Who we are... Simmons Naturals

What our soap shop looks like today, 2/29/12

Somehow life's whirlwind  has kept me preoccupied & I've neglected this blog.
In the spirit of a new beginning, I wish to start here with the story of our business, as that is pretty much the story of my life right now...

Here at Simmons Natural Bodycare it is our mission to provide for the basic needs of our skin and bodies in the best possible way. We strive to create luscious soaps and basic skin care that will Make EveryDay Special.

Since 1979, when we first began crafting soaps for our own family, we have always chosen the purest, highest quality oils & other botanical ingredients for their simple natural benefits. The basic care we provide works by assisting the natural processes of renewal and protection that keep us healthy and beautiful; care for everyday needs as well as for special needs such as dry, chapped skin, skin irritation, allergies, or congestion.

However, at Simmons Natural Bodycare, what we make is only half of the story.

We believe, practice, and promote a philosophy of sustainiblility. This encompasses the use of renewable energy sources and ingredients to create our products, and doing it in a way which does not degrade the environment or cause harm to us and its other inhabitants.
It is not so much the idea of 'doing the right thing', but simply that it is the right thing to do.

Our soaps

This is why we use minimal packaging incorporating as much recycled and recyclable materials as possible.. Even the beautiful handmade Thai papers that wrap our soaps are from trees harvested in a sustainable manner, limbed, so the tree keeps growing. And this is why our ingredients are biodegradable, renewable, and mostly organic, and why we do not test on animals.

Simmons Natural Bodycare is part of a self-sufficient family homestead in the rural mountains of far northern California.

The electricity for our home and business is self generated using solar (PV) panels, a 1kw wind turbine, and a small hydro-power system. Our goal is to live and run our business with as little impact on the planet as possible. The business began by crafting natural, nontoxic, soaps & body care products to ensure the mildness needed for our own family's sensitive skin. It now provides for our family as part of a working homestead in conjunction with our large organic vegetable garden, orchard, and poultry.

Our Solar PV Array

We contribute to our local community and the world community through volunteer work and donations. We have donated 2% of the sales of our bars soaps to Heifer International since 2004 and support other small businesses through our website. Since 2006 we have been 100% Carbon Neutral as we planted enough trees worldwide to offset our carbon emissions through Trees for the Future. In addition, we double our offsets annually by donating to CarbonFund.org to support renewable energy and energy conservation projects, and we continue to plant trees, 1 for every 12 of our 4 oz. bar soaps sold, over 4500 to date.

Please visit our online store and see what we have. 
You can take a short photo tour of our soap shop here.

Why Organic?

Our soaps are made with 100% Certified Organic base oils. How could this possibly make a bit of difference in a bar of soap? Good question, and the benefit for your skin over natural soaps made with conventional oils is probably negligible.
But you will have the satisfaction of knowing that no oils from genetically modified crops or pesticide residues can possibly be in them.

On the other hand, the difference for farm workers and the farms and plantations where the oil plants are grown, and inherently the Earth as a whole, is immense.

The habitat that makes human life possible on our humble planet is a community of organisms and non-living components (like rocks and water) that work together to create a fertile and healthy environment. While some of these are viewed negatively as they interfere with our goals (weeds, diseases, gophers!) they are still part of the overall picture, helping to create the delicate balance that makes it all possible.

Many things can throw this system askew, such as drought, or a hurricane, volcanic eruption. But generally, given time, the environment heals itself. Some events can effect the environment over a long period of time, such as excessive amounts of nuclear radiation. This is one reason why people are so alarmed over the possibility of Nuclear Reactor failure. Yet when we take some of the artificial chemicals we have created and use them to control our agricultural environment, they can cause damage to the soil that is irreversible for decades as well. Not to mention having ill effects on the farmers who use them and, potentially, the consumers who come in contact with it over time.

Sometimes I think it's like taking a broad spectrum antibiotic when you are sick. It kills all the bacteria, good and bad, that live in our bodies, usually throwing one system or another off kilter until we replace the good microorganisms, through diet or another pill. What makes the Earth's habitat friendly for humans and the life forms that sustain us is balance, not chemical warfare.

There are many personal reasons, as humans, that we should support organic practices. Many have written about them in length. See the Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic here, and enjoy this video from Stonyfield Farm:



Eat organic food, better for you and your family and the planet. And when you use products made from agricultural ingredients, try to make sure those, too, come from organic sources. Until we refuse to purchase anything else, toxins will continue to be used.

And know that Simmons Special Soaps are made with 100% Certified Organic base oils, with people, the planet, and a healthy and sustainable future in mind.

Working today for Tomorrow...

In our ongoing effort to provide the highest quality all natural soap that is affordable for everyday use and the very best for the environment, we have long wanted to include organic base oils in our formula. The problem was these oils were so much more costly it would make our soaps a luxury item rather than an everyday one. Over the years when we were able to get organic oil for a competitive price, we used it without any fanfare. However, now that we can assure a steady supply that will not overly increase our price to you we are proud to announce that, in addition to being healthy to use, our soaps are now even healthier for the planet.

Making EveryDay Special

New for 2010 every batch of Simmons special Soap is now made with Organic Olive oil, Organic Coconut oil and Palm oil from Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified plantations. (We are not convinced that Organic palm, currently sourced from Brazil, is not implicated in the destruction of Rainforest). This will guarantee that precious agricultural resources are not damaged in the production of the oils that make our soap.

Over the last 6 months we ran an online survey regarding Organic vs Conventional Natural soap. While the results were mixed, having organic ingredients was definitely important to the majority of respondents. While most were not interested in paying a premium price for it, they were divided 50/50 about using organic soap daily if they had to pay more. And 60% of the comments noted the importance of organics for the health of the environment.

Our own desire to support the environment through organic farming and other sustainable agriculture was tempered by our desire to stay in business and serve our customers the best product at the best price. Well, with the new year came the opportunity we were waiting for, organic oils costs are now competitive with the conventional oils we were using. For a minimal cost we can make a maximal change in our commitment to the planet.

Now, from the renewable energy system that powers our home and business to the base oils that make our soap, we can bring you a premium product with the smallest environmental impact.

Take our "Shop Tour" and "learn more about our family business".