Yuan Soap 阿原肥皂

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

2011-01-24T11:59:00.001+08:00

OUR LAST DAY FOR ONLINE ORDER IS 30 JANUARY 2011, ORDER AFTER 30TH WILL BE SENT AFTER
8TH FEBRUARY 2011.

Updates

2011-01-24T11:31:00.007+08:00

So much has been happening and this blog has been abandoned for some time, I blame the Facebook and my iPhone for making updates so easy :P, so if you are not our Facebook member yet, please do "like" us at our Malaysian page for our latest updates.

We at Yuan Soap has been really busy since November 2010 till now, it has been a wonderful year for us and it did not came with luck but with hard work and dedication from our team members. We have also been given opportunities to do some promotional activities in shopping malls.

One of them is still currently running at the Parkson, Pavilion and it should be ending
in March 2011.

With little retail experiences, we managed to come up with a counter and hiring in less than 7 days notice.

We are also available in another Jusco's wellness now which is in Jusco Taman Maluri, Cheras and soon after Chinese New Year, we should be in Jusco Metro Prima, Kepong.

If our stars are aligned, we should be in Subang area soon for another promotional activity.

_______________________________________

PROMOTIONS

Do not forget we also have our limited Chinese New Year set,

This set can be viewed in Parkson, Pavilion, Yuan Soap store, Central Market, and selected organic shops around Malaysia.

You can also choose to order online with no delivery charges, and you will also receive a angpow set, a Chinese couplet, a paper bag and a CNY card. All for the price of RM118 only in West Malaysia and RM133 East Malaysia

Other promotions happening right now its for the Yuan shampoo range

Get 10% discount for the range at Central Market, Jusco Taman Maluri, and Mid Valley,
Parkson, Pavilion (additional 10% if you are a Parkson Elite member),Purelife organic Kajang, Healthy Living Cheras Mahkota, Greenapple Organic Taman Equine Seri Kembangan and De Earth Organic Puchong.

The right hair / scalp cleaning steps 正确头发/头皮清洁步骤:

2010-06-29T21:06:00.004+08:00

正确头发/头皮清洁步骤:

洗发是为了去除头皮上的油污灰尘和老旧的头皮细胞，常洗不表示就洗干净了，正确的洗头方式是头皮、头发保养的第一个步骤。
1.先用温水将头皮及头发上的油污灰尘去除。(太热的水温会刺激头皮，容易使头皮发红搔痒)
2.将适量的阿原洗头水倒在手中先搓揉产生泡沫，再用指腹从前额头皮边缘处往头顶方向轻柔按摩，停留约3-5分钟后，再用温水将泡沫冲洗干净。
3.第二次清洁时，按摩后可将泡沫留在头上1-2分钟，让阿原洗头水中的草本成份在头皮及头发上慢慢地释放与吸收，最后再用温水将泡沫完全冲洗干净。
4.洗完后，请尽快用毛巾将头皮及发丝上的水份拍干，或以低温吹风机远距离将头皮及发丝吹干。

The right hair / scalp cleaning steps:
Frequent hair wash probably removes oil, dirt and grimes from your scalp and hair but does not mean your scalp is will be healthy. Proper and correct way
of maintaining your scalp and hair essential.
1. Thoroughly rinse your scalp and hair with warm water to remove oil and grime.
(Do not use hot water as it might overstimulate the scalp, one of the reasons for red and itchy scalps)
2. Pour a sufficient amount of Yuan shampoo according to your needs. Lather well with both your palms and slowly work into your scalp from the front to the edge with a gentle massage (3-5 minutes), then rinse hair.
3. For better, repeat step 2 but this time leave the shampoo on for 1-2 minutes to let the scalp absorb the shampoo nutrients better. Rinse off then.
4. After washing, towel dry as soon as possible. If you need to blow dry your hair, use hair dryer on a low temperature and make sure it’s not too close to your hair.

Prepared by Zoey

Business Interview in Shang Hai Chinese Mag June 2010

2010-06-07T21:01:00.005+08:00

I don't read Chinese much, so I made my youngest sister to read out loud for me.
For a budding entrepreneur like me, I like reading about how someone build a business from scratch, how they overcome odds and eventually make a name out for themselves or their business.

Reading about it is easy as well as imagining it, but for those who had walk through the path, it was a bittersweet memory. Here is a synopsis of the Chinese article

Yuan spoke about how he went into the soap business when he was already 42, armed with passion, and understanding of the Taiwanese market, he and his brothers threw themselves in the business. Yuan Soap was started with RM80,000 and before the year ends, they have already used more than RM200,000 much more than they expected.

Luck was on their side, maybe it more than luck as they spent their intial 6 months giving out Yuan soaps as gifts, trial and samples. It was only after then, buyers and customers started to reciprocrate with orders.

As orders pilled up, they needed more funds for their warehouse and workshop.This time they borrowed up to RM400,000k to expand their business.

Yuan said, he spotted the opportunity when he realized Taiwanese at that time, was at turmoil especially with its political instability which in directly create more demand for natural and health products however buying natural products especially skincare and toiletries were a problem,consumers were not aware of what is really " natural".

Now in Taiwan, there are more than 60 companies making natural soaps, Yuan does not feel threatened however he feels to be ahead, he needs to constantly improve his products and maintain quality and consistency.

To support his task, he has started a Yuan International Herbal Institute which he belives provide the boost and help elevate the Yuan Soap brand. The institute helps to ensure all Yuan products are safe and also to research for more new products.

Media exposure in Female Mag June 2010

2010-06-07T10:31:00.003+08:00

"Honeysuckle extract is reported to have all kinds of wonderful properties - anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, anti-irritant, and anti-bacterial. It can help exfoliate your skin, and may help with eczema and psoriasis. How does it do all these wonderful things? Why with vitamins, polyphenols, catechins, tannins, and glycosides!

Considered to have some of the highest levels of polyphenols in all the extracts, honeysuckle is considered an excellent anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory, up there with green tea extract, aloe vera, and chamomile. It contains a lot of Vitamin C, always a welcome addition to any creation as it is a good anti-oxidant and chelating ingredient, as well as a possible stimulator of the synthesis of collagen in our skin" - extracted from http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2010/02/honeysuckle-extract.html

Thanks to Michelle from Bodybar who helped us to send the Honeysuckle soap in for this feature.

Yuan Hand Sanitizer

2010-06-04T15:18:00.005+08:00

Some of you might not know that Yuan has a hand cleanser/ sanitizer in our range.
For those who have tried it would notice how convenient and useful to have it around.

Made with several natural oil that comes with their respective properties
1. Niaouli Oil- antiseptic/ anti bacteria*
2. Thyme Oil- antimicrobial/anti bacteria*
3. Tea Tree Oil- antiseptic/ germicide/anti bacterial/fungicide*
4. Japanese Honeysuckle- anti bacteria/ anti-inflammatory*
5. Plant alcohol- from sugarcane

These oils are also natural deodorisers, rather than using air fresheners with artificialfragrance and chemicals, the Yuan Hand Cleanser is completely safe and natural even for children. You would notice the refreshing scents once spray.

Spray it on
1. Door knobs
2. Toilet seats
3. Baby chair seats in restaurants
4. Bags' handles
5. keys
6. Fabric sofa/ chairs
7. Clothes (helps clear smokes/food odour)

Highly recommended to bring while travelling.Does not dry your skin and leave sticky residues.

Yuan Hand cleanser/ sanitizer retails at RM46.50 and can be purchased from www.yuansoap.com.my and selected authorized dealers.

* Information credits to:
- http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/thyme_fs.htm
- http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/niaouli.htm
- http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/tea-tree.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Honeysuckle

A Yuan NTV7 Interview

2010-05-27T10:17:00.004+08:00

This is an interview done by Women's Zone from NTV 7. Mayjune was the host who interviewed A- Yuan when he came to Malaysia a month ago.

Finally a video where we have a Malay subtitle, at least we can share this with our English/ Malay speaking customers!

Enjoy!

Testimonial Campaign

2010-05-12T10:54:00.005+08:00

Do you use and buy Yuan soap on a monthly basis?
Share with us your Yuan Soap experience and you could win some extra Yuan soaps for yourself.

How?
a. All you need to do is to walk in participating organic outlets and buy a Yuan Soap product of any value.
b. Get a testimonial form, if there is none, just write down your details
Name/ic/address/phone number/email/and the outlet of purchase
and attached your receipt as proof of purchase. Only receipts from May Onwards is valid.
c. Share your experience using yuan soap or shampoo as detail as possible. The best testimonials will win.

Prize include
3 X Grand Prizes
which includes
2 x round Yuan soap
1x 50ml Yuan shampoo
1x 50ml Yuan New Body Shampoo
1 xUnbleached cloth (s)

worth RM 102 each!

There will be 5 consolation prizes worth more than RM50 each.

