---->THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR: Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm<----
Fresh From Our Family To Yours!!

Aromatic holiday wreaths shipped fresh to your front door. Our wreaths are handmade with sturdy Scotch pine grown at our family-owned Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm. We use festive red ribbons and fragrant pine cones to design a wreath that will scent your home throughout the holiday season, providing fragrant memories for years to come. Your holiday wreath is shipped in a specially designed wreath box, making it the perfect holiday gift.

Visit our Web site for directions to our farm or call or email us for more information about our wreaths. (660) 882.6858 | info@starrpineschristmastreefarm.com http://www.starrpineschristmastreefarm.com

~ Rocky Mountain Soap Factory ~ Colorado, (303) 307-1316
Handmade Bar Soaps, & Hand Cremes
rcole@recole.com

LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: During the 1920's, a group of people joined forces to form an organization designed to encourage people to bathe. They arranged to distribute comics to public schools that contained the lyrics to a song that eventually became the advertising theme for Proctor & Gamble's Ivory soap. The lyrics were: "clean hands and hearts may hope to find the way to happiness buying lots of soap."

LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: The Cleanliness Institute

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Several members of the Handmade Toiletries Network pride themselves on making quality skincare products to cater to specific skin types and aromatic preferences. One HBN member has found a niche focusing on making handmade soaps for persons with "experienced" skin. Each bar is made with shea butter, cocoa butter and silk protein, and, according to the HBN member's Web site (which you can find through HBN's member directory at http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com), customers have reported relief from itchy skin and acne flare-ups, among other things. To win this week, provide: (1) the name of the business; (2) the owner's name; (3) the name of the soap listed at the site with the name "ugly" in it.

Be the first to answer this week's question and win a collection of handmade soaps made by HBN members! The HBN member who owns this business is not eligible to win.

Read contest rules at www.handmadebeauty.com/htns_Newsletter.htm

~ Surrender to Summer Handmade Moisturizer by Woodspirits
$30.00 ~ 4 oz

I have to say that I have never experienced a lotion scented like this one. Spicy and kickin' are two of the words that come to mind to describe the blend of aromas in this very soothing body moisturizer. There's ylang ylang and rosewood in the mix, but the overwhelming notes are of cardamom and ginger. The combination is exotic and definitely unisex. The feel of the lotion is quite nice, absorbing quickly into the skin. It leaves behind a smooth, soft feeling without any greasiness. It's got all sorts of yummies in it too, including two of my favorites, calophyllum inophyllum oil (which to me smells like butter pecans) and orange wax which I have found adds a wonderfully rich texture to lotions when added in small quantities. The price of this product makes it a definite splurge but it's worth it to pamper yourself now and again. Surrender to Summer Handmade Moisturizer is available at Woodspirits, which is found in HBN's member directory at http://www.HandmadeBeauty.com.

Join me and my apprentices for "SoapMaking For Gift Giving & Pleasure" at The Smile Herb Shop in College Park, Maryland on December 2, from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Q&A and Booksigning to follow! Learn how to make your own soap from scratch using natural ingredients, and take some of our newly made soap home with you!! To register, call Smile at (301) 474-8791.

For the past few weeks, I have been giving tribute to The Bath. This our last week focuses on baths for babies. Most moms I know really enjoy bath time with their babies. One of the best books I've seen on aromatherapy for moms and new babies is Aromatherapy For Mother & Baby by Allison England. Ms. England recommends giving babies at least 3 months old a warm bath, adding 1 drop of Roman chamomile essential oil and 1 tablespoon of milk. Do not add the essential oil directly to the bath water! Instead, disperse the essential oil fully in the milk first. Once it is fully incorporated, add the fragrant milk to warm bath water.

Remember that essential oils should never be added directly to baby's bath water, and even if properly diluted, they must be used with great care on babies. Be extremely careful not to get essential oils anywhere near baby's eyes. If you are interested in making aromatherapy products for babies, I highly recommend Ms. England's book.