Thank you for visiting Belle Journee (bell joor-nay), a French term for "Beautiful Day". We are a husband and wife team with backgrounds in the sciences and social work.

To us, the concept of a beautiful day involves making healthy choices throughout the day, from diet and exercise to the choice of personal care products. Our aim is to develop a line of personal care products with your health and well being in mind.

We support organic farming and plan to work toward a fully organic line of products; at this time our soaps are composed of 75% certified organic oils. Our certified organic palm and palm kernel oils are sustainably harvested, which minimizes environmental impact. Also, we specialize in vegetarian and vegan friendly products. Packaging is minimal and limited to recyclable and/or recycled materials.

Quality Ingredients: The majority of the vegetable oils we use are certified organic; all are expeller pressed. By using organics and expeller pressed oils (versus those extracted with solvents), we minimize the risk of introducing toxic ingredients into our products.

We have carefully selected the best quality and type of ingredients that fit the use of each product. Our aim is to provide a range of products that will meet the needs of all, including those with sensitive skin.

True Soap: Belle Journee produces soap using the cold process method of mixing oil, e.g. olive oil, with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide. During this process saponification occurs, which is the reaction of the oils with the hydroxides to form soap.

All of our soaps are produced with an excess of oil (referred to as super-fatting); therefore all the hydroxide is used up during saponification. In addition, we retain the glycerin that is produced during this process. This sets us apart from the mass-produced commercial brands, which remove the glycerin to sell it to other companies for the production of moisturizers and other products. To replace the glycerin, these companies use fillers, which can include synthetic detergents that offer no benefit to the skin. The combination of retained glycerin and super-fatting with good quality oils gives Belle Journee soaps the ability to clean while also being gentle to your skin. The lack of fillers and synthetic detergents is what makes it a true soap.

Because these are handcrafted soaps, no two will be alike; colors and designs can vary a bit. They will weigh a minimum of 4.5 ounces, though the majority will weigh over 5 ounces.

To extend the life of your soap, before using, store in a cool, dark place. Keep the soap out of the direct flow of water in the shower and allow it to dry between uses, preferably in a well-draining soap dish.

Careful scenting and coloring: Belle Journee soaps are scented with essential oils. Though touted as a superior fragrance source because they are "natural", essential oils can present health risks as well. Some are known to be photo-toxic, skin irritants, and carcinogenic. For this reason, we have relied on the standards of the International Fragrance Association in choosing which oils are safe for our products and determining the appropriate usage levels. Of course not all skin reactions can be anticipated and it is advised that the consumer first use a patch test, particularly if they have sensitive skin.

The use of colorants is limited to herbs and clays. For those with sensitivities or a preference for just plain soap, we also provide products that are free of colorants and scent.

Thanks so much for visiting our shop!