Any queries, write to us at info@yuansoap.com.my

Giveaway from prettybeautiful.net

2010-05-10T10:32:00.003+08:00

Xin from prettybeautiful.net has been using Yuan Soap even since we started to bring in from Taiwan almost 1 and a half year ago.

She is also getting married soon (this week if I remember correctly) and instead of friends and readers showering her gifts, she is doing a giveaway at her beauty blog. If you are interested, check out this link and just leave a body care advice.

Contest in open to both Malaysians and Singaporeans with valid addresses.

Yuan round soap

2010-04-27T14:07:00.002+08:00

Do you know round Yuan Soap last longer?

Reason being they are hand pressed hence once cured they are harder than their rectangular compatriots

Earth Day Promo ends this Week

2010-04-27T12:55:00.001+08:00

Earth Day promo for our online site www.yuansoap.com.my will end this week, response has been great with some soaps are already out of stocks. So don't miss this promo!

Crazy but happy week

2010-04-27T12:38:00.004+08:00

What a crazy week its had been for the last 10 days.

Yuan himself was here for Earth Day at the Ikano Power Station and gave a talk, he was also in Guang Yin Teng Temple in Old Town PJ for another sharing.

Yuan in Guang Yin Teng.

Some of you might also managed to catch him on MYFM last Thursday and Aifm last Friday.

We also had a 11 days fair at Ikano, and was really grateful for those who came and supported us. It was great to meet and shared more about Yuan Soap to our new customers throughout the duration.

Facebook group and fan page

2010-04-27T12:24:00.004+08:00

This blog has been abandoned far too long, Facebook is extremely convenient nowadays to share updates and happenings. Do join our facebook group or be a fan. We are constantly online to check questions and queries from our customers.

Yuan on Nanyang Siang Pau

2010-04-27T11:56:00.001+08:00

Yuan's was featured on Sunday April 25, 2010.

Dealers' Product Training

2010-01-11T09:38:00.007+08:00

We had our first official dealers training yesterday with representatives from more than 10 outlets.

The training was organized in conjunction with the launch of Yuan Shampoos and new range of soaps in Malaysia.

Shampoo Range 洗头水

2009-12-23T00:24:00.001+08:00

Health Fair 2009@ PWTC!. Part 1

2009-12-08T16:31:00.005+08:00

This is a fair which took more than 6 months to plan. From the design down to promotion, as we were thinking to do what others would not do and to take in details that others would not notice. But still at the end due to time constraints, we pretty much cheated in some way.

We had 2 booths and wanted to large open spaces hence all the dividers were taken off. Since we were launching our new range of shampoo, we felt the message should be very clear, translating what Yuan's message for the shampoo range to the booth.

The result is something like this (for those who did not manage to visit us at the fair)

Background for the booth. Also part of our shampoo brochure. The rocks and the streams actually made up the word "xin/ 心” which means heart in Chinese. I did not notice the word till much later , I think I got distracted by the fishes swimming up stream. Yuan's words always reminded me to work with my "心”. While working on this brochure and background, we did not realise that we created 3 brochures with the word "心”, this was not on purpose but somehow, Yuan's works alway revolve around his heart.

Ok, out of topic here, but since we are on "心”， I received this earlier this morning from Taiwan, which literally translated to "Using my heart to thank you" (ok, not a very good translator too)

If I am not mistaken, this is something he wrote for the World's AIDS Day.

Soap Guide

2009-10-22T13:32:00.001+08:00

Sishen Chinese herbs

BEST FOR MATURE SKIN

Eucalyptus

BEST FOR CLEARING MINDS

Wild Patchouli

BEST FOR HAND ECZEMA

Auspicious

BEST AS A LUCKY CHARM

Forest Pine

BEST FOR CALMING MINDS

Mandarin Orange

BEST FOR HAPPINESS

Cypress

BEST FOR ACNES

Lemon

BEST FOR OILY SKIN

Wild Yellow Sage

BEST FOR ITCHINESS

Oats

BEST FOR DRY SKIN

Mung Bean & Jobs’ Tears

BEST FOR FACIAL CARE

Purple Gromwell & Roselle

BEST FOR DETOX

Wild Mugwort

BEST FOR ECZEMA /UNWANTED ODOUR

Wild Yellow Sage

BEST FOR ITCHINESS

Laundry

BEST FOR DELICATE GARMENTS

Yuan as guest columnist in NEW ICON Oct- Nov 09 Issue

2009-10-20T17:35:00.003+08:00

A FULL CIRCLE

2009-10-01T17:57:00.002+08:00

Chinese really likes the idea of full and roundness, to signify togetherness. The older I get the more I value such concept. Nowadays, any family, old schoolmates and ex colleagues gathering is a novelty for me and thanks to social network like Facebook and Twitter, one can never be short of topics if a gathering happens.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival! To check out our sites for some gift ideas for this occasions and hope you will have a "full" gathering this Saturday!

Perhaps, Love

2009-08-25T10:53:00.005+08:00

Perhaps we could have these chocolate looking soaps for next years' Valentine's.

OUT OF STOCKS!

2009-08-14T13:28:00.002+08:00

Yuan Soaps will be out of stock till end of the month due to the current typhoon in Taiwan. For those who already have problems searching for certain variants, we apologised for the shortages.

We promised to iron out the problem and stocks will be streaming in from September onwards.

To our dealers and customers thank you for your patience and continuos support.

News coverage July/ August 2009

2009-08-10T15:16:00.007+08:00

Thanks Jefry from Red Tomato for arranging this interview!

Gave a long thought before I thought of posting this up. Thanks Shim for such a nice write up and picture on me! Thanks Nikkie for the earrings and necklace!

Betraying Taiwan: I would Have, if weren't for Huang Chun Ming Novels.

2009-08-07T10:14:00.006+08:00

A Taiwanese friend who was working in Hong Kong once told me: “Ah Yuan, it’s just a matter of time that we’ll be like Hong Kong. We’ll become part of China and their people, you’d better get used to it.” He pointed proudly at his new apartment saying: “Not everyone can afford houses like these in Hong Kong, this area comprises of mainly China investors.” (His new apartment is less than 30 sq feet and it costs a little more than NT $27,000,000, and I’ve heard these type of apartments are not considered expensive!) Better yet, a lot of my Taiwanese friends tell me: “ Taiwan is too small, come on, let’s go to China. Yuan Soap will definitely make it big there! Raw materials are cheap and there is an abundance of manpower. Didn’t you know that the population of entrepreneurs like us in Shanghai alone exceeds a million? Taiwan is not competitive anymore.” Sadly, I even think our government has that same mentality that Mainland China is superior to us and does silly things merely to please them. If China wanted to educate us, feel free to calk up our blackboards. If they needed a holiday destination, they’re always welcome here. If its property they seek, we have plenty to offer. It’s as if our government is saying: “If China buys 7 million worth of Taiwanese grown fruits, we will bundle 1.4 billion worth of our local harvests. And if it makes you happy, we will even throw in our traditional Chinese writing method for you, at no cost whatsoever”. Pathetic. But true. The thing that keeps me true to my roots is by flipping through pages from old novels. It makes me wander away into my childhood dreams and teenage ambitions. Suddenly the whole world freezes into silence. All I can hear is the sound of my heartbeat and my dog barking from afar, reminiscing innocence and forgotten feelings. It is these simple thoughts that motivate my life journey, and it eases the challenges I’ll have to face in the future.

Let me explain. Huang Chun Ming novels have been published into numerous new editions. Even though old-school philosophies were outdated in this modern age of time, going through the pages gives me flashbacks of when I was just a kid with my haversack and khakis pants fully equipped, spending hours at the old bookshop, sipping tea through a mug while enjoying my novels. In contrast to the present me - carrying my laptop bag, strolling through the aisle of my farm, harvesting natural resources for the creation of my soaps. In one of Huang’s books “Sayonara, Good-bye”, the main character, Huang Qiun is a man who brings Japanese clients to local prostitutes. Although it’s the pride of his own race that he’s betraying, at least he felt shame and regret…as opposed to our government. Another book called “Days of Gazing at the Ocean” illustrates an 8-year-old adopted little girl named Bai Mei. She too, was sold for prostitution by her stepmother at the tender age of 14. After 10 years of working as a sex servant, a trip back to her hometown made her felt a sudden need of having her own child. Because to her, only in a child’s eye that she won’t be judge. Only with a child, she will have someone to rely on. And only a child would give her meaning to life. Against all odds, she finally gave birth to her own baby girl. She carried her child, bought a train ticket to Yu Kong and never looked back. The train passed through tunnels, with the Pacific Ocean breeze blowing gently through her eyelashes, waves reflecting the winter sunlight as the train steadily heads towards Yu Kong. I sometimes imagine myself as Bai Mei, with the burning desire to be a mother. No matter what people tells me, I still have my soaps and my people to rely and fall back on.

