So it is 2012. The ball dropped, fireworks fired off, and millions of good luck greetings have been given. Many of us wrote down lists of new year resolutions, made plans to form new healthy habits, and are ready for anything this year will bring.
I’d like to start our new year with introducing the new product – Smoky Nights birch tar soap. Birch tar soap is not something you would normally find in a bath & body store. It has very specific smoky aroma, color of chocolate milk, very outdoorsy nature, and will certainly not win the beauty contest between the soap bars.
Why would we make such soap, and then, on top of that, talk about it? What makes it worth making? Have we lost our minds? And the answer to all these questions is – its therapeutic qualities are amazing!
- Birch tar has been well known for centuries for its restorative qualities. It is used to help in treating a long list of skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, seborrhea, psoriasis, dandruff, and itching. It exfoliates old skin and tones the beautiful new layer.
- Birch tar is an excellent diuretic; it is used for body detoxification and cleansing. It helps enhancing body’s blood circulation and prevents toxins from collecting in muscles and skin.
- As disinfectant and antiseptic, birch tar could be applied to small wounds and cuts to prevent microbial infections and speed up the healing process.
And all of these therapeutic qualities of the birch tar are transferred to the soap!
The distinct aroma of the birch tar – smoky, warm, and leathery astringent, is exactly how this soap smells like. It will remind you of a beautiful, warm, and cozy campfire in a middle of a cold winter night. Of course, if you don’t want your whole bathroom to be filled with this strong and specific aroma, you can hide the bar in the soapbox and close the lid tight. Otherwise, leave it open to air – that should keep it from going stale. The bar will dry faster, stay fresh longer, and gladly return the love back to you.
In Finland, where birch tar is incredibly popular, its aroma is widely considered to be pleasant. Many food and hygiene products have birch tar and birch oil added to them. I’m talking not just shampoos, perfumes, soaps, and lotions, but also beer, ice cream, and even candy! There is a great Finnish proverb that praises the healing qualities of birch tar: “If vodka, sauna, and birch tar did not cure you, nothing else will!”
Just as a reminder, birch tar and oil can cause irritation to a sensitive skin, especially if concentrated. It is advised that you test your sensitivity by applying the soap to a small area of your skin. Also, pregnant women must refrain from using birch tar and oil products.
