Soap nuts are the answer if you’re thinking about switching to a green laundry detergent or want to begin using more natural cleaning products in your home.

If you are still skeptical about whether soap nuts work just read the soap nuts testimonials and reviews we’ve received at NaturOli from soap nuts users across the United States.

Soap Nuts are great for front-loading washers! I got a front loading washing machine about a year ago, and I loved it, except for when I washed towels. They never came out clean-smelling. That ALL changed when I started using these Soap Nuts! NOW my towels and ALL my laundry come out smelling and looking cleaner than ever! I have been using 3 nuts and reusing them at least 4 times with no problems. These are wonderful!
- C. Long, Holly, Michigan

Your soap nuts were of exceptional quality and arrived within TWO days of placing my order. Very good experience, and I will not hesitate to order from NaturOli in the future.
- Heather C., Calhoun, Georgia

Phenomenal Product – Greatest Purchase on the Dollar! I can’t say enough about NaturOli Nuts. You can’t beat the quality and quantity for the price. Not only did I get a NATURAL cleaning product, with 6 bags at no extra cost, I got the most incredible customer service ever! This company’s dedication to informing their customers and providing exceptional service, in addition to fine products have earned them a lifetime customer! Thank you for the personal emails. I really appreciate that in a business. Thank you very much for being a great company we can trust.
- Ruben M., Chicago, Illinois

I am loving the soap nuts I ordered last month. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to justify the extra expense of using something better for my family and for the environment but that is not the case. It’s lots more economical that the detergent and fabric softener I was using. I’m getting at least seven loads by using them in cold water and doing the “tea” method you recommend. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Thanks for going the extra mile and hand selecting only the best of the best.
- Melisa G., Rogersville, Alabama

Thank you, thank you. thank you!!! I am running a small soap nut business, and I think you just saved me from making a huge mistake. I was ready to buy what sounded like a great deal. Then I read your article on Ezine and started asking lots of questions. Nobody except your company was even very helpful. The original people in Canada would only send me samples with half down!!! You probably just saved me from owning about $1000 worth of who knows what. That could have been a really big set back for me since I’m just building a good customer base now. NaturOli just got a customer for life. Thanks for being so straightforward and telling it the way it is. I’m so glad I found you!!! xoxoxo
- Tina J., Monterey, California

I was skeptical about soap nuts natural detergent. Green, 100% natural, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, biodegradable, sustainable, and on and on… It simply seemed far too good to be true. Well, I guess I’ll keep an open mind more often – because these are absolutely incredible! I am astonished! This is the coolest thing since sliced bread. I had no idea what true naturally clean, soft and fresh even meant before. Just crawling under the sheets and curling up in bed feels so wonderful! It’s like a whole new world. No more “so-called” green detergents for me. This is the real deal, and I’ll never go back!
- Jonathan Z., San Mateo, California

Finally tried the soapnuts. I did 3 loads right in a row. Was a nice breezy day too, so with hanging out in the sun to dry resulted in VERY fresh smelling and feeling laundry! Soapnuts are definitely going on my next order!
- Kathryn H., Newport, Virginia

I received my soap nuts. I couldn’t wait to use them so I dug up some wash (I have 4 kids) and did 2 loads. The clothes came out very soft. It’s hard to explain what they smelled like – it was almost like just fabric…nothing. No well-water smell! No fragrance!
- Deanna W., Cape Coral, Florida

Finally a detergent that doesn’t smell like one. Soap Nuts??? How’d you ever come up with these? You folks are fantastic! I just had to try them. Whoaaaa!!! No more scratchy and itchy feeling!!!! I feel wonderful!!! What a great addition to your fabulous products! I can’t wait for what you come up with next. Keep it going!!!!
- Joe S., Indianapolis, Indiana