In Taiwan, there are thousands who follow Yuan Soap’s every move. In the office, my people have aligned dreams and we walk cohesively as a team to achieve them. I can’t be selfish to think about how am I going to make it big in China, but I have to be sensitive to the people who supported me from the beginning, Taiwan. How dare you say Taiwan is not competent and not good enough? Isn’t not competing and making peace a good thing? I’ll let you decide. In the 50’s, Taiwanese learned to write calligraphy, growing up listening to music by the likes of Fung Fei Fei, Lee Chung Sheng, Lu siao Feng and Anita Mui. It was as though the skyscrapers in the city grew alongside the old bookstore. Along with our dreams, our hopes, our ups and our downs. Every thing seemed connected. We resemble Bai Mei back then, passively giving away our youth for our master to puppet. However, as I grew older, I developed a passion to life that gives me hope in fulfilling anything I wanted to. Life itself has so many different expressions. Success has different meaning to different people. I have my soaps. I have the sunlight of the ocean. I have the Da Wei Mountain’s cool breeze. When I’m free, I’ll walk my dog and have a cup of coffee.

That’s all I ask for and all I’ll ever need to ask for. Although I still need to pay my rent and my car installment, I’m living my dream in my home soil. It has character. And even though disappointments surrounded me for more than 40 years and there are still many hurdles to come, I would be happier to endeavor them in my homeland. So to all my friends who want to encourage me, please invest in me, instead of asking me to “give up Taiwan, and go to China”.

NOTE: I like reading Yuan's words even thought my Chinese comprehension is at an elementary level. I am sure many of you bought Yuan soap because of his thoughts and philosophies that you read from his site/ brochure/ blog. For those who are like me, I will try to have his monthly newsletter translated to share with all of you. For those who wants a copy of the Chinese version newsletter, email me at info@yuansoap.com.my . Reese

New stocks available!

2009-08-03T09:58:00.005+08:00

This Ox set is not new, but it has been popular that we managed to wrestle some extra sets from Taiwan. Price is still RM 128.

祝你辛福种一棵没有年轮的树在土地上,活着就好,留一张没有字的白纸给小孩们,填写未来祝你辛福,是一本无法出版的心书,这句话说了就真, 信了就真......What do you get in the set?

150g Camellia/bitter tea soap (Not available in Malaysia yet)

Suitable for women during confinement period or those are constantly exposed to air conditioner whole day . Mosturising thus suitable for dry skin for for those who loves fresh earth smell.

150g Cypress Soap

Cypress grows on mountains stretching as high as 1,800m to 2,800m above sea level. It secretes an essential oil that has a powerful ability to kill bacteria. Works well for acne, pimple, nappy rash, bed sore, erythema, sebum secretion, itchy scalp, skin inflammation, allergic skin and athlete’s foot; also kills bacteria, stops itchiness and heals wounds.

150g Liquorice Hair Soap

There are many uses for liquorice. Its aqueous solution which has a weak foamability is a natural surfactant. It is strong in inhibiting bacteria growth and inflammation. Raw ginger and pine essential oils have long been proven to be able to fight seborrhea and dandruff. It is also useful in reversing the process of balding. It is significantly effective in promoting cutaneous perspiration and simulating local circulation.

(Usual soaps are 100g each)

Soaps for the whole family

a. Wild Mugwort soap set 300g, RM89

b. Cypress Soap set 300g (picture below), RM89

c. Auspicious Soap set 300g, RM 68

(Available for limited time only)

Comes with a free bamboo knife (picture below)

(bamboo knife)

Cypress soap 300g

Exterior of the box sets for 300g soaps.From left,Wild Mugwort Soap, Cypress Soap and Auspicious Soap.

Soap balls- Wild Mugwort and Mung Bean & Jobs's Tears

Weight: 100g (+-)

A. Wild Mugwort -1 x RM 33
B. Mung Bean & Job's Tears - 1x RM26

Great for face and hand wash.

For order and delivery details, kindly contact me at info@yuansoap.com.my

These items are available online @ http://www.yuansoap.com.my/ and Yuan Soap Store in Central Market while stocks last!

Scent of Soaps

2009-06-18T18:01:00.003+08:00

One of the perks working with Yuan Soap, is the lingering scents you get from the soaps.

1. One of my friends could not remember which corridor leads to our office but sniff to know which one is our office. (true story)

2. I smell of soaps most of the time, which means I smell clean all the time.

3. My car smells like a spa.

4. One of my Taiwanese colleague get compliments each time whenever she is in a lift with a stranger. (alright, some times she gets that)

5. I saved on air fresheners in the office , my car and my washroom.

6. Some of Yuan soap customers buy Yuan soap in bulk to leave them in their wardrobe and car.

(too wasteful, use your soaps girls!)

Have you used Yuan Soap or any other natural soaps other than cleansing your body? Do tell!

Newtide promotion July 2009

2009-06-17T12:03:00.003+08:00

Read about Yuan's interview at this issue of Newtide Magazine and you can redeem a full size Yuan Soap from July 1 to 31st!! More than 100 bars available! First come first serve with the original redemption form from the magazine!

Yuan Soap Store

2009-06-11T17:18:00.009+08:00

We will be launching our first Yuan soap store in Malaysia. Venue? Central Market!

Okay, not many were excited when I told them about the venue, but please do make your way to CM (Central Market) now. I was surprised with the changes when I went there to check out the store a few months ago. I have not been to CM for ages and the current management has been quietly "cleaning up" the whole place. I saw new tiles, shops and stalls are tidier. And where should we not make our mark but in the baby blue powder building where they promote all things traditional and handmade?!

A friend from Taiwan, who has been visiting Malaysia for the last 10 years were not brought to visit CM at all by her friends! She mentioned CM was just like Jiufen (similar concept like CM but outdoor with great scenery), she was so delighted she bought 8 shawls from different stalls. Ok, maybe she was ignorant not to read any of our tourism pamphlets or surf the net for info, or we as Malaysia has not done enough to promote other places of interest except for KLCC, lol!
Ok, back tot the store, well, I was busy arranging soaps on the shelves but was distracted many times by tourists who asked me what was smell in the shop? Apparently, our nice smelling soaps have been quietly directing people to visit our shop. I have to keep informing passerbys that we are not open yet!

Here are some sneak peek to our new store!

Yuan's talk on youtube

2009-06-07T19:26:00.005+08:00

For those who missed Yuan's talk in Ikano, you will find some video links here. It might be a bit shaky in the beginning but gradually it will improved. I found the links in youtube and I am grateful for the person who posted the videos.

Relay for Life

2009-05-26T13:13:00.003+08:00

More than 10 years ago, my mother contracted liver cancer, it happened not long after my maternal grandmother died of the same disease. From that moment, our family braced through the most difficult and challenging period of our lives, as we could not grasp and understand the situation my mother had to go through.

Today, she brought me to The National Cancer Society office in Kampung Baru, my mother will participate by promoting healthier meals at NCSM's 16 hours Relay for Life this weekend at the Bukit Jalil stadium, hoping to give an idea of a healthier lifestyle to cancer survivors or their families. For years she has been advocating organic food/natural and changing lifestyle to combat cancer.

I will be there as well. Yuan soap will participate too and 20% of proceeds will go to NCSM. But the real support would be having you to help celebrate lives whether for those who had battled cancer or survived, remember those who had lost the battles yet survived in our memories and let us fight back with more knowledge and support.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the official website of The National Cancer Society

CANCER IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER DISEASE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

By 2020 it is expected that there would be 15 million new cancer cases worldwide. This means that by 2020; every family will have at least one member suffering from cancer - your parent, your spouse, your sibling or even your child.

You see, cancer can hit anyone at any age. We don't know who it will strike at and when. But we do know for sure that if we do not take action now to educate ourselves on cancer and to do all we can to eradicate this disease; it may be too late.

The National Cancer Society of Malaysia would like to invite YOU to join the fight against cancer by participating in the Relay for Life Kuala Lumpur 2009, from 30th - 31st May at the MSN Training Stadium, Bukit Jalil.RFL is 16 hours of non-stop fun and excitement, where teams of people of all ages and from all walks of life come together for this noble cause by camping out at the stadium and taking turns walking or running around the track. This will be our third year organizing RFL.

In 2007 and 2008, RFL KL attracted over 3,000 and 5,000 participants respectively. This year, WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION we hope to bring in even more participants.

With our tagline Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back! RFL KL offers every one of us the opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer.

- We Celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and find solace and inspiration in the strength of the survivors as we continue the fight.- We Remember loved ones who have fallen in their fight, at the Relay we walk side by side with people battling cancer to commiserate and find healing.- We Fight Back! By participating in the Relay we aim to raise the bar on the awareness of cancer and put an end to the disease.

Since 1966, National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) has been an active force in advancing the cancer cause in Malaysia. NCSM is the only NGO to offer a holistic range of cancer services in Malaysia at subsidized rates, or in certain cases; at no cost. Our mission is to Educate, Care and Support cancer patients in Malaysia. Through RFL, NCSM will continue to provide such services to the public as such:

Fundraising

The funds raised for RFL KL 2009 will be used for the upgrading of equipment and facilities at our Cancer Treatment Centre (CTC). This will enable NCSM to provide efficient, quality services with state-of-the-art facilities to patients.

