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"Diana,
I am a little confused at your response. And I do agree that education is the key to making sure the consumer knows what they are getting."
********** This is why I said that IF all sellers were honest about exactly what they used so the customers knew what they were buying I would have no problem with what they use.
I think even an honest seller might not understand the need for full disclosure and can unknowingly cause a mishap for a buyer - so this is why labeling is so important. A seller can't possibly know all of the allergies/reactions or the preferences of their buyers so this is why the best solution is to leave no room for error on their part.
If they said said something like "85% organic...", listed everything and then exactly what the other 15% was - then the customers could feel secure in what they are buying and the whole industry would not be getting such a black eye all of the time.
And by the way, I don't remember who said it, but I never said my products were better - just that I tell my customers exactly what is in my products and why. They decide what they want to buy. I have some who buy my products for certain reasons and they still sometimes will buy (from someone else) one of those glittery strong scented products because they like them. I do not bad mouth the ones that sell those things.
If a customer want to know the difference, I tell them why I don't use those things, but I don't tell them not to. That is their business.
Someone on the group asked for OPINIONS about what we considered to be a natural product - I gave my OPINION for ME.
"My point regarding lotions is a lotion cannot become a lotion and still be a natural product when the lotion is made with an emulsification system like eWax, polawax, etc. Natural might be an oil that is cold pressed and used straight up, but certainly not after it has been incorporated into a lotion. At that point, it becomes a naturally derived product."
********** I agree that if these things are used, the product is no longer ALL natural. And, again, as long as the ingredients were clearly labeled as to what is what, I have no problem with that.
"Also, keep in mind, many fragrance oils use essential oils too. Just because a lotion or whatever is labeled natural does not mean it is! And, arsenic is natural too, but we certainly don't want to use it in our lotions! Essential Oils, as well as fragrance oils, are very powerful oils. I agree, there are manufacturers who do not label products with the exact ingredients - some of this labeling practice is legal, some is not."
********** Yes, sometimes there are some essential oils in some fragrances, but I choose not to use F.O.s because I do not to use anything that is not needed. I can get the scents I want by infusing herbs and flowers. Yes it takes more time and more work, but to ME it is like eating at McDonalds vs. cooking from scratch. Yes, cooking from scratch takes a long time and it is a LOT more work - but I know what is in my food that way. It is what I choose, for me and my family. Others may not agree and may not want to go to that much work, but it is something I want to do for my family to give them every chance at better health.
Yes, I know that not everything that is natural is good for you - LOL
I would not put arsenic in my food.
I do not use food coloring or dyes in my food or my products either. I don't need it to make my food taste good or to be nutritious whether or not it is considered "natural" and I dont need these things in my products to take care of my skin - so I don't want to use them.
Again, if someone really wants a hot pink glittery soap, go ahead - but I don't want it and I wont make it either because it goes agaist what I believe.
That does not mean that I am going to try to force anyone to quit buying those things, but again if someone wants my opinion - they will get it.
"How is it that your mother is not being fooled? Because someone labels a bottle of lotion as natural? That alone does not protect your mother.
Sincerely,
Melanie"
The problem is that because so many sellers use fragrance oils and still call their products "natural" is that folks with allergies may NOT know the difference and end up getting hurt because of the lack of full disclosure.
This doesn't mean that a seller would purposely lie (most anyway), but if they themselves don't understand what they are using and/or the possible danger that these ingredients can hold - it could have very bad consequences for the buyers out there.
This holds true for E.O.s and all ingredients too - these have to be used carefully and the buyer needs to know what is in each product. Some folks have allergies to natural things too.
It is similar to those with a nut allergy. If a buyer does not know that his/her stir-fry was made using peanut oil, that could have a terrible end. So the responsible cook/restaurant owner would be wise to be able to inform his/her diners what was used in each dish and how the food was prepared if asked.
Now as to the last sentence, that is exactly my point. Calling something "natural" does not make it so. And even if it really is ALL Natural - it needs labeled well for the benefit of the consumer.
A person cannot protect themself without the proper labeling.
Thank you for this in depth discussion. I think it may help all of us to understand how important labeling is to both us and our customers.
Diana
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> The term "natural", means different things to different people. What defines natural? Because it is derived from nature, because it goes thru a slight alteration after it is harvested from its natural state, or because it is not synthetically produced?
Very few lotions are made using a natural emulsification system, but the finished product is still called natural. Most of the natural products listed as natural are really not natural at all, but are made with naturally derived products, that is, products that may come from an herb, botanical, fruit, or nut.
Adding a synthetic fragrance, which is usually less than 1% of the total product, and as long as the consumer is aware of the synthetic fragrance, I still contend the naturally derived product is not unnatural because of a synthetic fragrance addition, but simply fragranced with a synthetic fragrance and should be labeled as such. The fragrance, or additional benefits that come from an essential oil, also less than 1% of the total product does not qualify the product as natural unless the other ingredients in the total formula are actually natural ingredients too; and usually the other ingredients are naturally derived, not in their natural state.
Sincerely,
Melanie
********** Yes, if the public was an educated one and everyone WERE honest, I would agree with this.
But, many customers don't know the difference and some vendors don't tell them either.
My Mom has a severe reaction to all of the fake scents out there as I'm sure do others too. She cannot afford to get fooled.
- Diana's - Vintage & Gift Shop
42 Regina Drive - Hubbard, Ohio
http://www.Dianascr aft-antiqueshop. 4t.com
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