Yesterday I got the package of NaturOli Nuts and other items I ordered. The first thing I did was open the soap nuts and make a batch of soap nuts liquid to use in my dishwasher. That’s my real test of the quality. Lesser quality soap nuts dont clean as well. Let me tell you, the minute I poured the water into the pot on the dried soap nuts I saw suds, something I cannot say for the other companies’ soap nuts I tried. From now on NaturOli Nuts are my first and only choice when I buy soap nuts.
- Lori S., Orlando, Florida

No more sneezing! No more itching! I almost gave up looking for a solution. I’ve loved all your products since my first use, but these soap nuts really iced the cake. I don’t think I knew what clean even smelled like! Everything is so soft! Like better than new. My towels are fluffier and seem to absorb more. I don’t get it, but I sure am loving it! What a fantastic product for you to offer. It just shows me again how much you all care. Forever, your greatest fan!
- Maria H., Bridgeport, Connecticut

My sheets, clothes, towels, EVERYTHING never felt so clean and SO SOFT. I’m amazed. I can tell there’s no lingering chemicals anymore. I love knowing I’m not surrounded by toxins. I feel purified! That may sound weird, but it’s liberating. Since changing to soap nuts, it feels good to crawl under the sheets and get dressed again. I’m following your advise and beginning to change out every chemical cleaner in the house with my own soap nut solutions. It’s so easy! Thanks for being so helpful!
- Cindy M., Cincinnati, Ohio

For many more soap nut user testimonials, PLUS professional soap nuts reviews, blog commentaries, news, press releases, and more: Visit SoapNuts.pro

See: Soap Nuts Reviews and Testimonials

Soap nuts (the natural detergent that actually is found growing on trees) are not “nuts” (in this case you can take the term anyway you desire). They are actually a fruit most commonly referred to as a soapberry. Now, that had to sound really weird, huh? It’s no wonder people are confused. I just referred to a detergent as a fruit, and a detergent growing on trees. Jugs and bottles certainly don’t grow on trees. And also, I certainly would not call wine a grape. Are you confused, yet? I would be. It is my hope that this article clarifies a great deal about what soap nuts actually are. As your understanding grows, such seemingly stupid statements will actually begin to make sense. I’ve dedicated nearly a year intensely studying soap nuts and their inherent properties. From lab test to standing in front of the washing machine, countless hours have been spent. As a large US importer and a product formulator, that’s my job. I hope my work will save you precious time.

Again, soap nuts are a fruit. They produce a substance that is a natural detergent (or soap). It is called saponin. Sapo is actually Latin for soap. There are numerous botanical sources for saponin. What makes the soap nut so special is its extremely high concentration of saponin. It is the saponin that is Mother Nature’s own natural surfactant that effectively acts in the exact same way as a chemical detergent or soap.

Important break: “What the heck is a surfactant?” Excellent question! I’m so glad someone asked!

sur-fac-tant n. A substance or agent, for example, a detergent or a drug, that reduces the surface tension of liquids so that the liquid spreads out, rather than collecting in the form of droplets.

All detergents and soaps are essentially surfactants. It is surfactants that allow for the break up of dirt, grime, oil, grease, etc. in water – and thus enables things to be washed and become cleaned. It’s really that simple. (There are some minor exceptions but this is the KEY thing to realize about how detergents and soaps work.) It is just the fact that most surfactants – that we know of – have come out of chemical labs rather than grown by Mother Nature. I assure you they are not picking fruit at Procter and Gamble. At least not when making detergent. I bet this is beginning to make sense.

Somewhere throughout the ages people started calling the dried soapberries “nuts”. Why? Because they feel and look more like a nut than anything else. They are hard and dry (when they are ready for use) and even a nut-like color. If you picked one up off the ground, your first guess would be: “some kind of nut.” So, there you go. The rest is history. When growing on the tree, soap nuts remind me most of a cherry given their large seed size relative to its pulp and skin. As they are dried in the sun, they become wrinkled and then look reminiscent of a date or an overgrown (big time) raisin – just drier and harder. During their first couple months they will be yellowish to golden in color. As they age they will redden in color. As time continues, they will simply darken and shrink a bit in size. If properly stored in a cool dry environment they can last for years. As with nearly all dried natural or organic fruits, vegetables, etc., if they are not stored properly and allowed to become moist they will blacken and even grow molds. I would not recommend them at that point. (So much for common sense.)