Awareness

We hope that this event will bring about an all-encompassing awareness on cancer so that the general public understands the importance of early detection and screening to reduce the risk of cancer.It is also to bring home the point that even if one is afflicted with cancer or is caring for a cancer patient, life is still something to be celebrated.

We provide programmes to reduce cancer risks, detect cancer early, ensure proper treatment and empower people facing cancer to maintain the highest quality of life. We also facilitate post cancer treatment and support mechanisms. Through our services and campaigns such as Relay for Life we have seen many lives changed for the better.

For further details, kindly contact Clare / Elizabeth at Tel: 03-26927705 / 03 - 26987300 or email RFL@cancer.org.my.

Box set

2009-05-25T17:21:00.000+08:00

What do you think of these box sets? Very traditional design.

Would you buy these?

2009-05-18T19:44:00.004+08:00

Same soap same weight but they are round. More expensive as they need more (hand)time to actually produce these soaps.

I have lots of enquiries regarding these soap balls. These are the ones which you can hang it next to your wash basin in the bathroom for hand wash. However the reasons why its still not here yet its because of the price. It is priced at more than 300NT (can't remember the exact price), roughly converted to more than RM30.

Handmade soap vs industrial soap

2009-05-18T19:19:00.005+08:00

Something I found online which is easy to understand and know more about handmade soaps.

Handmade Soap vs Industrial Soap

Skin health problems make people who concern start to seek for alternative for their skin treatment. The chemical substances contained in so many skin care products, including soaps, make people start to use handmade soap that is safer than the industrial soap. However, it doesn't mean that industrial soap is not healthy for your skin. In fact, there are several differences that make handmade soaps is better than the industrial soap.

Before we discuss about the differences between handmade soap and industrial soap, we need to define the term of industrial and handmade soap first. The term handmade soap refers to the soaps that can be made at home and mostly are made of natural ingredients like olive or jojoba oil. The making process is also simpler because the supporting tools are unadorned. On the other hand, the term industrial soap refers to the soap that is made by soap companies in large quantities. It usually contains little amount of oil and limited amount of vitamin since it is made mainly for commercial purpose.

Those two kinds of soap are also different in the making process. Handmade soap is made in cold process soap while industrial soap is in hot process soap. Cold soap making process is implemented in cold room temperature. So, it makes the oil nutrients useful for the skin is still intact. The hot soap making process needs 80-100°C until the saponification phase occurs. Saponification is the process of mixing the water, lye and fat or oil(note from me: Yuan soap uses no sodium peroxide, something similar but costlier and natural). One thing that cannot be denied is that both kinds of soap are using lye or sodium hydroxide in the making process; it is the substance that can turn oil into soap. But when the making process is done, there is no lye left in handmade soap because in the first moment of saponifying reaction, nearly 90% of the lye is eliminated and in the next process the lye is totally gone.

The significant difference between industrial and handmade soap is the glycerin content. Glycerin is the clear liquid that absorbs water from the air. It can soften the skin and keep its health. In handmade soap, the glycerin is kept and formed naturally during the saponification process. As in industrial soap, soap companies usually reduce the glycerin and put it into lotion products. Handmade soap is more skin-friendly than the industrial soap. Therefore, handmade soap is more effective for skin treatment.

by Ricardo Lubis (taken from http://www.purehandmadesoap.com/)

The difference between other handmade soaps and Yuan soaps is we incorporated herbal recipes and wisdom from our ancestors who had used them (and found them effective) from generations. Pleasing no one with synthetic fragrances, colours and shapes.

New Yuan Soap Store - Soon!

2009-05-18T19:06:00.002+08:00

Stay tuned on this space as we will unveiled our latest project soon!

Job vacancies on sales are available at our new outlet at the Central Market. Please write to me if anyone is interested with/without any sales experiences. Reach me at reese(dot)ong@gmail(dot)com

Earth Day Carnival Part 2

2009-05-06T15:37:00.006+08:00

The whole team behind Yuan soap for the Earth Day Carnival 2009
From left, Kelvin, Eric, Me, Zoey and James

With our booth neighbour/ dealer, Michelle and Noor from Bodybar, Tropicana.

Zoey and I fooling around at the MYFM studio while Yuan busy chatting with the DJ Phoebe.

Yuan soap in Kuantan soon!

2009-05-05T15:56:00.002+08:00

Yuan soap will be available soon

at

THE ORGANIC VILLAGE
B-608, LOWER GROUND
JALAN AIR PUTIH , 25300
KUANTAN, PAHANG DARUL MAKMUR

T/F: 09-567 2904
Mrs Ow

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-05T15:39:00.004+08:00

Penned by Yuan, himself to all the mothers in the world.

Story from Yuan

2009-05-05T15:14:00.005+08:00

When Yuan visited Malaysia weeks back to celebrate the Earth Day with us, he brought us some gifts. The limited Mother's Day gift set from Taiwan!

The gorgeous flower prints on the box and the natural cotton unbleached bag got me a bit sad of the fact I can't share it with Malaysian's Yuan soap fans.

However, that's not the gift I was talking about, its the story of the natural cotton unbleached bag. There's a little note tied to each of the bags which tells the story of Yuan who was in Tainan 2 months ago. There he met this loud mouthed but friendly boss, Mr Hui of a workshop that produce cotton bags.

Due to the business competition from China, Mr Hui does not even mind to sew just one bag for any customers. Yuan's 1000 bags were his largest order to date, this is to ensure that handmade businesses can still survive despite companies cutting and saving costs by going to larger factories with machines. The bag display no large branding of Yuan soap but the name of the workshop instead "合成布袋行“literally translated to "He Chen Cloth Bags", and proudly mentioned that it was made in Taiwan.

Touched after listenning to the story from Yuan (of course, he told it more vividly than my amanteurish translation), James and Zoey, my colleagues from Singapore challenged me to incorporate elements of Malaysia into our future gift sets as how Yuan did.

So what elements distinctly reminds you of Malaysia?

Listen to Yuan on air

2009-05-04T18:22:00.002+08:00

Yuan will be on 988 radio station this Saturday (May 9th) 8am to 9amon "Halo Boss" . Log on to www.988.com.my for those who want to listen online.

Earth Carnival Part 1

2009-05-01T21:34:00.008+08:00

This cool Japanese bonyari drummed messages like "reuse, reduce, recyle" and "arigato" to the crowd.

The soap set we specially brought in for the fair, mandarin orange soap, forest pine and auspicious soap. You get a free dead sea mud pack from buying this set. Most bought one for the coming Mohter's day.

Our little booth.

Interview in THE STAR, STAR 2!

2009-04-17T17:49:00.003+08:00

I was on my way to Bayan Lepas airport to pick up Yuan, the creator of Yuan soap. My friend Shirley Singh called me to inform about Yuan's long awaited interview in The Star. If you just read this entry, it just came out today, so grab your copy of The Star now!

For those who missed it here's the link http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/4/17/lifeliving/3700984&sec=lifeliving

Meet Yuan at Bodybar!

2009-04-09T10:51:00.001+08:00

Vacancy for an Accounts Assistant

2009-04-05T11:43:00.002+08:00

We have been searching for the right person for some time. Of course the basic criteria we need is the ability to manage the accounts books, sort documents etc, but we are looking for a long term member of the Origin Living that we can see grow within our small but growing company. If you can see yourself doing more than accounts in the future, please write in to us at originliving@yahoo.com. Experiences are not necessary, we can grow together and if you love Yuan soaps, it would be much much lovelier!

Some basic criterias we have:

- min qualifications=SPM

- fresh graduates = we don't mind at all

- the advantage is to be able to work immediately

- if you are able to read and write both English and Chinese I am sold (I am a BANANA)

- independence and mature (for your age)

Hope to hear from you soon!

What! No soaps?

2009-03-10T15:44:00.003+08:00

For some reasons, Yuan soaps are delivered late to Malaysia this time.

I have been getting some franctic calls from most of my dealers, and some have been shooting me dirty looks and mouthing "soap" whenever they see me. Customers even complained how are they going to shower without Yuan soap. It seems once you convert them to soap lovers, its hard to use shower gel anymore, take me as an example. I have tried using bath gel whenever I have no choice, but its not the same when the gel leaves a flimsy coat of wax or whatever you call it on my skin. I just don't feel its clean enough. Ok, perhaps its just psychological.

Thank you for all your support and encouragement, thank you those who smsed me for bringing Yuan soaps to our Malaysian shore. Thank you to all my dealers who passionately introduced the soaps to your customers.

For those who had bad experiences with our soaps, do give Yuan a chance again. Start with our most gentle member of the family: the Oat soap and you might just discover the difference.

