So, what does this mean for OHTC? Several things, it turns out. The very first thing is ensuring an absolutely safe working condition for myself and my growing little one. This means taking extra care to continue working safely - things I'm happy to say that I've already been doing for quite a while. I wear gloves, safety goggles, a mask, an apron, and my hair is always contained. Containers are carefully labeled (lye solutions in particular) and stored properly. A wash station is always available to me should I spill any caustic substances (soapers, by now I hope you know that the MSDS sheet for sodium hydroxide lists a cold water flush as the best way to handle a lye spill!).
Tea Tree Mint - one of our most popular soaps! It's also got an awesome swirl of activated charcoal, nettle leaves, bentonite clay, zinc oxide and red reef clay.
My #1 concern, it turns out, is working with essential oils. Many of you may already be aware that I am allergic to tea tree oil. Sadly, this is one of the main oils in one of our most popular soaps: Tea Tree Mint. I only make this soap a few times a year, on days when I can really ventilate my soaping area with open windows. I also have to take a dose of Benadryl otherwise my throat will begin to close up. Believe it or not, but in my cost analysis, I actually include the cost of the medicine for this batch! The first time I ever worked with tea tree oil was in a (well diluted) coconut oil salve that left me with hives that took weeks to go away! Essential oils are quite powerful and allergies are real - which is why I now always exercise caution with a new oil. Oregano is another one that gets my husband's allergies going, so it's one I won't even keep in the house.
I'm sure you know where this is going. I can't risk a major tea tree oil reaction while pregnant. This affects not only the soap, but also the Tea Tree Mint mineral bath soak (will be replaced with another minty offering; most likely a eucalyptus mint). Fans of that minty experience can still find Mentha Viridis, our eucalyptus mint blend, in a soap.
Are there any soaps that I make for folks with a sensitivity to essential oils or with a medical condition that means essential oils are not possible? Of course! I make a very simple Oatmeal Milk and Honey soap that is free from essential oils and has a basic two oil soaping formula. This is the soap I love using on my little ones! Another soap that I often reach for is Hippie Peace. I love the soft gray color from the sea clay and the swirly lines from the cocoa powder. The essential oil blend is a simple one - lavendula angustifolia and pogostemon cablin (lavender and patchouli). Neither are contraindicated in pregnancy according to NAHA and Tisserand. Keep in mind that not all lavenders are safe in pregnancy - lavandula stoechas or French/Spanish lavender is not considered safe. This is why botanical names are so important!
Another major change is that some categories may be put on hold until next year. Our sugar scrubs are one such category, along with our bath bombs (once they're sold out, they're sold out!). Our whipped body butters have always been discontinued over the summer months to avoid melting in transit. I don't expect any of those categories to come back until 2016. Our wax items are definitely staying, along with our lip butters (one of our biggest sellers!) and many of our soaps (you'll see seasonal flavors come and go as usual) as well as our mineral bath soaks. I haven't had any trouble with making these items so far and I'm happy to continue to do so!
As I get closer to delivery and as I know more about how I'm progressing, I will be happy to update with future blog posts/social media shout outs about how maternity leave is shaping up. Right now, it looks like my tentative shut down date is going to be around November 1st. If you, like many others, rely on OHTC for your holiday shopping, this is a great year to get it out of the way early!
Thank you so much for all your continued support and awesome messages of encouragement over the course of this journey. I definitely do not plan to shut down OHTC. I definitely do plan to put family first. I'm glad that so many of you support a small business with that brand of ethics! In the meantime, let's keep having fun together!
