Old-fashioned pine tar soap has traditionally been used to help with psoriasis, eczema, and other skin afflictions. Some also use it for treating flaky scalp and dandruff.
Its smoky campfire-like scent makes it a popular “manly” soap, but can be equally enjoyed by all.
Because pine tar itself has a really strong aroma, I added cedarwood Atlas and lavender essential oils to help slightly mellow and compliment the overall scent profile.
For a lighter scented soap, try my . Or, don’t want to make soap from scratch with lye? Try my Pine Tar Melt & Pour Soap recipe instead!
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Old Fashioned Pine Tar Soap Recipe
** Measurements are by weight. You must use an accurate scale to make soap.
If you’ve never made soap before, you can find more information in my Soap Making 101 post or check outmy Handmade Natural Soaps eBook collection.
Pine tar soap is different than many others in that it sets up FAST. You don’t normally need to use your stick blender for this recipe.
You should have everything organized and the mold prepared before you start mixing.
Another thing to remember when creating your own recipe with pine tar, is that you should include it in the lye calculations as you would another oil.
Directions to Make
Step 1
Stir the 1 teaspoon of salt into the cold water. This is to help the soap release from the mold easier and is especially helpful if you’re using silicone molds.
Make sure you’re wearing proper safety gear of goggles and gloves.
Once the salt is stirred in, pour in the lye and mix until dissolved. This mixture gets hot fast and for a few moments will give off strong fumes that you should avoid breathing in.
Step 2
Set the lye solution aside to cool. I left mine sitting for several hours until it reached room temperature. (In my house, that’s around 75 to 80 degrees F.)
Normally, I work with higher temperatures, but pine tar soap needs cooler temps than normal, to help prevent it from setting up too fast.
Step 3
While the lye is cooling: Prepare your mold and measure the oils in a stainless steel, heat proof plastic, or enamel container.
Melt the coconut oil just until it turns liquid and mix with the other oils. Set the oils aside until ready to mix. (They can be around room temperature too.)
Step 4
When you’re ready to make your soap, add the pine tar to the oils and stir until blended.
Make sure you’re wearing gloves and safety goggles for the next step.
Step 5
Pour the lye solution into the oils/pine tar mixture and stir with a heavy duty plastic or silicone spoon or spatula.
You’ll notice the soap batter gets thick fairly quickly.
It may take around 4 to 5 minutes to thicken, stirring by hand, depending on temperatures used.
Step 6
Pour the thickened soap batter into the mold and set aside. You don’t need to cover or insulate this soap.
Step 7
In 48 hours, you can try unmolding. Pine tar soap starts off a little soft but firms up as it cures in the air. If you added salt to the lye water, it should unmold a lot easier for you than if you didn’t.
Step 8
Slice into bars and let cure for at least four to six weeks.
Pine tar soap is thought to be beneficial for several reasons. First, pine tar contains ingredients that are known to kill bacteria and fungus. Second, pine tar has anti-inflammatory qualities that can help to soothe itchiness and irritation.
After we pour our mixture into the mold, we allow the soap to set for one day. Then we cut the soaps into individual bars and let them cure for four weeks. Curing time for the tallow is four weeks is standard practice. What are the benefits of pine tar oil in soaps?
Pine tar soap is an effective and portable solution for camping, boating, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits; not only is it handy for cleaning cookware and utensils, it can be a lifesaver when biting insects abound. There's also anecdotal evidence that pine tar soap can keep bugs away in the first place.
It is said to have antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities and is useful to soothe and treat symptoms of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Pine soap, is also used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis; it relieves the itching caused by bug bites.
As described here, tar is basically liquid smoke from the pine wood. Pine tar can be used as a sealant, for medicine, and for making soap. Also known as “pitch”, tree resin is thicker, tackier, and darker than tree sap.
Ways to Use Pine Tar Soap Shampoo to Improve Dandruff
Apply to hair and wrap in a towel or plastic. Then rinse with Packer's Pine Tar Shampoo. Unlike coconut oil, this mixture will rinse away easily, and after several applications and rinses, your scalp should feel soothed and hydrated.
In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions.
Pine tar products may be used on the entire body, including the face, as an adjunct cleanser for red, itchy and inflamed conditions together with other prescribed medications such as corticosteroids and fungal creams.
Because of its anti-fungal action, lathering up with pine tar soap every day may help to inhibit the growth of fungi that could otherwise take hold when defenses are low. Pine tar soap can be used as any other soap.
In 1985, a study of people who had worked with coal tar for 40 years found that almost half developed skin cancer. In 2000, the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers said using coal tar in shampoo had an 'unacceptable high risk of skin cancer'.
I thought tar was carcinogenic? Pine tar is completely safe for external use. While tar made from petroleum is known to be carcinogenic, it is derived from oil and contains large amounts of benzene. Pine tar is created from wood and is a completely different set of chemicals from petroleum tar.
Pine tar soap is made from pine tree resins and has a strong pine scent. Some people still use it to treat psoriasis, but doctors who support tar soap as a treatment are more likely to recommend coal tar soap. Coal tar is a distillation byproduct of coal processing.
In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions.
It is said to have antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities and is useful to soothe and treat symptoms of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Pine soap, is also used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis; it relieves the itching caused by bug bites.
Pine tar is, therefore, legally allowed for hitters. For pitchers, on the other hand, pine tar is illegal. Rule 3.01 prohibits any player from discoloring or damaging the ball “by rubbing it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand-paper, emery-paper or other foreign substance.”
Pine tar soap is antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-itch. Because it hydrates as well as it cleans, we think once you've tried it, you'll realize this is not your run of the mill antibacterial soap. Let's find out more about how natural antibacterial pine tar soap differs from the synthetic version.
Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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