Ps: The soaps will be in soon....very soon!

Earth Day Carnival at Ikano

2009-03-10T15:24:00.006+08:00

For those who want to catch a glimpse of Yuan; you can do so at the coming Earth Day carnival next month. This is an annual event organised by Justlife who advocates organic, fairtrade and eco products.

Yuan himself will be flying in from Taiwan to share some tips on some home eco ideas on the first weekend. Date and time will be confirmed at this site.

At the event itself, Yuan soap will also work together with Bodybar who brings in Organic and natural skin care products such as Mukti, Remedica, Bio Biguine, Just herbal etc. Do drop by our booth for to start your experience with organic and natural cleansing products.

Note: Don't forget your eco bag while you shop at this carniva; make it a habit anywhere you shop. Bodybar has some great foldable eco bags for sale if you need one!

Yuan in the news. February 8, 2009. Sin Chew Jit Poh

2009-02-10T20:13:00.001+08:00

Limited Edition Soaps

2009-02-10T20:01:00.005+08:00

What you get?

150g Bitter tea soap (Not available in Malaysia yet)

Great for extreme dry skin, pregnant women will adore it.
Its also anti inflammatory, great for combination skin, and if use as shampoo, it helps to prevent further hair greying.

150g Cypress Soap
100G GO

150g Liquorice Hair Soap

(Usual soaps are 100g each)

Free one Eco bag as shown above, with brown paper box(shown above too)

Sets ready for booking. Original Price RM142. Now only for RM128 only. Kindly email for details

Only 60 sets available in Singapore and Malaysia.

Feb 4, 2009. Jin shan and Yang Ming Shan

2009-02-04T23:35:00.013+08:00

After reading and imagining myself on visiting Yuan's workshop for so many months, I was finally there this morning. Before I arrived in Jinshan, I already imagined throwing myself on the grass and making butterfly strokes

We were served more tea and snacks upon arrival

Yuan himself showing us how much stirring needed to make soaps. Stirring itself can take up to 6 hours and temperature has to remain low to ensure essential oils would not evaporate and herbs' efficacies do not dwindle to high heat. One of the reason Yuan soaps are softer than other soaps is also due to the low temperature, commercial soaps are much harder as they are made with high temperature which also result in water and mineral lost.

Soaps balls - great as gifts, for hand wash as well as a decorations. Might be selling these soon as requests from friends have been overwhelming.

While we were listening to Yuan's, these were our backgrounds, workers were busy wrapping and slicing up soaps.

Soaps are then left to dry, some up to 45 to 60 days naturally.

To BE CONTINUED...

Feb 3, 2009. Yuan's office in Danshui

2009-02-04T23:19:00.007+08:00

My brains went dead on me on my first day at Yuan's office, we spent a full day from 9am to 6pm, even eating lunch boxes in the office to ensure we can crammed various and sufficient informations to be on schedule. Met counterparts from other countries, kept drinking some strangely nice tea called Recovery tea from Aveda (apparently its good for the complexions I was told) and bitting into dried limes to keep me awake for the entire training.

Feb 2, 2009 Touch down in Taipei

2009-02-04T23:10:00.002+08:00

Ok, when my sister mentioned we are going to stay in Shih Lin, the district where the famous Shihlin Night Market is located, I was secrectly delighted! I can just walk across the street and voila! I am in for a gastronomical treat!

Taipei

2009-02-04T23:03:00.004+08:00

Where am I?

I just visited Yuan's workshop this morning, Yuan is the guy with the black cardigan and khakis pants. Stay in touch with me here while I update the little details from my trip....

Purchase from us?!

2009-01-24T12:51:00.003+08:00

Sure why not? If you like to purchase from us, kindly email me at originliving@yahoo.com. I will then send you an order form.

If you purchase more than RM110, we will waive the shipping which charge around RM8 for the first 3kg by City Link Express.

For other purchase options, you can also check out www.tinytapir.com and www.pattybelle.com . These guys are the expert in online shopping. For those who prefer viewing the real thing and sniffing the soaps. Go to our dealers, most of them carry the full range, check the list here.

Happy Shopping!

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-01-23T14:51:00.004+08:00

1. Why are Yuan soaps "softer" than other soaps?

Answer:

Because we do not add paraffin wax and stearyl agent to harden the soaps and at the same time there were no high compression process which helps to mold the soaps shape. Yuan soaps take about 30 to 60 days to harden in a natural environment, and each bar is sliced individually. The paraffin wax and stearyl agent will clog our pores and by using natural handmade soap, you would not have the problem.

2. Why are Yuan Soaps' scents are not as strong or lasting as other soaps?

Answer:

Many soaps come with artificial fragrances and perfumes that are mostly petroleum-based. The enter our bodies through our skin contact and by inhaling them. They may contain phthalates. Synthetic fragrance is the most frequent cause of allergies from cleaning products and oftentimes the fragrance can be annoying, cause skin and eye irritation, and headaches. Artificial fragrances are toxic, especially for aquatic life, birds and other animals, who are more sensitive at first to the effects (remember the canary in the coal mine? Miners knew it was unsafe if the canary died from toxic fumes even while the unfeathered friends (humans) were still working amidst the toxin.) Many artificial fragrance are known to cause cancer, birth defects, migraines, allergies and other ailments which can lead to Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, SIDs, and Alzheimer's. When "artificial fragrance" or sometimes just "fragrance" is listed as an ingredient on a product, pause and wonder. That word can include hundreds of chemicals! Most of the research has been on topical effects but perfumes and fragrance were made to be inhaled. There is little long-term research on the effects of all these chemicals period, even less on the effects of inhaling these chemicals, not to mention the complete and utter lack of any research on their interaction with one another nor on the effects these things can have on our children!

Unfortunately, "unscented" or "fragrance free" may be no better for our health. Many companies use chemicals to mask odors. Scent is an important aspect of our lives; it affects our mood and our health. Pure essential oils can be used instead. Though they may appear to cost more at first, you need such a small amount and the effects of a pure essential oil over a artificial fragrance are staggering - on our environment and our future, on our overall wellbeing, health and our mood. Yuan soaps use Pure Essential Oils in the soaps thus causing no harm to our body.

Quoted from:http://www.deliciousorganics.com/controversies/chemicals.htm

2. Where do we get the "colour" on the soaps?

Answer:

Mother Nature has bestowed us with a rainbow of colours in the plants. By using the plants in our soaps, the colours occured naturally during the process. For example, our Purple Gromwell & Roselle soap gets it purple colour from the purple roots of Purple Gromwell. These natural colour enriched Yuan soaps with their plants properties. We would not make a soap with a specific colour in our mind.

3. Why do some soaps cause burning sensation/irritate the skin when we start using it?

Answer:

Some soaps contained antibacterial agents and cleansing properties from plants and pure essential oil. This is only temporary, as our skin get healthier from using the soaps, the irritation will subsides.

4. Can we use handmade soaps as facial wash?

Answer:

Of course! Our faces welcome natural products as much as the skin on our bodies. Everyday our face is exposed to dirt, polluted air, and makeup. The natural handmade soap would reduce the burden we put on the face. Just be choose wisely among the Yuan soap which is the most suitable for your skin type. For dry skin, you can always try Organic Oat soap and Sishen Chinese Herbs Soaps, For oily skin, Organic Mung bean and Job's tears and Lemon is great.

5. Shouldn't we used PH neutral products?

Answer:

Our skins are actually a little acidic thus using our soaps which are slightly alkaline helps to clean the skin. Acid + Alkaline= Neutral.

6. Why are there white spots on the soaps?

Answer:

These are not molds, these white substance are created when pure essential oils meet cool air or when the soaps are air dried.

7. How to we increase the soaps' lifespan?

Answer:

Simple, just ensure you leave it on dry places especially after using it. The soap is softer than commercial use because the high oil content we use,as these oils will ensure the goodness properties within the soaps remained fresh.

8. What about reused oil? Does Yuan soap use reused oil in their soap making process?

Answer:

Reused oil are mostly process with high heat thus its molecules are bigger than the unused ones. The larger molecules will clogged our skin's pores as well thus irritations or break outs will happen. We use only new edible oil for our soaps.

Yuan soaps in the press

2009-01-20T16:15:00.003+08:00

Wonderful reviews by independent beauty bloggers:-

1. www.mywomenstuff.com/2008/11/27/yuan-handmade-organic-soaps-from-taiwan/

2.http://www.vivawoman.net/2008/12/29/review-yuan-handmade-natural-soaps/

__________________________________________________________
Newspapers-

Mentioned in Star Two:

3. http://clovetwo.com/articles/story.asp?file=/2008/9/29/beautyhighlights/2120885&sec=beautyhighlights

4. Lian He Bao (East Malaysian Chinese Newspapers)

Magazines
4. Longlife Magazines Sept & Oct 08 issue
5. Merits Magazines Jan to March 09 issue
6. LOHAS Magazines Dec 2007 issue
More coming out....watch this space!

