals lots of little guys with selfish outlooks. There’s no difference between THEM and US if we behave in the same way. Multiple all the “tiny bit of palm oil I’m using” by the number of soap crafters and that’s your answer. Best wishes to you, and thanks a million for your palm-free recipes. Greg
Hi Amanda
I was just reading your posts about going palm oil free and I too am totally shocked by the negative reaction. I started making soap a few years ago and I decided in the beginning not to use palm oil and I never have. I’ve experimented with many palm-free soap recipes and have produced some fantastic bars that are hard, have great lather, and are lovely and creamy. I’ve never found it to be a problem in producing nice soap. I really don’t see the need for using palm oil when there are more environmentally friendly alternatives. Perhaps it is more economical for people who are producing lots of soap. There is such a huge demand for palm oil worldwide that I don’t think that handmade soapers choosing to go palm-free is really going to have a negative impact on the efforts towards sustainable palm oil. If you have lost some followers as a result of your decision you can rest assured that you’ll gain new ones who are in alignment with your philosophy. My very best to you.
Hang in there and keep blogging! Stick to your believes and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Palm oil is a personal choice for both soap makers and consumers. I use sustainable palm oil in some soaps, but I also have a range of Palm oil free soaps. I find this works really well, as at markets I am sometimes asked for palm oil free soaps.
Hello Amanda!
I just came across your blog and feel the need to respond. First of all kudos to you for making the decision to eliminate non-sustainable palm oils from your soaps. I have been successfully making and selling vegetable based, palm-oil free soaps for a couple of years now. As for missing Nutella, World Market sells a yummy dark chocolate spread made without palm oil. There is a half-eaten jar sitting on a shelf in my fridge right now:-)
I’ve made a comment like this on a different forum, and to me it seemed that a lot of people are uninformed when it comes to Palm Oil or they just don’t know what the issues are. I got blank stares from people when I was first starting out making soap when I asked how to make a hard bar of soap without animal products and palm oil. I finally formulated some recipes that I love, and sometimes question my choice not to use palm (“If I would just use palm oil, I could un-mold this soap and it would be rock solid faster”).
Sending positive energy and thoughts your way!
-Mitchell
Thank you! I am new to soaping, and have decided to start out palm-free. I am trying to use only EO’s instead of FO’s.
I am really inspired when I find recipes I can experiment with without doing substitutions. I imagine this is how it must be living gluten-free.
I really appreciate having options and am glad you are sharing your experiences.
At the end of the day, you have to feel good about who you are when you look in the mirror. Let the petty people be gone, who cares. Life is too short to try and please everyone, stick with your own moral, ethical code, have faith – and keep moving forward. That’s the best any of us can do.
So anywho….I still need to get my cupcake trials going per your earlier post. 🙂 Keep your head up Amanda and don’t let any foolishness get to you.
Wow, thanks for all of the comments! I have a pretty tough skin. More than anything I was just simply surprised with the backlash. I also wanted to make it clear that bullying and name calling would not be tolerated on my blog. And this was really the first occasion for it to happen. I just really wasn’t expecting it. All is good! We move on and march forward! Thanks everybody!
Well, the Dish was down and people needed something to attack – their bullying playground was not available. Sorry you caught it. 🙁
lol this might be true 🙂
Ouch! It’s horrid that people would treat you that way. You had a concern, you researched it, and you came to a conclusion you can live with. We all do that every singe day (except, perhaps, the research part sometimes). Everything in life is a matter of balance. I personally don’t buy into the “sustainable palm” nor do I believe that the organic oils we have available are typically organic. And thus I don’t spend my money on those – I either buy conventional or do without. Those were MY choices.
Soapers are so emotionally vested in their products and their ingredients I can understand that some would react strongly – but to react by attacking you is beyond inappropriate.
Amanda I cannot believe that people have gotten so nasty about this subject. I would have expected that type of controversy about tallow, not Palm, but regardless respecting one’s opinions even when it’s not the same as your’s is so important.
I started out not using palm then a couple of years ago I decided to try palm since I was hearing so much about how wonderful it is. I found sustainable and purchased it. My conscious just wouldn’t leave me alone and I’ve gone back to palm free, unfortunately I have palm oil left over that I really do need to use up.
I am so disappointed in how we, as an industry, behave and treat each other. We each have our opinions and belief systems which needs to be respected whether we agree with each other or not. I truly believe that until we do, we will never be treated as a legitimate business.
