Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are Rocky Mountain Soap products safe to use during pregnancy?
A: There are conflicting ideas on the safety of aromatherapy use during pregnancy. Since this time should be a time to enjoy and to prepare for the upcoming birth of your child, it would be wise to err on the side of caution. The essential oils that to be avoided during pregnancy include: Angelica, Aniseed, Basil, Bay Laurel, Cedarwood, Celery Seed, Clary Sage, Clove, Cinnamon leaf, Citronella, Cornmint, Cumin, Fennel, Hyssop, Juniper Berry, Labdanum, Lovage, Marjoram, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Star Anise, Oregano, Tarragon, Thyme, Thuja, Wintergreen, Wormwood. We make some great products to help boost energy, keep stress at bay, and ease headaches, nausea, stretch marks, and water retention during pregnancy. May we suggest you try…Belly Butter, Solitude Bath salt, Foot Soak, Field and Stream Liquid soap, Grapefruit Bar soap, Coconut/Berry/Apple Lip Butter?
NOTE: Essential oils are to be used in very mild doses during pregnancy. Our list was referenced from the book, “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils,” by Julia Lawless.
Q: Are Rocky Mountain Soap products safe for children?
A: Essential oils are strong therapeutic products. While they are generally safe, they have not been extensively studied for use on babies and small children. Therefore, we advise to opt on the side of caution when using them with children. For babies under 3 months of age, it is best to keep the use of any products on the skin to a minimum. Bathing is usually enough. The safest essential oils for babies and toddlers (children under 2) are lavender, chamomile and rose. These oils have been safely used in dilute forms on young children by many mothers and aromatherapists. Many of our products contain other essential oils which are best used on older children, past the age of 2 or 3. We make a Baby Bear soap and Baby Butter which are great for babies and small children. Other products that are great for children are our Pumpkin Patch Soap, Unscented Body Butter, Oatmeal & Honey soap, Bar None soap, Lip Butters, Lavender and Citrus Bath Gems, Sleep Mister on linens. Our Citronella Outdoor lotion and Cold and Flu products are safe for light use on children over 2. Between the ages of 7 and 14, its best to use approximately half an adults directed use. Children who are 14 and older can safely use all aromatherapy products where appropriate.
Q: Are your products safe for people with allergies?
While we know that natural is the best choice, there is the challenge of allergies. Natural ingredients such as nourishing nut oils can be dangerous to those with food allergies. For those people who are afflicted with allergies, we advise you to read our labels thoroughly. We disclose all our elements on the labels so you know what goes into all of our naturally based products. If you are sensitive or allergic to anything included in our elements list, it makes sense to avoid using that particular product. Some of our products contain nut oils, but not all of them do. We are a small company and therefore, we use the same equipment to make all our products. All equipment is thoroughly cleaned in between each batch; however traces of the ingredients may remain and may trigger a reaction in extreme allergy cases.
Q: There are some soaps & washes eg. mountain man, spring thaw, summer lemonade, alpine air wash that are to be used on the hands & body only. Why can’t these products be used on the face?
A: They’re not recommended for the face due to either its essential oil content (too astringent or potentially irritating to the more delicate, thinner skin of the face) or its exfoliants (large textured, or very grainy scrub mediums can be too harsh on the face). While we don’t recommend them for the face, that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone without sensitive skin or someone with very oily skin couldn’t use them gently on the face. We know many people who use alpine air soaps on their faces in particular.
Q: The foot soak is not recommended as a bath salt - only for the feet, how come? It has the same base salt ingredients as the regular bath salts.
A: This is due to its essential oil content. There is a much stronger concentration (higher %) of essential oils in this salt compared to the bath salts. Also, the fir essential oil is great for the feet, but not so nice to your private parts…
Q: The body butters are “airline approved”. Does this mean they are guaranteed to go thru carry on luggage?