Coming soon (if no changes)
February 2, 2009, Sin Chew Jit Poh's Happy Sunday Section

Thank you to all media for all the support.

Where Yuan soaps are found and sold

2009-01-17T14:57:00.009+08:00

Klang Valley

The Garden Mid Valley

Justlife Shop

Green Bamboo Organic
Old Klang Road
36A Faber Plaza, Jalan Desa Bakti, Taman Desa, Off Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur
03-7980-1319

V-Care Organic Enterprise
Old Klang Road
11-E Lucky Plaza B. Park, No.3, Jalan Awan Mendung Off Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur
03-7984-8188

So Fresh Organic
Old Klang Road
Jalan Hujan Emas 5, Taman Overseas Union Garden, 58200, Kuala Lumpur
012-26595715

Green Meadow / RPA
SS2, PJ
62-62C, SS2/67 Petaling Jaya Selangor
03-7873-0360

Justlife Shop
26 Jalan SS2/24 47300 Petaling Jaya Selangor
Tel:+603-7877 8643

Lara’s Place
SS2, PJ
76-1st Floor, Wisma Hing, Jalan SS2/72, 47300, Petaling Jaya
03-7956-8768

Viva Organic
Bandar Sg Long
31G, Jalan SL/1/4, Bandar Sungai Long, 43000, Kajang, Selangor.
03-9080-1830

Green Life Natural & Organic
Selayang Jaya
43&44, Jalan SJ 5, Taman Selera, Selayang Jaya,
012-280 6378

莲姐
Taman Megah
Coffee shop Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya/organic shop coming soon
016-2219-598

Ji Yen Fang
Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam
9G, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla M/31M, Kota Kemuning, 40460, Shah Alam
03-5124-8815

Ideal Home Natural & Organic Mini Market
Kepong
57, Jalan 3/36, Taman Bukit Sri Bintang, Kepong, 52100
03- 6274 1663

Jade Garden Vegetarian Restaurant
Bandar Utama
Lot F113, 1st Floor (New Wing), Centrepoint, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 47800, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
03-77102939

Ringzhi Vegetarian Restaurant
Kepong
2, Jalan Prima 8, Pusat Perniagaan Metro Prima
03-6250 6561

Tiny Tapir
Kuala Lumpur
Ampang Park. 3rd floor, near the post office./ www.tinytapir.com
014- 327 7971

Organic Options
Cheras
No:39G, Jalan Pandan Indah4/6A, Pandan Indah, 55100, Kuala Lumpur
03-4997 0876

New Life Organic Care
Cheras
No:7, Jalan Damai Perdana, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur
03-91056707

My Daily Nutrition
Sunway Damansara
42A-1 Jalan PJU 5/10, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara,
03-6141 6066

Justlife Shop
Mutiara Damansara, IKANO Power Centre
Tel: +603-7728 5503

BodyBars
Petaling Jaya
Unit 31, Level 1, Tropicana Mall, Jalan SS20/27, 47400 Petaling Jaya Selangor
Tel: +603 7727 8966

Justlife Shop
SUBANG JAYA
11 Jalan USJ 14/1M 47620
Tel: +603-5632 0868

V.Ne Organic Station
Serdang
13a-2, Jalan BS4/2, Taman Bukit Serdang, 43800, Seri Kembangan, Selangor
TEL: 017-679 5370

Justlife Shop
PUCHONG
35-01 GF Jalan Kenari 19A Bandar Puchong Jaya
Tel:+603-8076 9795

Organiz Shop
40-1, Jalan Puteri 5/2, Bandar Puteri
Tel:012-622 9199

Negeri Sembilan
Soon Sing Kee Sdn Bhd
Seremban
2-C, Jalan Temiang, 70200, Seremban
012-3609337

I sense Design
Seremban
28g, Jalan Tmn 3, Kemayan Square, Seremban
012-2231684 / 06- 7629082

Justlife Shop
18 Jalan S2 D39 City Centre, Magistrate Square
Tel +606-6011 038

Patty Cottage Enterprise
Senawang
348, Taman Senawang Jaya, 70450 Seremban
019-2171015

MELAKA
Justlife Shop
258 Jalan Melaka Raya 3 Taman Melaka Raya 7
Tel:+606-2881 839

Johor

Sister Organic House
Kulai
No:24, Jln Bunga Ros, Tmn Sri Kulai Baru, 81000, Kulai, Johor
07-6632363

Greenfield Organic shop
Skudai
No.61, Jln Perwira 2, Tmn Tunku Ammeh, 81100, Skudai, Johor
012-7733316

Greenland Natural House
Johor Bahru
14, Jalan Permas 14/6, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750, Johor Bahru, Johor
07-289 7727

Abundance Experience
Muar
No:9, Jln Warisan 1, Tmn Warisan,Jln Junid, 84000, Muar, Johor
016 6827 767

Lohas Organic
Muar
No: 83, 1st Floor, Jalan Meriam, 84000, Muar, Johor
012-6389299

Perak

Ayer Tawar

Greenery Organic Natural Health Food

195, Taman Seri Sentosa 8, Medan Sri Sentosa, 32400

016-521 3104

Penang

IE Organic House
Ayer Hitam
No:11-A, Jalan Pasar,Pulau Tikus, 10350, Pulau Pinang
04-227 2079

Natural Homeopanthy Care Centre

Tanjung Bungah

15,Lebuh Lembah Permai 1

Tel: 04-8992471

Natural Homeopanthy Care Centre

79,Jalan Lebuh Permai

Tel: 04-8901279

Justlife Shop

1 C Jalan Sungai Kelian

Tel:+604-8900 589

Green Green Organic
Bukit Mertajam
No. 21, Jalan Bukit Tambun, Taman Tambun Indah, 14100 Simpang Ampat, Penang.
012-2122826/012-4232826

Kang Yen Enterprise
Bukit Mertajam
No.5, Lebuh Binjai 2, Tmn Sri Rambai,14000, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
04-538 1692

Nature Bliss Organic Zone
Bukit Mertajam
18, Taman Jaya, Jalan kulim, Bukit Mertajam, Penang
012-5890766

Pahang

Kedai Persolekan Shu Fun
Benta
No:48, Kedai MDL,27300, Benta, Pahang
09-3230294

Get Yuan soaps online at
http://www.pattybelle.com/
http://www.tinytapir.com/

The Laundry Bar- The Cleaner

2009-01-17T14:45:00.007+08:00

Ingredients: Oolong tea, mustard oil, citronella oil, fir oil, palm oil, coconut oil

It uses edible plant oil, and is free of petrified ingredients, surfactants, whitening agents and chemical essence.. Suitable for undergarments, brassieres, baby clothes, pillowcases, socks, towels, handkerchiefs, tableware, nursing bottles.

Personal views and experiences

My mother made me used this soap to wash my own clothes in my bathroom, suprisingly lasting but I think the downside its has no herbal smell. One customer was happy with the fact her child was not itching again after using this soap. Washing clothes with normal detergent could trigger allergies when you perpires and most of us don't when we have a stronger immune system.

Price: RM17.50

Disclaimer: These soaps are to help relieve your skin problems, not a medication or a cure all for your skin diseases. We believe natural soaps are the best when your skin is vulnerable .For total skin health,its all boils down to proper nutrition. Please consult a Nutritionist or your doctor for further information.

The Liquorice Soap- The Hair Riser

2009-01-17T14:45:00.006+08:00

Ingredients: Liquorice, ginger, basil, cilantro,celery, cedar oil, beeswax, palm oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil .

There are many uses for liquorice. Its aqueous solution which has a weak foamability is a natural surfactant. It is strong in inhibiting bacteria growth and inflammation. Raw ginger and pine essential oils have long been proven to be able to fight seborrhea and dandruff. It is also useful in reversing the process of balding. It is significantly effective in promoting cutaneous perspiration and simulating local circulation.

Personal Views and experiences

Mom uses this soap and the yellow sage soaps for her dandruff and scalp itchiness, and it seems to work. I can't say much as I have not really tried using it on my hair as I have dry hair, I could not let go of the Sage soap. I will update this space when I do.

Price: RM 29.50

Eucalyptus Soap- The Wake Up Call

2009-01-17T14:35:00.003+08:00

Ingredients: Eucalyptus leaf, eucalyptus oil, mint leaf, pomelo rind, liquorice oil, punk tree oil, beeswax, olive oil, canola oil,palm oil, coconut oil

Eucalyptus benefits the respiratory system significantly through breathing. If you are mentally exhausted, it helps to refresh your mind and aids concentration. Good for the skin, eases athlete’s foot, insect bites, rashes and the clogging of pores.