Keep doing that you are doing Amanda, you are an inspiration to so many.
Cheer
Hi Amanda. First off I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog and all the wonderful information you share with all of us. Sorry you ran into rude and threatening remarks about choosing not to use palm oil. Seems that these days bullying is rampant all over. I appreciate your decision to not use palm oil and also your thoughtful explaination for doing so. I have been making soap for 12 years and last year decided to also not use palm oil, either. Even if one of us can’t make much of a difference at least trying is a start. Already too much of this planet has been destroyed by greedy people who don’t care about anything other than short term gain. I applaud you for your decision. If we educate our customers about palm oil, sooner or later they will demand alternatives. My soaps are as rich and bubbly as those I used to make with palm oil and my customers love them. Hooraay for you.
Oh, one other thing…I think you make a good point about letting our suppliers know we are making the switch and encourage them to use only sustainable palm.
I am so sorry to hear that going palm free would be so controversial. I simply don’t get it. I, too, am going palm free and don’t intend to make any apologies for it. It is a completely justified and responsible move on the part of soapers. Soapers Unite! Keep up the good work.
Right now….I use palm oil and lard (from our own pigs) in my soaps. My labels are honest and clear so customers can choose for themselves. I respect your decision but even more so REALLY RESPECT the time you took to research your decision. Who knows? One day might chance my recipe but for now I will continue to read and learn from those like you who put your heart and soul into your work
You know what Donna, I look at lard or tallow as a much better sustainable option for soapmaking than palm oil. Especially if you are raising the animals yourself (which you are)!
Donna, I use lard from our own cattle, and sometimes my in laws sheep. So I am with you it truly is a sustainable source, especially since if we didn’t do this with it it would just be a waste product thrown out in the dead cow hole for feral animals to eat, for us any way.
Amanda I can’t believe, like every body else who is commenting, that people would get so upset over what is essentially a personal conscience decision. I did question why you didn’t want to use lard / tallow, but it was purely from curiosity. Because I loved the post about deer tallow that you did.
Hi Louisa! Well, my answer on using animal fats is kind of a funny one and so wishy washy. I go from eating meat to not eating meat very often. I just kind of feel that if I’m not eating meat than I shouldn’t use the fat from the animals.
If anyone I know locally has fat from animals they have butchered then I’d use it. Like the deer my uncle killed. He didn’t have any use for the fat so I thought I’d make soap out of it.
I don’t like the idea of buying a tub of lard or tallow from the grocery store anymore. If I can find someone local to buy it from then I would probably use it. Animal fats do make a great soap.
Hi Amanda, You have inspired me to join you in eliminating palm oils including stearic acid. Which as others have indicated will be after my current inventory of oils is depleted. But I’ve been looking at suppliers and noticed that one supplier has sustainable (which is questionable in and of itself), but it is also organic which would lead me to believe that it is farmed and harvested under better scrutiny.
Exactly. I contacted several suppliers and was not happy with their responses about their palm oil.
I have not talked to Mike at Columbus/Soapers Choice yet but I have heard that he might have the best option if you wanted to use sustainable palm oil. I’m hoping to have a discussion with him soon.
This is where I currently get my organic and sustainable palm oil from, and he is actually who convinced me to start using palm oil in the first place. But like I said I am going to be eliminating it after this batch of oils and labels is used up. I keep putting recipes into soapcalc, and I think I have found one that I really like, I just have to wait until its time to place another coconut oil order 🙂 I am really excited though, to be on board!
After finding another blogger, who did have a conversation with Mike at Columbus/Soapers Choice regarding their organic sustainable palm oil, I feel confident that the farming and harvesting at their supplier’s location is ethical and under scrutiny. So therefore, I have found a source of palm oil; for which I am happy. And like a lot of other issues that we are faced with, I also know that by purchasing the organic sustainable palm oil, the people who work on this plantation are able to continue to work. Possibly not under the best conditions, but that is story for future debate.
Some people just have to have something to complain and whine about. They just aren’t happy otherwise. Since this was your choice to go Palm Free and not something you are forcing other soapers to do (like that would even happen) then why would there be a problem? Life has to much stress as it is, I certainly do not intend to get myself all worked up (cussing and pitching a fit) over the fact that someone has made a choice to help our beautiful planet. Hmmm wonder if those twits bother to recycle their plastics, newspapers, glass and boxes???? Bet not.
