About River Wood Naturals:
Hello! Welcome to River Wood Naturals, a small business located in the beautiful Chattahoochee Hills, GA. Thank you so much for your interest in our handmade products! We make a variety of handmade soaps and hand poured, non toxic candles.
My name is Erica Wood and I started this little venture in 2023 with my husband. A little bit about me:
I am 27 years old, currently work full time as a Paramedic, and just recently started my own little family. My hobbies include baking, listening to classic rock, collecting band shirts, and handcrafting all natural products. I started this little business as a result of many years suffering with severe eczema.
I have personally struggled with severe skin problems most of my life including acne and eczema. Eczema covered my arms, legs, neck, hips, and shoulders.
I sought help from doctors who put me on potent steroids to try and fix the problem. After extensive use, I developed red-man syndrome and all the skin on my face peeled off. I was never warned about the harmful side effects of steroid creams and found out the hard way. My skin barrier was destroyed.
After a year long battle with red-man syndrome that resulted from treating my skin problems with conventional medicine, I made the switch to all natural products. I began researching all natural ways to treat my severe eczema and rebuild my skin barrier. I then started using handmade soaps from a maker I had known for many years.
In my research, I discovered that the "soaps" available in stores is not soap at all; They are blends of synthetic deteregents, toxic chemicals, and surfactants that strip away your skins natural oils and protective barrier. I also found that the fragrances used in conventional cleansers contain carcinogens, phthalates, reproductive toxins and organ toxins.
My skin began to heal. I became inspired to learn how to create my own soaps and wanted to share them with others who are facing similiar problems.
I learned that real soap is made through saponification. Saponification is the process of combining fats and oils with an alkali, and the chemical reaction that takes place results in soap. The alkali used is sodium hydroxide/lye. Lye is a natural alkali made by combining wood ashes with water. Once the saponification process has taken place, there is no lye contained in the finished product.
We also make hypoallergenic, completely paraffin free, all natural Beeswax melts and Coconut Soy Candles! Beeswax is an excellent choice for asthma and allergy sufferers like myself who have reactions such as sneezing or headaches around conventional store bought candles.
Beeswax has a very high melting point with a longer burn time than other waxes. When burned, beeswax produces negative ions that remove odors and pollutants from the air around them, creating natural air purification. Our melts are blended with organic coconut oil to extend their burn time. We also use high quality, non toxic fragrance oils that are infused with essential oils. All fragrances, including those used in our soaps, are phthalate free, mutagen free, carcinogen free, reproductive toxin free and organ toxin free, so you can feel good about using our candles in your home.
Each ingredient I use has been meticulously researched to ensure you are getting top quality, skin nourishing soap. For complete descriptions about all the different ingredients used in my handmade soaps, visit Our Ingredients page.
Thank you for visiting and I hope you decide to give nature a try!
**The information provided is not meant to treat, diagnose, or make medical claims. All things shared are with the intent to educate and share experience.**