Again, it is the soap nuts’ remarkable ability to produce saponin (that natural soap) in high levels that makes them so incredibly special – the ideal natural detergent, soap and cleaner. As a consumer, you receive them as simply the dried fruits with their seeds removed (usually). However, as an apple is not just an apple, or a grape is not just a grape, a soap nut is not just a soap nut. Do you think a vineyard cares about the type and quality of the grapes they grow? You bet – big time. If all is not right, a year’s harvest could become worthless. Now, the grape is probably the most extreme example that I can think of to make my point. Such is the beauty of extremes – the fundamentals are made easy to understand. It’s such fundamentals that we are going to apply to soap nuts.

Note: Again, the purpose of this article is to provide additional information about soap nuts that may lead to better personal experiences, and most importantly, to assist you in becoming a more informed seller and a greater asset to your customers. Many of you know the fundamentals, but we are now starting to drill into some very interesting nuances that can be puzzling for even the most informed of us.

Firstly, the type, variety and strain: As with grapes, they run the gamut. A vineyard is extremely particular regarding the grapes they grow. Different grapes will produce different wines. With soap nuts, we don’t need to go to that extreme for one reason: There is no culinary aspect to deal with. The value of a soap nut distills (pun intended) down to one thing – saponin. 100% pure saponin (other than the extraction process that can result in significantly different results and qualities) has no variables. It is what it is. It is the concentration of saponin that we must concern ourselves with. From species to species in the Sapindus tree family that grows across the globe, the soap nuts vary greatly. Without going into the many, many varieties in detail (that’s another long article), the fact is that the mukorossi variety contains the most consistently high concentration of saponin. Hence, it is the most prized and highest valued. The Florida soapberry for example is a soap nut, but it simply doesn’t work as well because its saponin concentration pales by comparison. Hence it is not the same as others. So far, easy, right?

Secondly, the harvest and back to grapes: The growers are very precise as to when they harvest. The grapes are checked daily. Only at their optimal point, depending on what the grower wants, are they harvested. Even a day can make a difference. Given that this is November, it is the perfect time of year to address this issue. To keep focus I will refer strictly to mukorossi harvests, albeit the fundamentals are the same for all.

At this time of year (October/November/December) the soapberry is maturing on the trees. From area to area and affected by the year’s weather in the area, we will find soap nuts at various stages in their development. We are dealing with both wild and plantation grown soap nuts. Last years harvest of soap nuts has become dark and the shells have shrunk somewhat in size. Only if stored properly will they still be dry (nut gummy or sticky). The new harvest is, of course, of highest demand and value. However, in the rush to bring newly harvested soap nuts to the market, many soap nuts are prematurely harvested. When prematurely harvested, soap nuts will be a bright gold to yellow color, but also they will be typically small (often in the 2cm range as compared to a mature soapberry at 4cm or larger).

A mature soap nut will have reached its peak in saponin content – the most important factor. Hence, not only are the prematurely harvested soap nuts wasteful in that another six to eight weeks could produce a much more bountiful harvest. But also, they will not be of the quality of a fully mature soap nut. Given drying and shipping times, look for the best quality newly harvested soap nuts to begin showing up in the US in late December, January and February. Properly stored soap nuts from last year’s harvest will be the better choice. If the soap nuts are very dark, gummy and sticky (as is often the case at this time), they have not been stored properly. Hence, look elsewhere for the best quality – regardless of time of year.