Also why shoot yourself in the foot (metaphorically speaking) and remove yourself from an awesome blog just because the blog owner made a decision for herself to do something to benefit the planet.
3 cheers to you Amanda…Hip Hip Hooray
Go Amanda!!!!!
Hi Amanda..
It is a shame that other soap makers/ customers/readers feel the need to be abusive.. no matter what the topic of the blog posts are.. people are what we are, soap making is what we do, and to be abused for a choice is abhorrent . The palm oil debate is such a controversial one, and I think most of us who make soap have battled with it over time within ourselves.
I make soap, and I make soap both with and without palm oil.. a lot of thought and research and phone calls and questions got asked and answered, including some of the elephant/Orang keepers at at the local zoo.
I have always looked at sustainable palm a little like fair trade coffee and cocoa, that if we can support the little guys, help them get a fair deal for doing the right thing, they are less like to go and work for the huge co-operations tearing down the forest and not putting anything back in its place and getting next to nothing for them or their families for it.,
Presently the palm I use is not only sustainable but certified green sustainable, and while they can supply and prove this, then I will use it.. the minute they can’t I will follow you into the no palm zone. I think as a soap maker it is important for me to offer my customers choices, so they can still get handmade soaps without palm if this is there conscience and I respect that choice.. and I really do feel people should respect yours..
P/s I am loving some of your palm free recipes btw.. thanks for being so gracious in sharing them.
Wow. Sorry that you received such harsh treatment. I think you’ve made a thoughtful decision that’s right for you. In matters like this I think we all need to agree to disagree. I really enjoy your postings. Please don’t let this stop you from sharing.
I am shocked and it’s not my blog. Why curse and unsubscribe because you choose not to use palm oil? Maybe it’s more about the animal you are helping. Either way, it’s ridiculous. Good for you for standing up to what you believe in. God bless you.
Angel-
I, too, am sorry that folks cursed at you. You didn’t deserve being bullied like that — for any reason. Rise above them, Amanda. You can do it.
I have customers who prefer all natural products and won’t purchase fragrance oil products because it is synthetic. So when the word about palm oil gets out, I’m sure several folks will follow that druther, too.
I make products at the pleasure of my customers and will make what they prefer. So, with that said, I’ll make some products without palm oil and fewer with. If helping our planet requires me to not use palm oil, then I, as one person, can do that.
Good on you Amanda! I’m so sorry to hear that you had to endure some rude remarks, it’s hard to believe that people would resort to name calling, everyone is entitled to their own opinion! But I must say I totally agree with you, I went Palm oil free about 3 years ago, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned and have never regretted it, I really feel that I made the right decision, well for me anyhow. One by one we can make a difference!
Amanda,
Just made cupcakes this morning, using your Palm free cupcake recipe. Recipe was great, and I will go back and make up another batch in a couple of hours to use for the icing. I used brewed coffee for the liquid, and added coffee grounds to half, so I should have two kinds of coffee cupcake.
The only other cupcake soaps I have made are the ones that I made for the Great Cakes Soapworks challenge, and I used your tutorial from the Soap Queen site for those. In fact, that was the first time that I had used Palm Oil for soaping, as my normal recipe is a combination of Coconut, Olive and Sunflower oils. They were great and sold out at the Garden Fair I took them to – I kept one for myself, and one for my Mum, but the others all went. It will be interesting to see how these new ones come out, but so far, so good – I’ll let you know when I have piped the tops!
Thanks again.
HI Jackie! I’m so glad you liked the recipe! Thanks for your comment!
Soapcakes are awesome – now! The first batch I prepared ready to do the icing, and at the last minute made a major error – I thought it would be a good idea to make a spiced coffee cupcake. WRONG! I added the Cinnamon and Aniseed essential oils to the soap at trace, put it into the icing bag, and it all started to cook and went totally out of control. It was like something out of a horrow movie – I then remembered your Chai Latte soaps, and grabbed some paper cups and shoved it all into a couple of those to make spicy coffee latte.
I then made two more batches for icing, held off on any essential oils, and managed to ice passable tops on all the cupcakes, and flat tops on the coffee latte.
Just a question, you seem to manage to get your soap quite stiff before icing, I’m not sure that mine was so thick, would it help to put it in the fridge first?
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and recipes.
Hi Jackie!! Sounds like a good save on the first batch. Yes, cinnamon will move quick! I just let my icing soap sit around for a bit. I wouldn’t put it in the fridge. When letting it sit, be sure to stir every couple of minutes to make sure its not gelling in the cup! I had that happen once! lol
I applaud your palm-free decision, Amanda, and your support for the notion that we should all put pressure on our suppliers to source sustainable and responsibly produced oils.
