Antimicrobial Pine Tar Soap

Antimicrobial Pine Tar Soap originated hundreds of years ago in Scandinavia, where pine tar was methodically harvested by peasants in a specialty kiln. Pine tar became coveted around the world for its healing properties. The myriad uses of pine tar historically include applications to diverse skin conditions as well as use as a wood sealant (particularly on ships), as a preservative on the bottoms of skis, as weatherproofing of rope, and more recently in baseball to increase grip on wooden bats for batters.

Pine tar is antimicrobial, which means that it inhibits the growth of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It has been known for centuries to decrease itchy skin, promote clearing of rashes and fungal infections, and shorten healing times for skin conditions.

It’s Naturally Antimicrobial

With people washing their hands more frequently than ever these days, it’s comforting to know that natural pine tar soap has antimicrobial properties without the use of harsh chemicals that can dry your skin. In fact, Packer’s Pine Tar soap is known for the refreshing and yet soft feel that lingers on your skin for hours after you rinse it away.

Do you know what is in the hand sanitizer or other agent that you use to clean your hands—possibly multiple times per day? The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it is a critical barrier between you and the world. It’s no wonder that so many people are becoming increasingly choosy about their personal care products; when your skin absorbs toxins from soaps, moisturizer, perfume, and the like, those toxins must be removed by the body down the line, taxing your system and potentially promoting rashes, allergies, or contributing to other, more serious conditions.

Pine tar is obtained through heating and compressing pine wood stumps in kilns and extracting the sticky, viscous, aromatic substance that results. It has acidic properties and is composed of turpentine, resin, and creosol, among other compounds. Not only do these properties naturally clear dirt and oil from pores and the surface of the skin, their antiseptic and astringent capabilities have been used for thousands of years to ward off fungal infections in horses and cattle. Pine tar soap is also known to kill head lice after several days of application.

Bathing with Antimicrobial Pine Tar Soap

The scent of pine tar is woodsy and earthy, and even before you wet the bar of pine tar soap in the shower or bath or squeeze the body wash onto your sponge, you may be flooded with memories of childhood camping excursions or autumn mountain hikes. Maybe you’re using the soap to improve skin or scalp conditions, or perhaps you just appreciate the scent and natural ingredients…whatever your reason, you’re likely to feel invigorated by the tingly sensation of this lather-rich agent on your skin. There’s a specific feeling of clean that accompanies the use of pine tar soap, and while it is antimicrobial, it works without stripping your skin. In fact, most people feel increased moisture in their skin after bathing with pine tar soap.

Natural Antimicrobial Soap vs. Chemical Antimicrobial Soap

At what cost are you getting clean hands and skin? You’ve probably been using soap since infancy, and most likely you simply assume that soap is a harmless fact of life.

Unfortunately, there is a laundry list of harmful ingredients that are put into common brands of soap, shampoo, body wash, and other personal care products. A quick check of the labels of products around your home may reveal some surprises. Were you aware that some personal care products contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can affect brain development, contribute to asthma, and cause other toxicities? How about diethanolamine or DEA, which is known to cause cancer? Parabens may be added to personal care products to keep them fresh—but these compounds are hormone disrupters, which can play havoc with your mood and energy levels, especially given the cumulative effect of using multiple products that contain these toxins. Another common carcinogen is PEG, or Polyethylene Glycol. The prevalence of this thickening agent is particularly concerning.

Pine tar has the benefit of being a natural, plant-derived substance that is anti-fungal and astringent without being toxic. It is gentle yet effective, which is why some of our customers have been using Packer’s Pine for generations. What’s more, antimicrobial pine tar soap derives its distinctive fragrance naturally, so there is no need to add synthetic scent to pine tar soap.

Packer’s Antimicrobial Pine Tar Soap

Packer’s Pine has been creating artisan pine tar soap in the United States since 1869. Your grandparents and great grandparents may well remember our product fondly from their youth, when pine tar was known for such diverse uses as an insect repellant, a treatment for insect bites, diaper rash, chicken pox, sunburn, shaving irritation, eczema, and psoriasis, among other skin conditions. Its original name, “Packer’s All Healing Tar Soap,” reflects its versatility in addressing a range of skin irritations—and promoting healing with few if any incidences of allergic or other reactions.

Antimicrobial pine tar soap is a preventative that every household can and should keep on hand. From summer mosquito bites and sun exposure to dandruff and scaly skin in winter, pine tar promotes clear, comfortable, moisture-rich skin every time you and your family take a bath or shower. Both kids and adults can benefit from this age-old remedy.