Handmade Soap Facts

Website design By BotEap.comHow many people know what soap really is? Many of the cleaning bars you buy at the store, for example, are detergents and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harder than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates instead of oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut, and palm) and is a more appropriate mild cleanser to use on the skin than a detergent.

Website design By BotEap.comSoaps, unlike detergents, are made by combining sodium hydroxide or lye, oils, and water in a process known as “saponification.” Some people may question the use of lye in handmade soap. The thing is, all soap is made with lye. What should be clear is that once the saponification process is complete, the lye and oil molecules combine and chemically transform into soap and glycerin. There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap.

Website design By BotEap.comThe oils in our soaps are placed there for a specific purpose. Coconut oil creates a wonderful lather. Olive oil is used for a high-quality, long-lasting bar. Canola and palm oil deliver nutrients to the skin, and safflower oil makes a creamy bar.

Website design By BotEap.comGlycerin is a skin-soothing emollient that adds to the goodness of handmade soap. In commercial soaps, the glycerin is extracted to be sold to the cosmetics industry to be sold separately, sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself! Glycerin is important for skin care because it is a moisturizer. Moisturizers draw moisture from the air, which in turn hydrates the skin. 1/5 of a bar of our soap is glycerin.

Website design By BotEap.comMost soaps have artificial ingredients for flavoring or coloring. Some handmade soaps are scented with fragrance oils. These are synthetic chemicals that are mixed together to mimic a particular scent. They have in many cases contributed to chemical sensitivity in some people. They also have no aromatherapy benefits. The scents in our soaps must come solely from essential oils, which are either steamed or extracted from plants. Essential oils are the components of plants that emit fragrance and are at the heart of aromatherapy. They don’t just smell good; they have many beneficial effects on the body, mind and spirit.

Website design By BotEap.comThe coloring of our soap must also come from nature. Lavender and Rose petals can be used. Earth pigments, which are simply finely ground rocks, can also be used. This makes the colors rich and earthy, rather than artificial looking.