Review of Homestead Soap’s Lilac Goats Milk Soap

I have always been jealous of those people who can buy a wonderfully scented soap and actually use it. I on the other hand, usually keep it in my sock drawer to enjoy the scent, because most bar soaps irritate my skin. Last year when I first decided to search the web for new products to try with my sensitive skin, I decided I should try a scented soap, if only to have a new smell for my socks.

I came across Homestead Soaps by accident, through the suggestion of someone on an online community when I asked about naturally made soaps. As I looked though their selection of soaps, I decided to try a goats milk soap because I had read that they were moisturizing. I looked though the different soap choices and at first looked only for something mild, but when I spotted the Lilac Goats Milk soap, I knew I needed to get it.  I adore the smell of lilac.  Even if I couldn’t use it, at least it would smell good.

When I opened the package the day it arrived, the smell that emanated from the box was wonderful!  It smelled just like a lilac bush! I took the bar out of its box and put it in my sock drawer (where it still is today). The bar went straight to the bathroom. By the time I woke up the next morning, the whole bathroom had a light lilac scent. I used the bar that morning and had no reaction.

Now, a year later, I have a sliver of the bar left. I still use it, and I still love the way it smells, both when I use it, and the light scent it leaves in the bathroom. I have used it for more than just me – I have washed my hair with it and I’ve also used it on Ari, my 6 year old.

The ingredient list is short and not confusing:  goats milk, sodium hydroxide (lye), coconut oil, soybean oil, palm oil, canola oil, honey, fragrance oil. Of those ingredients, the palm oil, canola oil and honey pop up as environmental problems. The increase in demand for palm oil is threatening forests filled with biodiversity. Much canola oil is genetically modified, and I know that there are people that try to avoid GM products. Finally, honey bees can be unethically treated by the keepers.

Although this product has not been hazard rated by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, the site does provide a user-entered data method of evaluating a product.  When the ingredients are entered into their database, the product is rated a 3/10, with a 10 representing the greatest concern. The ingredient of biggest concern is fragrance, and since it is unknown to me what the fragrance is, it is difficult to determine if the concern is warranted or not.

Pros

• Great lilac scent
• Does not dry skin

Cons

• Not always available (check the website for availability)
• Some ethical/environmental concerns over ingredients