Personal views and experiences

I have not much experiences with this soap to be honest, only enjoy sniffing the soaps. If you have tried it, maybe you could share with me

Price: RM29.50

Wild Patchouli Soap- The Mint Cousin

2009-01-17T14:27:00.005+08:00

Ingredients: Pogostemon Cablin, Edible Gynura, Patchouli oil, Rosemary Oil, Beeswax, Olive Oil, Sunflower seed oil

Wild Patchouli Soap Patchouli is a kind of herb that has been traditionally used to clear inflammation, dissipate heat, detoxify and clear bruises. For people who have bumpy skin, acnes and pimples, have hand eczema, athlete’s foot or sensitive skin.Its also great for skin inflammation. For hair, its suitable for those who has dry scalp but oily hair.

Personal views and experiences

So far my customers who has hand eczema, reported good results after using this soap. Once my granduncle contracted some skin rashes on his leg from jungle trekking, could not stop singing praises. One friend had some pimples on her forehead, see the pimples reducing after two weeks, now she refuses to try other variants as Wild Patchouli has became her daily bath companion.

Price: RM29.50

Cypress Soap- The Protector

2009-01-17T14:10:00.003+08:00

Ingredients: Taiwan yellow cypress, juniper oil, cedar, beeswax, olive oil, canola oil, palm oil, coconut oil

Cypress grows on mountains stretching as high as 1,800m to 2,800m above sea level. It secretes an essential oil that has a powerful ability to kill bacteria. Works well for acne, pimple, nappy rash, bed sore, erythema, sebum secretion, itchy scalp, skin inflammation, allergic skin and athlete’s foot; also kills bacteria, stops itchiness and heals wounds.

Personal views and experiences

The Yellow Cypress is actually a protected species in Taiwan, a life span that could reach 4000 years old, its longevity is due ist own ability to wart off insects and birds as it secretes essential oil mentioned above.

During the World War 2, the Japanese took golds and Cypress trees with them when they left. In Japan, Cypress trees are highly prized for its strong sturdy wood which were used to make houses. Cypresses were also used to make bath tubs, when hot waters are poured in, the tub will then secretes the essential oil which will benefits the skin.

This is one of the last soaps I tried due to the not so interesting smell. However my interest was piqued when and few of my organic shop dealers were selling it very well, too well until I ran out of order. My cousin sister uses it to control her face skin inflammation, she found the soap helps to calm her skin. My partner from Singapore always imagine the great tree Cypress as his support whenever he uses the soap.

Price: RM29.50

Purple Gromwell and Roselle

2009-01-17T00:27:00.004+08:00

Ingredients: Amebia euchroma, roselle, verbena, patchouli, petitgrain, eucalyptus oil, beeswax, olive oil, grape seed oil

It can reduce eczema and detoxify when used externally. This soap is created for those who develop prickly heat easily and whose skin is too oily and dull. For people with acnes, prickly heat, eczema and itchiness due to unknown causes inflammation, allergic skin and athlete’s foot; also kills bacteria, stops itchiness and heals wounds.Its also suitable to clear white heads and blackheads, helps heal the skin after "squeezing" pimples.

Personal Views and experiences

The first time I used it, I found out how "dirty" I was. Gentle rub on the skin can reveal hundreds of dead skins, and my elbows ended up smooth.

Price: RM22.50

Organic Lemon

2009-01-17T00:15:00.004+08:00

Ingredients: Fresh lemon juice, lemon rind, lemon leaf, verbena, salvia, thyme oil, beeswax, olive oil

Lemon has an excellent natural ability to kill bacteria. It works well in removing old cells, lightening pigmentation, tightening pores, and gives the complexion a beautiful shine. Works well for removing old cells, lightening pigmentation, tightening pores, giving the complexion a beautiful shine.

Personal Views and experiences

Just love the smell, pure lemon, unlike synthetic lemon fresheners in the market.

Price: RM29.50

Organic Oats

2009-01-16T23:45:00.008+08:00

Ingredients: Buckwheat, oats, mineral water, beeswax, olive oil, grape seed oil, canoala oil , sunflower oil

Natural cereal crops are highly nutritious and have a rather good effect on preventing dry and weak skin. Oats Soap has been supported by loyal users, especially atopic dermatitis patients who have extremely sensitive skin, or skin that is oily underneath but dry on the surface. Children, people with extremely sensitive skin, as well as women during and after pregnancy will find this soap useful.

Personal view and experiences

Works well for my friends' children who has dry skin. and mosturising enough for sensitive skin users. My mum who runs an organic confinement services, sometimes helps to bath the babies and she will bring this soap along. The little spots and their first skin peeling will heal very fast which results in better skins!

Price:RM22.50

Wild Yellow Sage- The Poison

2009-01-16T23:44:00.001+08:00

Ingredients: Common Lantana, Bidens Pilosa, Lavender, Beeswax, Juniper Oil, Oilive Oil, Grape seed Oil.

Encapsulating the merits of mugwort and patchouli, yellow sage can make your skin appear tighter. When used on the hair, it is no less effective than the Liquorice Hair Soap. Skin appears tighter after use, can be used for eczema, damp toxin, itchiness; and also reduces swells, detoxifies, relieves rheumatic pains and colds and stops itchiness.

Personal views and experiences

Once, I think I eaten something that caused me to itch, I tried all the other soaps but to no avail, until I tried Wild Yellow Sage. In two washed, my itchiness subsided. One of my customer's daughter came back itchy from the beach and could not find anything could have caused it. She told me the itchiness vanished after 3 washes. I use Wild Yellow Sage to wash my hair too, I like the way it helps to create volume.

Price: RM29.50

Organic Mung Bean & Job's Tear Soap-The Nurturer

2009-01-16T22:38:00.002+08:00

Ingredients: Mung Bean, Job's tears, cinnamon oil, clove oil, beeswax, olive oil, grape seed oil

Mung bean works better than vitamins C and E in improving the condition of pigmentation, freckles and ugly spots. Job’s tears are useful for esquamative and rough skin. Especially suitable for people who always wear make-up and those who go under the sun frequently, as well as those who itch easily after shower.

Personal view and experiences

Its quite normal for me to have some skin inflammation and pimples on my chins as signs of bad digestion. So I was quite surprised after three washes, my skin inflmmations and pimples started to fade as well, plus it cleanses my makeup quite well however I still have to use eye make up remover for my eyeliners.

Price: RM 22.50

Sishen Chinese Soap- The Healer

2009-01-16T22:15:00.002+08:00

Ingredients:Tuckahoe, chinese yam, gorgon gruit, lotus seed, job's tears, chinese angelica, palm oil, camomile, frankinsense, parsley oil, olive oil, canola oil.

The nature of Sishen Chinese herbs is warm and moisturising. Its rich starch content leaves your skin smooth after wash. Its ingredient, Chinese angelica, can reduce swelling, stop pain, purge pus and boost the muscles, regardless of oral consumption or external application. Serving as an anti-oxidant, its extract can also reduce skin darkening and pigments formation, and increases the skin’s ability to fade melanin.

As it has job's tears in the ingredients, it helps to reduce water retention.

Personal views and experiences

Sishen was my first love. The sweet smell makes it hard for me to put it down and I was smelling the soap on and off when it first came. Then I read somewhere that it helps to calm you down (probably I was overstressed then).

Chinese Angelica is great with healing wounds thus making it suitable for diabetic patients and those who suffer from cuts and bruises. Sishen is also mosturises and great with pigmentation on your arms due to overexposure to the sun.

Price: RM29.50

Wild Mugwort- Our bestseller

2009-01-16T20:37:00.001+08:00

Ingredients: Artemisia, verbena, greean tea, patchouli oil, citronella oil, beeswax, beeswax, olive oil, grape seed oil

Many plant experts have proven that mugwort oil can fight against eczema and itch cause by ringworm.
Gentle wash for those who get acne, atopic dermatitis and eczema on the chest, back and cheeks; also suitable for those with strong body odour.

Personal view and experiences

This soap has been vouched by reviews, testimonials and sales, but I have never tried the whole bar. I was so busy trying those who has not received the same limelight as Wild Mugwort soap. I have friends who sliced the soaps leaving it around the house, cars and even drawers as air fresheners. However this herbal smell is either you like it or you don't, once tried probably you will get hooked.

This soap was created for Yuan's mother who was suffering from hand eczema. Maybe this will be a great gift for your parents.

Price: RM29.50

Background story: A FINE LATHER- reported by Taiwan Panaroma

2009-01-16T20:10:00.003+08:00

A bar of soap scented with mugwort from Changhua's Huatan Township and patchouli from Taipei's Jinshan Township made with water from Yangmingshan's mountain springs does more than wash away dirt-it soothes the soul.

"There are mountains all over Taiwan, and those mountains are covered with herbs," says Chiang Jung-yuan. By distilling the best that this land has to offer in a way that "hydrates" the Earth, its herbs, and its people, Chiang has catapulted his Yuan Soap onto the global stage.
L'Occitane, Crabtree Evelyn, Lush, The Body Shop... The market for personal-care products is awash in more European and American brands than you can shake a loofah at, yet Yuan Soap has managed to carve out a place for itself in just three years with its handmade herbal soaps. On a par with international brands in terms of the price and quality, the company competes on the basis of the purity and freshness of its "homegrown" products.

