FAQS -
Package Questions:
Did you design the eco tube and the eco jar?
Yes, from concept to compost. A 30' juvenile sperm whale washed up on a Crescent City, CA local beach. Scientists determined that it starved to death from ingesting plastic. At that time, all of Organic Essence's products were being produced with inherently wasteful plastic packaging. Organic Essence realized that a global packaging paradigm needed to be implemented. Thus, innovating the paper eco jar and eco tube for organic creams and balms. The paper labels and adhesive (casein) are plastic free, so that the eco tubes and jars can be safely composted into your garden without peeling off the labels.
Is your lip balm delicate to handle?
It's a very robust package! Put it in your purse or pocket and take it with you. As with care for most lip balms, don’t leave it in a hot car or any other hot place.
It’s a new kind of package. How do I use it?
Gently squeeze from the bottom of the tube. This will raise the lip balm up about 1/8”. Apply to lips. When finished, you can depress with your finger or lip, or leave it raised and put the cap back on.
The lip balms and jars have a clear outer wrap. Is it plastic?
Don't worry, we didn't drift to the dark side. It's not plastic. The clear outer wrap is Polylactic Acid (PLA) and is ASTM certified industrially compostable which requires high heat. In your garden it will take many years to go away, but when it does, it will eventually be eaten by the soil bacteria. This should not be confused with oxo-degradable plastic which breaks into tiny bits that never go away. We reluctantly used PLA because our finished goods needed tamper evidence in the marketplace. We have another idea percolating in the background for tamper evidence that is easier and more efficient for composting. We will be introducing the new approach later this year.
Can I travel with my Organic Shea Cream?
Yes. Be sure to keep the inner disk and insert before traveling. For extra protection place entire jar in plastic bag and seal.
When I touch the jar with wet hands, why does it feel tacky?
You are feeling the compostable glaze which enables a quick turnaround time for efficient composting.
Organic Questions:
Why the USDA symbol?
Organic Essence is certified USDA Organic because it is the definitive organic standard -The Real Organic. In the National Organics Program (NOP), Organic Essence must adhere to strict food-quality organic standards which insures the safest body care possible. On site inspections and certifying approval on every formula guarantees the highest quality available for the consumer. Our USDA certifying agent is Global Culture of Crescent City, CA.
What’s not in your products?
The USDA's National Organic Program doesn't allow GMOs, SLS, SLES, parabens, synthetic colors, synthetic fragrances or trace toxins to potentially harm your health. We also limit the use of plastic containers because studies have found many plastic containers release phthalates into the products and contaminate ground water and soil while decomposing. Phthalates are known hormone disruptors.
Are your products Vegan?
Our entire line of Whipped Body Butters and Pure Organic Shea Butter are Vegan.
Any animal testing?
No animal testing.
The beauty of Organic is that because it only allows traditional ingredients, there are no novel synthetic chemicals that need to be tested. The agriculturally sourced ingredients we use in organic production have been known and used for literally, 1000’s of years. We know not to drink the hemlock, we know shea butter improves blood flow in the skin and so on. We don’t need animal testing. Our ancestors have done all the necessary testing on themselves.
Why is your shea butter white?
Our shea butter is produced in Ghana by a community of women who gather and crack the nuts with rocks, crush them with a mortar and pestle, roast the nuts and then grind them by stages into a paste - all this by hand, and using traditions and tools that have been handed down for hundreds of years.
They knead the paste by hand and add water to separate the curd-like butter oils, which float to the top and are removed - then melted again, skimmed off the top, and left to cool and harden. In this process, which utilizes clean water, all debris and dirt are removed from the shea butter. Different regions of Africa from east to west produce shea butter in a variety of shadings. The color of the shea butter varies from white to golden to darkish tan depending in its source. Traditionally, the women form it into balls which are placed in baskets which they weave by hand.
There are no chemical solvents used in the production of the shea butter.
Some shea butters have a gamey smell, but your shea butter smells nice. Why?
We use only high quality, fresh shea butter for our production. Many shea butters smell gamey because they are old and are turning rancid.
I notice that some of your products have an open jar symbol with 6M. What is that?
From the time of opening you should use the product within 6 months (6M) to ensure freshness. Unopened, the product will last for years. There is a Use By Date stamped on the bottom of the jars and on the cap of the lip balms.
Why flavors?
The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients, INCI, is a system of names for waxes, oils, pigments, chemicals, and other ingredients of soaps, cosmetics, based on scientific names and other Latin and English words. To be in compliance with the INCI nomenclature standards, we could either name our proprietary blends “par fume”, “fragrance” or “flavors”. We prefer “flavors” because “par fume” and “fragrance” almost always are perceived as chemical blends whereas, “flavors” are a more harmonious compliment best describing our organic mixtures.
Should I test fabric for staining before using the deodorant?
Yes, please find a hidden area of the garment to test that the deodorant is compatible with the fabric. With most fabrics, this isn't an issue.
ABOUT:
Organic Essence products are USDA certified organic with eco green, biodegradable, home compostable packaging. We use organic oils, botanicals and essential oils which are 3rd party certified to ensure that it's not just an empty marketing claim. Many of our products are vegan with zero animal testing. Our standards are high and quality is supreme with home compostable packaging as the ultimate goal. We are industry leaders by combining a truly sustainable package with organic, sustainable ingredients.
We think organic body care is...
Better for you
Reduce chemical exposure.
Better for the planet
Reduce chemical exposure.
Better for farmers
Reduce chemical exposure.
Organic Essence was founded in 2006 after the USDA National Organic Program allowed non-food agriculturally derived products to certify to their existing organic food standard. Organic Essence was one of the first body care product companies to certify to this standard, and to this day is one of a small number to only produce certified organic products.
Organic certification matters because deceptive marketing has made ‘natural’ bodycare product claims largely meaningless. Organic Essence’s DNA is simply about not using the chemicals that raise health concerns because the safest amount of any synthetic chemical is none.
The idea of using natural, traditional ingredients and products is attractive because they are well understood. We know the health properties of various fruits, vegetables and herbs and we also know that hemlock is poisonous. Novel synthetic chemicals haven’t been around long enough for us to know what their health effects really are. We do know that every year more synthetic chemicals that were once thought to be safe are now considered dangerous.
Products are not just what’s in a package but also the package itself. This understanding led Organic Essence to re-imagine packaging as being part of the life cycle, rather than as something that is dangerous and threatens life. Organic Essence is where genuinely sustainable products and packaging are being invented and made.
Organic Essence products - including their packaging - are derived from life, are a part of life, sustain life and will continue to live in life forever. Organic Essence was made to serve you.
Here’s to your good health and your appreciation of life.