Balinese Lulur
is an ancient village remedy from the rice farmers of Bali. It has been
handed down through generations and is recognized as a traditional medicine.
It is believed to help warm the body, relieve aching joints as well as soothe
sore muscles. The history is that the hand-crushed spice would be applied
on the legs after a day's work of standing in the rice paddies. Today, lulur
is becoming very popular in Asian spa's, usually offered as an exfoliating,
polishing treatment for the body. Locally, continually used by young woman
to help aid in the recovery of troubled skin, as well as newborn babies
to tauten the skin and fight infection. We use an ancient village recipe
of fenugreek (trigonella foenum-graecum), sandalwood (santalum
spicata), ginger (asarum canadense), vertiver grass (vertiveria zizanioides),
and salam leaf (syzsygium polyantha) as the dominant ingredients
for the powder. This powder is then added to the soap mixture at the end
of the soap making process to ensure the healing properties are left intact.
We also add a concentrated lulur oil that we make here in our workshop.
In addition to the natural healing properties of this oil, it is used as
a superfatting agent in our soap. Superfatting is a process soapmakers use
to ensure a softer, smoother, creamier, more emollient-rich bar of soap.
Rosewood Essential Oil (aniba rosaeodora) has a subtle, soft, sweet
and spicy aroma, with fresh floral notes. It is reminiscent of rose, citrus
and wood. When used in skin care, it stimulates new cell growth, regenerates
tissue and minimizes lines and wrinkles. Rosewood oil can balance either
dry or oily skin. It soothes sensitive and inflamed skin; it also clears
blemishes and improves acne. With regular application, it helps to diminish
scars and may even combat aging skin and wrinkles. |