Background : Today the use of hygienic products with a natural source is of high interest among consumers. Lavender essence (Lavandula Officinalis) owing to its pleasant odor and also its antibacterial, antifugal, and antiviral effects can be used in dermatological preparations. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of a formulated liquid soap from this essence as a new hygienic/therapeutic product.

Materials and methods : 0.5% of the essence was extracted from the lavender plant and added to a liquid soap base prepared in preliminary studies, then the prepared product was evaluated in terms of the visual characteristics, color, odor, cleansing and foaming ability, ease of washing from the skin, skin softening ability, compatibility with the skin, PH, and total active determination of the product, determination of the volume and durability of the foam and mechanical and thermal stability.

Results : The prepared product had a clear appearance. It was homogenous, with a suitable viscosity and free of suspended particles or sedimentation and possess a pleasant odor. It had a good cleansing ability and could produce an appropriate amount of stable and durable foam and could be easily washed away with water after use. Consumption of the formulated liquid soap softens the skin and causes no side effects such as skin dryness, rash, sensitivity, etc. PH and the total active (total amount of surfactants present in the formulation) of the products were 7.21±0.02 and 18.15±0.04% respectively. Finally, the product was found to have desirable mechanical and thermal stability.

Conclusion : Results have revealed that the formulated liquid soap containing lavender essence is acceptable as a new fragment product with cleansing and hygienic ability.

Background: Kashan's rose-water has a high celebrity in Iran and around the world. Rose-water has used in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of cardiac and rheumatic pain and in food indust r ies such as production of ice cream and cookies. This research is conducted for determination of essence value of produced Rose-water in Kashan, Spring of 2005.

Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive study. Rose-water samples were collected from workshops, factories and supplying centers in Kashan in 2005 (398 samples) and transferred to lab. In the laboratory, chemical tests for determination of the essence value were carried out according to the Pantan method. Minimum acceptable of Rose-water essence is 12mg/100cc, thus, any Rose-water is classified to three type light (0.1- 11.9), middle (12-35) and high (> 35). Findings were analysed by the use of t test.

Results: Essence quality of produced Rose-water in Rose-water workshops and supplying shops showed that essence values were 76.7% of the workshops and 27.5% of supplying shops higher than 12mg/100 (p< .0001). Thus, essence value of factories were higher than 12mg/100 (58.3%).

Conclusions: Essence value of Rose-waters were acceptable in most factories but essence value samples in most supplying shops were low. Thus, Kashan health politician’s and administrators should arrange appropriate strategies for standardization and increasing of rose-water quality.