During the summer of 2022 we made and gave away soap made with various amounts of neem oil to test whether it is effective to repel insects.  I personally tested these soaps, as did my family and neighbors, and to my astonishment insects were repelled. 

Many products on the market make no such connection and present the idea that essential oils will repel insects.  We made soaps with or without essential oils and the presence of essential oils did not matter.  

I also put the soap to the test - I walked along the creek, removed invasive plants from the pond, and took walks where I would notoriously be attacks by flies.  When walking along the creek my puggle was plagued with flies while I remained untouched.  I additionally made a shampoo bar that made my hair unappealing to bugs as well.  For the first time after moving to the country I could walk through my property during the height of summer without any bugs trying to bite me.  More importantly you can make unscented neem soap for children or pregnant women. 

Neem oil makes a fabulous soap. Neem oil is restorative and helps the skin barrier more resilient.  I found it helped my skin heal some of my old wounds.  Neem oil is sustainable and neem oil soap is is gentler on humans and the environment.  The ecological impact of a lye soap that can repel insects by merely washing with it is clear. 

As such CW Native Botanika will be making all soaps with some percent of neem oil in order to take advantage of this wonderful carrier oil. 

  *During our transition there will be some soaps that do not contain neem oil.