Dr. Bronners = Love
By Jenn | September 6, 2007
Sometimes a product is so overwhelmingly wonderful that you fall in love with it, even knowing it can’t love you back. Such are my feelings for Dr. Bronners soap.
Emanuel Bronner was a third generation master soap-maker from an orthodox Jewish family in Heilbron, Germany, where he was certified as a master soap-maker under the rigorous guild system of the time. He was the heir to the family’s soap factory and business, but rebelled against his father and came to the United States in the late 1920’s. After the Nazis nationalized the soap factory in 1938, his parents and most of his family died in the Holocaust.
He was so eccentric that in 1947 he was arrested and commited to a mental institution in Chicago, where he received several electroshock treatments–and he escaped three times. His son Ralph surely had a difficult time growing up with a passionate, fringe evangelist as a father, as he “endured over 15 orphanages and foster homes as a child, but despite difficult memories, is his father’s most ardent fan… “
Why do I love thee?
- Their soaps are organic
- They source most ingredients from fair-trade suppliers
- They are about as socially responsible a company as they come: “WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND SPACESHIP EARTH!”
- No animal testing
- They use hemp oil, hemp-based papers, and make Alpsnack (containing hemp seed). Yay hemp!
- The peppermint soap makes me feel all tingly!
- It’s biodegradable (in small quantities, of course), and thus great as a camping soap
- It’s fun to read the labels in the shower!
- There’s even a documentary about the guy
Some of the claimed 18-in-1 uses for Dr. Bronners:
- Use it diluted as a body wash, shampoo (warning: it’s very drying), or as a dish or laundry soap for handwashing
- Use as a laundry detergent (1/4 - 1/3 cups per load)
- It keeps the bugs off your plants
- Use a drop or two as a tooth-cleanser. Let me know how it goes.
- Dilute it in a spray bottle, and use as an all-purpose cleanser
- For use as a birth control. We’re going to skip this one.
Fun Link of the Day: Dr. Bronner’s Quote Generator
Share stories of your Dr. B love with us!
Topics: General |
Have you seen the movie? He was an amazing, crazy crazy man.
It’s on my Netflix queue but they don’t seem to have it in stock yet. Fingers crossed!
i have been a peppermint dr. bronners user for many years! i love it!!
ALL ONE :)
ALL ONE, SISTER!
I experienced the peppermint tingle for the first time in your apartment, roz! I am a lavender girl myself.
When I moved into my apartment - well, actually right before I did the big move, I bought a giant jug of Dr. B’s Orange (tea tree, I think) and planned to use it for everything. I’m using it for lots, but not everything.
My favorite use is for dishwashing (by hand, of course)
Also, when I wash my greens, I’lluse a drop or two
And, of course, it was invaluable on self-supported cycling trips - clothing, bodies, dishes.
I haven’t used it for tooth brushing yet and I’m not planning on it, but I would. I was told it tastes a little soapy, so if I can avoid it, which I have so far.
Also, I love love love the alpsnacks - YUM!!
Use a drop or two as a tooth-cleanser. Let me know how it goes.
ha! I bet it would be ok with the peppermint but I use the lavender soap, and I think it would be good in a pinch, but so bad tasting that I’d rather use a naked toothbrush.
the label freaks me out. what a nut!
apparently dr. bronner’s contains surfectants, which can build up on fibers over a period of time and cause absorbency to go down. eventually fibers will repel and not absorb at all.
i mention within the context of cloth pads and no-tp toilet wipes.
also… birth control?!
DR.BRONNER’S SOAP IS AMAZING!! I USE IT FOR EVERYTHING! I TOO LOVE IT BEYOND WORDS!! IT FABULOUS AS TOOTH CLEANSER!! I DONT EVEN USE HARSH TOOTHPASTE ANYMORE MY MOUTH IS MINTY AND FRESH AND CLEANER THAN ITS EVER BEEN WITH TOOTHPASTE!!
I WISH EVERYONE COULD TRY IT!!
If you find Bronner’s to be drying on your hair or skin, you might want to try Trader Joe’s (if you are lucky enough to live near one) Pure Castille Soap, which is certainly modeled after Bronner’s, but has some aloe added for moisture. I use it for everything - and though it certainly isn’t a “moisturizing” shampoo, it’s perfect for me - I only wash my hair once a month or so (dry, thick, curly, kinky hair shouldn’t be washed often), and it cleans conditioner build-up without completely stripping. PERFECT all-around cleanser in the outdoor shower!