As per my comments on your earlier post, each soaper has to make their own choices about the ingredients they use …….. but we shouldn’t put our heads in the sand and pretend that either there is no problem, or that we can’t make a difference through our choices. We don’t accept excuses from big companies, and we hold them accountable for issues in their supply chain – so we should all hold ourselves accountable for the ingredients that we use, even if we’re “just” hobby soapers.
I would hope that soapmakers could extend the same courtesies to others that they would expect to be extended to themselves. Since when is a difference of opinion a just cause for name calling and vicious language?
Whaaaat? Seriously, people are upset because you choose *not* to use something? That’s crazy.
At first I went with palm-free (and a few other -free’s that geez, maybe if I admit to, the haters will cuss me out for not using?) because it wasn’t locally available. Then while reading up on where to order it, I read about the issues involved, and figured hey, I’d done just fine without it so far, why bother with it?
So I was pretty happy to see palm-free recipes, and have been bookmarking them to try them.
I commend you, Amanda, for making an informed decision based on your convictions. I have also researched this earlier in the year and even stopped using a supplier who refused to tell me where his palm was sourced from. Basically would not share anything…hmmm. :/ I am presently using what was told to be RSPO. Guess I need to dig a little deeper. I have tested some recipes without Palm and need to do some more. We all have to take a stand somewhere about many things and stop turning a blind eye, or sticking our head in the sand or any other cliche that says “Let someone else fight the fight” Thank you for taking your stand, hopefully it will inspire others to evaluate their conscious and decisions. So sorry someone or others hurled explicitives in your direction…It shows immaturity. ( I have stopped buying Nutella as well)
I agree with you that each person should research the sourcing of the ingredients they use and make their own decisions. On another note, thank you for providing some palm-free recipes! I have tried a couple that you posted and they turned out well.
I’m so glad you liked them! I have some more coming up soon as I try more and more oil combos.
Name calling? Over use of palm oil? Oh geez. Keep on keepin’ on, Amanda!
Also, (not to hog your comments or anything) we really have to get countries like India and China on board with this as well, because India consumes nearly 1/3 of the world’s palm oil, so regardless how much we small business owners are doing our part, until large corporations take note it will be an uphill battle. And that is not to undermine our efforts, that’s like saying “well I am not going to recycle or carpool because little old me can’t possibly make a difference” Yes, we should do everything we can do to promote social and ethical welfare for humans and animals alike, we just have to make sure that we yell loud enough so the multi-national companies in India and China will hear.
I totally agree with your statement. Yes I too feel the tinge of guilt over this and that and being just one person I can do without palm oils and am learning right along with everyone else! Thank you Amanda! But that aside many countries like India use palm oil primarily for cooking. They too need alternatives and as a nation of our wealth and size we should be developing alternatives for the world, not just for our personal use. We have the technologies and will power to accomplish many worldly worth while commodities. Make alternative eco safe products, not war!
Well, first of all I am not going to curse at you ;P OK, now that we have gotten that out of the way, yes it is a personal decision. I kind of equate sustainable palm oil with “conflict free” diamonds, but I was told this may not be the best comparison (I don’t wear diamonds BTW). I am also a pretty strict vegetarian who eats lots of raw vegan fare, so of course I want to protect the animals. I really don’t know how I feel on this issue though. I mean, I started out palm free but switched over to sustainable palm oil to keep cost down. However I feel like this twinge of guilt (OK, I feel it with nearly everything I do, but I digress…) using the sustainable palm oil. I am currently working on a formulation for a palm free bar and will switch over to that when I have used up all the labels I have printed that have sustainable palm oil in the ingredients. And no, I don’t think lard or animal fat is an acceptable solution to replacing palm oil in soaps, but that argument is for another day 🙂 Anyway I guess I just want to say I am on board with you and will be switching over probably at the beginning of next year. Until then I will be using the sustainable palm oil. The first thing that had to go in our house though when I learned about palm oil was Nutella, I am sad to say 🙁 Oh well, good riddance. I could never eat just one serving!
I’m on a plant based diet too and can totally relate. Lately it’s been in the news more and more & I’m really starting to feel guilty about it also.
Amanda, thank you so much for your comments! I never tried Nutella but I have several friends that are hooked on it! 🙂