mater soap / bar soap - mugwort

Mugwort Bar is made of ground mugwort and olive leaf to invigorate circulation and warm the body. Coriander and sage essential oils linger on the skin with a bright and clean aroma.

The herb material used is mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris, Ai Ye) an invasive weed, which grows in many climates, including NYC. Mugwort has a long history of use in folk medicine. It is believed that the Romans planted mugwort by roadsides to make it available to travelers to put in their shoes to relieve aching feet and protect them from exhaustion. Maybe this is because of its ability to enhance the movement of qi and blood. In Chinese Medicine it is used to treat a variety of issues, like eczema and inflammation. It can be made into a tea or simply placed under the pillow to enhance lucid dreaming :)

INGREDIENTS: Olive oil, water, coconut oil, lye, shea butter, olive leaf, mugwort powder, coriander, mugwort, sage and patchouli essential oils

Cold process soap • Handmade in NYC • No artificial ingredients, preservatives or fragrances • Cured for 4 weeks

Use: Face, Hands, Body

Vegan. Cruelty-free. No SLS, parabens, synthetics or fragrances. Just plants. Get dirty :)

Weight: 5 oz.

Dimensions: 3.25" x 2.5" x 1.25"

Soaps are cut by hand, please allow for slight variation in size.
Handmade soap will last if kept dry between uses. 

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MATER LIKE WATER | MA•TER \ˈmȯ-tər, ˈmä-\

The Woman of Willendorf is one of the earliest artifacts representing the human body. Mater is the Latin word for mother. Their goal is to honor both symbolic and actual mothers. One theory around the origin of the “Venus” states that, due to the birds-eye view shape of the figure’s body, lack of facial features and tiny feet, the Venus represents an early self-portrait of woman made by a woman, rather than the long believed “fertility figure, a good-luck totem, a mother goddess symbol, or an aphrodisiac made by men for the appreciation of men”, as said by Kathleen Kuiper, Encyclopedia Britannica. This speaks to the redefinition of traditional concepts of beauty and empowerment to take back control of body narratives that we care about. She sees herself and nurtures her spirit.

Mater Soap offers a variety of cold-process bar soaps and organic body products. Keeping their batches small and handmade, they strive to perfect the simple yet subtle alchemy of soap-making and skin care. Their appreciation for the minimalist beauty of traditional bar soap and power of plant oils and extracts deeply inform their craft. Using 100% natural, sustainably-sourced plant ingredients like smoky pine tar, rose-colored kaolin clay, and salty sea plants, they provide the bather with products that nourish the body and mind, enhancing the bathing ritual. 

Mater Soap pays homage to utilitarian objects that quietly serve our daily lives. Sourcing inspiration from sculpture, architecture, and textiles, the Mater aesthetic pairs dynamic experience with simple and absolute function. Mater Soap chooses materials and composes recipes that speak to the well being of the bather as well as the planet. Their products are enriched by thoughtful and deliberate ingredients with a conscious effort to minimize ecological impact.