Pure and natural
Everything about Yuan Soap reinforces the company's "natural" image: the unadorned shape of the soaps themselves, the open, unprepossessing decor of the company's Danshui workshop and Jinshan factory, even the scruffy look of company founder Chiang Jung-yuan.

Though Yuan Soap plugs itself as a local brand, it sells its products at "international prices." Where an ordinary bar of soap goes for under NT$20, Yuan's locally manufactured soaps sell for NT$200-300 per bar.

In 2008, Yuan's "Flowers in a Mirror, Moon in Water"-two pieces of soap in the shape of the moon made from Taiwanese honey, flaxseed oil, and shell-ginger leaves in a ceramic soap dish made in Yingge-won a competition for innovations in mooncakes. Yuan retailed the soap set for NT$1,500.

Chiang Jung-yuan was the first Taiwanese entrepreneur to succeed in elevating locally manufactured soaps to such heights. Chiang established the Ah Yuan Workshop in May 2005 to produce pure, natural, hand-made soaps, never imagining that it would grow from its original four-person team to its current 64-person workforce.

Clean body, clean mind
For Chiang, soap making was initially an excuse to withdraw from the world and "cleanse" his wounds.
"The Earth has feelings. Every living thing has a soul. Yet people denigrate all of it all the time," laments Chiang. Reading between the lines, you can see traces of an old injury underlying many of Chiang's words. After long years organizing campaign events and writing promotional materials, he came to feel that politicians and his "revolutionary" comrades in arms were pretentious and duplicitous. He left politics to spend time setting up cultural events all over Taiwan before again realizing that he was sweating blood while other people were taking the credit.

Giving up his career in middle age to wander the Earth, Chiang slowly decompressed. But then all the pressures and problems that had built up inside over the years manifested physically all at once. He developed eczema and allergic rashes. His confidence in social situations plummeted as his skin became dry, inflamed, blistered, and scabbed. He itched terribly whenever he used a skincare product containing preservatives. Looking for a solution to his skin problems, Chiang began studying Chinese herbal medicines and learned to make his own soap. Establishing Yuan Soap was the natural result of putting himself in other people's shoes. "Plants provide a kind of love and protection that can revitalize our whole bodies," says Chiang.

There's nothing mysterious about soap. It's basically oil, water, alkali salts and additives. But few soapmakers invest the kind of time in it that Chiang has.

Yuan soaps are made with pristine water from springs in Yangmingshan National Park, edible oils (olive and coconut), and locally grown medicinal plants, including chrysanthemums, tealeaves, lemon, mugwort and patchouli. The company's soaps are truly all natural, and contain no chemical additives, like surfactants. The production of each handmade bar of Yuan soap requires an 18-step 45-day process. Everything from growing and harvesting the plants, extracting the water, pouring the oil, mixing, forming, cold saponifying, extracting the soap from the molds, and air-drying it for 45 days to cutting and stamping the finished product is done by hand. The company never adds paraffin to speed the hardening process, and never uses machines.

Yuan's support for Taiwanese agriculture and his commitment to localism are inspiring. With the exception of those items that simply are not produced in Taiwan, the company sources everything it uses, regardless of the cost, from small Taiwanese organic farms. For example, it pays NT$800 per catty (600 grams) for chrysanthemums from Taitung rather than buying them from mainland China for just NT$150 per catty. This is also true of the roselle it uses, which it purchases from Hualien growers for NT$150 per catty rather than from the mainland for NT$40 per catty.

Yuan's insistence that all its products contain only pure extracts has had an indirect impact on the growers that supply it with organic fruits and medicinal herbs. It has also earned the company recognition from local farmers' associations, the Society of Wilderness, and organic-produce dealers, who have, to Chiang's delight, sought its help in organizing organic growing events. "I'm getting happier and happier about what I'm doing," smiles Chiang.

Skin friendly
Given that Ah Yuan's products are natural, handmade herbal soaps, it's essential that the company have an understanding of the cultivation and uses of herbs.

In addition to working with organic growers all over Taiwan, Yuan has established its own farms. After acquiring its first farm in Jinshan, the company leased three hectares of terraces in Yangmingshan National Park in 2008. It now grows a variety of medicinal plants, herbs, and wildflowers, including tea-oil camellia, lemon, mulberry, guava, mugwort, lantana, and patchouli, on land there that had been lying fallow for 20 years.

Because the soaps have medicinal properties, Ah Yuan invests real time and effort in their development. Chiang himself has a solid understanding of both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, in part as a result of his family background-his great grandfather and great uncle were both TCM doctors and his grandfather was an herbalist.

Among Yuan's many different products are lemon and patchouli soaps. Lemon has antibacterial properties, helps remove old cells, lightens the skin, and shrinks pores. Patchouli has long been used to reduce inflammation, for its cooling effect, to counteract poisons, and treat bruising, and is therefore beneficial to people prone to pimples, acne, housewife's dermatitis, and skin allergies.

When eaten, mung beans and Job's tears have cooling and diuretic effects. In soap, they reduce freckling, smooth the skin, and act as an exfoliant. People who suffer from eczema, prickly heat, and other conditions that cause itching for unknown reasons find some relief in a Yuan soap made with colorful, fragrant Asian puccoon and hibiscus, which contain skin-soothing allantion.

Chiang is most pleased with his company's mugwort soap, which also happens to be its bestseller.

"There's nothing special about adding mugwort to soap," says Chiang. "But no one does it as well as I do." He contends that you have to use different extraction methods on different parts of the mugwort-alcohol for the roots, stewing in hot water for the stems, sun drying for the leaves, and freeze drying for the shoots. He adds that mugwort works best in conjunction with green tea, which contains catechins and anthocyanins that facilitate the action of the antioxidants in the mugwort. His mugwort soap, which also contains complementary ingredients such as green tea, verbena, and lemongrass, helps with irritating skin conditions like eczema, itching, and scaling.

Seeking customers with taste
At Eslite's December 2005 opening ceremony for its Xinyi store, Yuan got to place its soaps in a display counter by the main entrance. It posted great numbers, and has since grown from sales of 200-plus bars per month to sales of 70-80,000 bars per month in 2008.

The company has also been working with growing numbers of distributors. In addition to retailing its products at six of its own locations, it offers them through more than 400 sellers of organic goods. The company has even begun branching out overseas, and now has agents in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.

Envious peers remark that Chiang's background in advertising simply makes him a better marketer. As a soapmaker, he's managed to hitch his products to the "LOHAS" bandwagon and raise the profile of Taiwanese brands.

Chiang's himself believes that timing has been the most important factor in Yuan's success.
"Taiwanese society is in a tumult," says Chiang. "People are unsettled. When there's too much freedom, there's a turn back to a kind of restraint, a desire to see things consolidated. What Yuan wants to offer people is something calm and quiet." Chiang, who grabbed people's attention with his claim that cleanliness was a kind of moral practice, says of Yuan's rise: "I didn't build the stage. It was just happened to be empty and I jumped on it."

Though there are few barriers to entry in the soap business, Yuan doesn't fear copycats or imitators. "I not only don't fear them," says Chiang, "I'd welcome them." He explains that it took the growing popularity of martial arts films to produce Tsui Hark, and the rise of Asia as a whole to bring fame to directors like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee. "Taiwan's land, waters, and consumers will all benefit from more people making and using natural handmade soaps," he says. Doesn't he fear losing market share? "You succeed or fail on the strength of your brand." Chiang says that all he has to do is keep making good products.

Visiting gifts
In fact, Yuan has already begun branching out, and growing from Yuan Soap into Yuan Stores, and from Yuan Care to Yuan Lifestyle. To that end, it is rolling out new Yuan products that draw on the good taste of Taiwan's people and the flavors and scents available here.
Products currently in testing and soon to be released include shampoos, face lotions, creams, and other skincare products. Yuan also signed contracts with farmers in Tainan and Yilan for organic black beans and camellia seeds in 2008. In preparation for a push into the manufacture of soy sauce, camellia oil, and cane sugar, Chiang himself will travel to Thailand to learn to make sugar.

Chiang says that he hopes that Yuan Stores' products come to be so well regarded that they become representative of Taiwan, given to foreign visitors to our island the way we currently give glassware, pineapple cakes, and Black Bridge sausages.

One hundred percent made in Taiwan, Ah Yuan wants not just to have a relationship with the people of Taiwan, but to be something they are proud to gift to others.

by: Chang Chiung-fang/tr. by Scott Williams

Welcome friends!

2009-01-16T19:54:00.000+08:00

Hello, hello...

This blog would be used temporarily until our website is up (which might take some time).

Let me introduce what is Yuan Soap, and what it is all about.

For those who can read Chinese, you will find more information on http://www.taiwansoap.com.tw/, for English informations, kindly bear with me to tell you the story of Yuan soap.