Thirdly, the results of inexperience: Most sellers of soap nuts know little more than the average user. Soap nuts are so new to the US and western hemisphere in general, that many sellers are selling only due to the fact that there is a market. Whenever there is a market, there will be sellers (and, of course, buyers). It is a caveat emptor (buyer beware) scenario. The quality of product the buyer receives is largely a function of the questions the buyers ask. Therefore, ASK QUESTIONS. Ask about the species, quality, condition, color and size. Don’t get too hung up on age. The shelf life of soap nuts is very long if properly stored and maintained. Again, ASK. Request representative samples if making a large purchase. Moisture build up, often due to condensation, is probably the leading causes for inferior quality soap nuts to come on the market. Be wary if you think they have been being stored in a garage somewhere (a common scenario). If you don’t get good answers, look for another seller. Be cautious of cheap prices without good, logical reasons. Improperly stored soap nuts are getting bad at this time. Sellers will “fire sale” them. You typically get what you pay for.

Lastly, bottom of the barrel hunting: The two main varieties that are being sold in the US are Sapindus Mukorossi and Sapindus Trifoliatus. Both grow in relatively close proximity, particularly in India. The trifoliatus variety is smaller and less effective. They are not as highly valued. Mixing the varieties is a very common practice among harvesters and exporters. Not even those that are very familiar with soap nuts can immediately identify the difference. Important note: A large amount of soap nuts are pre-packaged overseas for retail in the US to save on labor costs. (This “note” is worthy of its own article, so I will just drop it here.) Hence, not even most US and Canadian sellers can inspect them carefully. NaturOli, is an exception since the final packaging in done in the US. Soap nuts shipped by NaturOli have been hand inspected within only weeks of sale.

So, the bottom line: You need not be a connoisseur (as a wine master) to find quality soap nuts. The very simple, and even common sense, knowledge shared in this article should help you to make much better decisions. Be you a newbie or veteran to soap nuts, you want a good experience – and the most value for your money. Reliable quality and saponin content will ultimately lead to increased affordability. You will never again need to rewash a load, or use more soap nuts than required. A little knowledge goes a long, long way.

Understanding that soap nuts are Mother Nature’s fruits – not lab produced products – is the most critical aspect of being a good user and consumer of them. If you think of soap nuts as a fruit – be it a grape, cherry, or apple  – you are half way home.

At NaturOli, the common phrase one hears everyday is, “Together we can make a difference.” This is heartfelt. I ask of you to share you soap nut experiences with NaturOli. None of us know what we don’t know. As a collective, we all have so much to share – and we can all benefit by such sharing. Being highly informed, honest sellers, we will all develop life-long business and personal relationships. Your input is highly valued and always greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Chris

NaturOli Beautiful, LLC  http://naturoli.com has launched a groundbreaking program to allow retailers both large and small to have the opportunity to buy wholesale soap nuts in bulk for resale both online and in retail stores.

Whether you are a small e-commerce site focused on green cleaning products, natural baby care products, cloth diapers, or healthy alternatives; or if you are a major retailer who wants to expand your offering of natural laundry detergent and chemical free cleaning products, NaturOli has a program customized to fit your exact needs. NaturOli also offers a proprietary soap nuts liquid concentrate (Extreme 18X) that we formulate and package in the US. We are constantly expanding our line of soap nuts products, including our recent addition a soap nuts soap bar and upcoming soap nuts shampoo bar, as well as future US produces soap nuts based natural cleaning and personal care products.

While most of the program details and services will be offered only to approved NaturOli resellers, through a secure log in,  we want to share the basics of our programs so you can see just how comprehensive our wholesale soap nuts program is.

This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a program that will revolutionize awareness of natural detergent alternatives to synthetic chemical cleaners and soap nuts in North America. Please visit our wholesale soap nuts application page to begin the process of becoming a NaturOli soap nuts reseller.

NaturOli Nuts - Soap Nuts

BTW: If you are still relatively new to Soap Nuts. saponin and the many health and environmental benefits they offer, reading consumer “Frequently Asked Questions” (with good answers) – is a always a great way to quickly learn much more.

For likely the most extensive list of Soap Nut user’s FAQs available online, Visit SoapNuts.pro

See: Soap Nuts FAQs

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