Ray's Corner

#Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, originated after the Civil War ended in 1865, resulting in the loss of over 62,000 lives. The first national celebration of the holiday took place May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, where both Confederate and Union soldiers were buried. In many American towns, the day is celebrated with a parade. However, it didn’t become a Federal holiday 'til 1971 when federal law changed the observance of the holiday to the last Monday in May and extended the honor to all soldiers who died in American wars. It’s observed to honor the men and women who died whilst serving in the U.S Military - those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for you and me.

Whilst we don’t often refer to our wonderful canine friends as Canus Lupus Familiaris we’re more familiar with the gray wolf of thousands of years ago under that name. The wolf of those days was man’s fiercest rival, often roaming around in packs and using their cooperative skills to overcome their most challenging prey. Their instincts were unmatched, being able to smell their lunch and dinner from over a mile away. Over time, and maybe as lone wolves emerged from packs, they became less aggressive , and even tamer over the centuries thus promoting the earliest human integration, and what...

GOT BUNS?

Hot Cross Buns, that is. Truth is that unless you make them yourself, they’re scarce in the USA....Tales talk about hanging hot cross buns in attics to guard against evil spirits – and being carried by sailors as protection against becoming shipwrecked.

Whilst we have evidence of many shipwrecks occurring historically off Borth Beach, we cannot in all honesty boast that our soaps protect from physical harm, or that they even contain currants or raisins for that matter! We can however state that our all-natural products keep you looking and smelling amazingly masculine.

Who remembers that line from the 1960s song? Well, let’s chat about the bees…BEESWAX in particular. It’s one of the most amazing ingredients we use! Bees have much to teach us, and what we learn from them may someday help slow down the aging process, cure addictions and troubleshoot some very real human problems.

Evidence still exists on Borth Beach today of a sunken forest that legend records as dating back to the Bronze Age, but the history of soap and when it was first created is more recent – 2,800 B.C.! It’s linked to the Babylonians, who were possibly the first to blend animal/vegetable oils, water and wood/plant ash as a base for a cleaning compound. Sadly, most cleansing preparations made today are blended from chemicals and detergents that can harm and dry your skin. And the natural glycerin, which is created by combining oils, fats and ash together, is often removed by commercial soap companies...