Herbs began for me in 1989. I started with cooking herbs, expanded into tea herbs, then started using medicinal herbs, and most recently, I've been courting skin care herbs. I wish now I had started with skin care herbs. Just WOW! When we quit using unnatural skin care products, and begin using natural skin care, our skin responded amazingly well. Illnesses decreased, skin complaints decreased, healing times sped up...simply wonderful stuff. I encourage anyone and everyone to check out using high quality natural soaps. My first batch of soap was a disaster. I often think now that it was purposeful. The reason I think so? Because, messing up that batch motivated me toward the library, where I picked up some books and learned how to write a soap recipe. I was able to check the recipe I followed, and it had 2 oz. too much lye called for in this recipe. That made sense as to why the batch failed. Not only did I learn to understand how much lye was needed for ounces of oils, I learned what oils did what for the skin (in terms of becoming soap, and for use directly on the skin). A whole new subject for me, and one I find fascinating. So, I learned to create my own recipes for all my soaps, even my pure olive oil soap uses a blend of olive oils, including extra virgin olive oil, that makes it the best olive oil soap around. My shampoo bars include jojoba, silk, and plenty of castor to make lots of lather and extra glycerin for conditioning - which doesn't need a vinegar rinse to make the hair shiny. I learned a lot, and I am still learning. I am constantly doing research to keep up on the latest findings with regard to oils and herbs. It is what I do. And, it is what I love to do! :)