A: Indeed, they are not liquids, and we’ve been told they are exempt. We have all experimented with flying with these items over the past few months and no one has experienced any hassles. Of course, I’d never say guaranteed, as these airline rules can change very fast and they are not always enforced in a standard way... Also, to add to that, the roll-ons are under the size restrictions, and are approved for carry on luggage. If you are worried, pack one Ziploc bag which contains smaller liquid items. If it's full, that's probably all you're allowed to bring.
Q: I have a few soaps & salts which list artificial colours and a vanilla soap with propylene glycol in the elements. I thought you were 100% natural? What gives?
A: Since Rocky Mountain Soap began, the company had been using the colours in some of our products for their visual appeal. We were assured by our suppliers and the old owner of the company that they were 100% natural. However, when researching the INCI names of all our ingredients back in 2006, we came across the true nature of the dyes & propylene glycol. As soon as we realized that these colours were not natural at all, we immediately removed them and began to replace them with natural alternatives made from minerals and/or plant materials. The colours that had no natural alternative were removed entirely. This is the case for our entire range of bath salts. So, none of our products have contained these FD&C dyes since mid 2006. The products containing propylene glycol, namely our Vanilla range, were discontinued immediately despite the fact that they were some of our best selling & most popular products. I think this shows what a deep commitment we do have to being a natural bath and body company. We have been actively researching a natural and cost effective solution to re-launch the line, but as yet haven’t found anything. Part of our commitment to being a 100% natural company means that we are also determined to conduct our work in the most environmentally sustainable way possible. As such, we decided it was in all of our best interests to use up the labels we had in stock until we could print new ones with amended ingredients reflecting the removal of the dyes. We felt that this would be better than the alternative of wasting them by prematurely recycling them. You may still find the odd old package or product at a wholesale account however, which may explain why you’ve found one since last summer when we discontinued the colours and propylene glycol.
Q: Do you have any products that will alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis? I see your products for eczema but it’s not the same condition. Many thanks.
A: We don’t currently formulate anything specifically targeted for psoriasis treatments, but many sufferers do tell us that they find some relief of the itching and flakiness from our Eczema Relief Kit with Pumpkin Patch soap and Unscented Body Butter. We’ve also had some positive feedback on this condition with our Sunburn Soother sticks, Goatsmilk soap, and Detox bath salts. However, due to the vast differences in triggers and symptoms among sufferers, what works well for one, may not help others. There are many lifestyle and hereditary factors which can impact a person’s treatment as well. The best answer is, unfortunately, trial and error.
Q: What does the vegetable oil in these products consist of?
A: The vegetable oil blend we use contains a mixture of Canola and Cottonseed oils. It is a locally sourced product and as well, it is very resistant to rancidity. This blend (like coconut and olive oil) is not pore clogging. Below are some of the reasons why we chose this particular combination of oils. The vegetable oils below impart an abundant lather to a firm textured soap. Combines with our coconut and olive oils to leave a deeply moisturizing, rich lathering, high glycerine content in all of our soaps.
Canola Oil’s high monounsaturated fat content makes it a great emollient that is suitable for all types of creams, lotions and moisture soaps. Its light texture and scentless character complements other skin care ingredients and essential oils, while its naturally occurring vitamin E adds to the conditioning effect. Canola oil is also very high in minerals, vitamins and is high in GLA essential fatty acids (which, when used externally, plays an important role in the regulation and restructure of the skin). Canola oil is second only to flaxseed oil as the highest vegetable source of the essential omega-3 fatty acids. Like flax oil, it contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but in a different ratio (canola oil contains an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 2:1). It is primarily used in the culinary industry, but shows great promise as a skin care oil due to its great nutritional profile.
Cottonseed oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the cotton plant after the cotton lint has been removed. It is rich in palmitic acid , oleic acid , linoleic acid and 10% mixture of arachidic acid, behenic acid and lignoceric acid and it contains over 50% Omega-6 fatty acids. Cottonseed oil absorbs into skin at average speed, leaving skin supple and well moisturized.