Dr. Hunter Pure Castile Soap

What is Castile Soap?

Castile soap is a type of soap made exclusively from vegetable oil rather than animal fat or artificial ingredients.  It is ideal for the body as well as the environment.  True Castile soaps are the mildest and most moisturizing of all soaps, typically unscented and free of color additives, making it a perfect solution for those with sensitive skin.  Its production process creates less waste for the environment than synthetically produced soaps, and the all-natural bars are bio-degradable.

The Origin

In 13^th century Castile region of Spain, an all-vegetable based soap was made from local olive oil. Castile soap, named after its birthplace, gained popularity and was exported for centuries to royalty throughout Europe.  By the turn of this century, “Castile” had come to describe any vegetable oil-based soap, unlike animal fat-based (tallow) soap.

Caswell-Massey purveyed its first slab of Castile Soap in 1861 on the eve of Lincoln’s inauguration.  Incidentally, soon after “Honest Abe”, a direct descendant of the first Caswells to come to America,  was introduced to the brand, he became a loyal customer.

The Key Ingredient

True Castile soap must be produced from a mixture that is at least 80% olive oil.  Many of modern “Castile soaps” contain little or no olive oil.  Olive oil brings many health benefits to the table.  First of all, it is a great source of antioxidants, and regular use may aid in fighting cell degeneration.  Secondly, olive oil is a monounsaturated fatty acid that helps the body manufacture prostaglandins, which help moisten the skin and improve its texture.  In addition, the olive oil in Castile soap may help improve skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.  Olive Oil is a natural humectant, attracts moisture from the air.  When you bathe with olive oil soap, it passes its moisture-attracting quality to your skin.  Your skin will remain naturally moist throughout the day, without the need to apply lotions after bathing.

Olive oil makes Castile soap softer than other bar soaps and produces a low lather, different from other oils used in soap making such as coconut which produces a hardened soap with greater lather (tip – the greater the lather, the more drying the soap).  The low lather and soft feel allows you to gently cleanse your face and body without stripping the natural oils from the skin.

Beneficial for All

In history, Castile soap was used by royalty. Created for the Queen of Spain, it was nicknamed “The Queen of Soap”. Today, it is meant for everyone of every age, of every skin type.

Castile soap is the safest and gentlest baby soap there is, unlike most so-called baby-soaps that contain artificial fragrances and mineral oils.

Castile is the soap most likely to be well-tolerated by people with severe allergies and sensitive skin.  It soothes burned and irritated skin and has no fragrance that could prove irritating.

Other Uses:

• For Fine Washables – save a bit of Castile Soap to launder delicate fabrics.
• As a Hair Wash – Use a bar of Castile to thoroughly cleanse hair.  You will need to use a rinse to restore hair to its normal pH.
• For Cleaning the Family Pet – Makes even the dirtiest dog clean.  Easy to rinse, and gentle to the skin.

Caswell-Massey’s Castile Soap

Caswell-Massey has been making its Castile soap the same way since 1861, using a vegetable soap base and pure, natural olive oil.   Because it is all-natural and unadulterated by fragrance or preservatives, Castile Soap is quite simply the purest, mildest soap Caswell-Massey offers.

Castile soap is part of the Dr. Hunter’s Original Remedies Collection.  This apothecary line dates back to 1752 when Dr. William Hunter, the first physician in America to open an apothecary shop, started a business in Newport, Rhode Island.  The doctor’s philosophy was to use formulate the most natural and effective potions with the purest ingredients nature has to offer.

View the rest of the Dr. Hunter Collection

• Dr. Hunter Rosewater & Glycerin Hand Creme
• Dr. Hunter Foot Creme
• Dr. Hunter Original Body Cleanser
• Dr. Hunter Hair Wash
• Dr. Hunter Cuticle Cream
• Dr. Hunter Lip Salve
• Dr. Hunter Barber Shop Shave Creme

Rose Water

Rose water does not get the recognition it deserves!  With all of its uses and benefits, it should be in every household, but it seems to be a well-kept secret.

Rose water is a by-product made when producing rose oil, carrying with it a beautiful scent and natural healing properties.  It is rich in vitamin C and vitamin A and it has antioxidants that help to get rid of tired skin and give you a glowing complexion.  Rose is a natural astringent with anti-inflammatory qualities, as well as being excellent for hydrating and rejuvenating the skin.  Be creative with it and you have at your fingertips a myriad of uses and natural remedies.

For Your Face:

1.   Use it as a natural facial toner because rose water helps to absorb excess oil from the skin without leaving a drying effect.  Make your own by combining 1 1/4 cups of rose water, eight drops of glycerin and 3/4 cup of witch hazel in a dark glass bottle (this is important because you do not want light to affect the mixture).  Shake the bottle well before use, and apply daily with cotton balls or swabs.  Rose water toner is perfect to combat acne.

2.   Apply rose water to your face to tighten pores and prevent wrinkles.  Acting as an astringent with anti-inflammatory agents, the rose water will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

3.   It can be used as a gentle facial cleanser.  Make your own by mixing one cup of rose water, 2 teaspoons of glycerin and 10 drops of rose essential oil.  The essential oil will add to the cleansing properties of this rose water cleanser as well as help preserve it.

4.   Men can use rose water as an aftershave to soothe irritated skin from shaving.

5.   Rose water makes a GREAT makeup setting spray! Add it to a spray bottle and spritz lightly over your face.  It will set your makeup and gave you a dewy finish for hours.

6.   Use it to remove your makeup.  Dab with a cotton swab and gently rub in a circular motion on the face until makeup is removed.

7.   Dab on temples and eye area to ward off or soothe headaches.

8.   Rose water helps to balance the pH of the skin, helping to control both dry and oily skin and can soothe many types of dermatitis.

For Your Skin:

1.  For a light, refreshing perfume, add five drops of jasmine oil to a quarter cup of rose water. Store your perfume in a dark glass bottle with a tight-fitting lid to keep away from light.

2.  Soothe a sunburn with rose water.  Cool rose water spritzed on skin feels great, reduces puffiness and gently disinfects the skin, preventing infection and irritation.

3. Add rose water to a hot bath to help relax as well as trap moisture in the skin, making skin smoother and firmer.

For Your Hair:

1.  Pour rose water over your head while showering/bathing as it can reduce inflammation of the scalp, increasing the blood supply to the scalp and promotes hair growth.

2.  Rose water benefits the hair by acting as an excellent moisturizer.  Mix some rose water in your shampoo and you’ll be left with conditioned and moisturized hair that smells great and is extremely soft to touch.

For Your Health:

1.  Add rose water to bath water to relieve fatigue, produce a relaxing effect, improve your mood and lessen stress and depression.

2.  Rinse with rose water to soothe a sore throat.

3.  Soak a cotton ball soaked to treat inflamed glands.

4.  A cotton swab soaked in rose water can be used for treating and relieving inflamed gums.  Warm rose water can also be taken in your mouth for treating gums.  Regular use of rose water helps in relieving and curing paining gums, strengthening of loose teeth and removes bad odor from the mouth.

For Your Home:

1. Use rose water spritzer as an air-freshener.

2. Spray rose water on counter tops to disinfectant bathrooms, on couches, carpets, etc..

3. When cooking, rose water can be used in many dessert and baking recipes in place of vanilla extract.