What is soap?
Soap is the result of combining fatty acids, which are vegetable oils and butters, with a precise amount of alkali or base.
When combined, an exothermic (heat is created) chemical reaction occurs, converting these fatty acids to salts. Soap is actually a salt, which is why ‘sodium…’ is on the ingredient label. This process is called ‘saponification’. When saponification is complete, you are left with pure, REAL soap, still containing all the natural glycerin that is a by-product of the soap making process. It’s the glycerin in REAL soap that makes it so good for our skin. The resulting soap is mild and luxurious, suitable for even the most sensitive skin. None of the alkali (lye) remains in the finished soap. All those skin cleansing products we buy from commercial manufacturers, are not soap at all, by definition they are detergents, because they don't contain the glycerin formed during the production. It was there, but products made commercially have the glycerin stripped from them
because it is more valuable as a by-product.
While handmade soap is obviously better for our skin, it's also better for the environment, it's phosphate free and biodegradeable.
Soap made with the "cold-process" method, what we do, requires an extensive curing period, we cure a minimum of 6 weeks. The resulting bars are dry and hard, which in turn will make them last longer. Handmade soap is typically very long lasting when properly cared for, meaning, allow it to dry between uses.
I like to describe handmade soap as being like wine, the more aged or cured it is, the nicer it becomes. I've used some of our soaps that have cured over a year, and they are extraordinary in lather and texture.
When combined, an exothermic (heat is created) chemical reaction occurs, converting these fatty acids to salts. Soap is actually a salt, which is why ‘sodium…’ is on the ingredient label. This process is called ‘saponification’. When saponification is complete, you are left with pure, REAL soap, still containing all the natural glycerin that is a by-product of the soap making process. It’s the glycerin in REAL soap that makes it so good for our skin. The resulting soap is mild and luxurious, suitable for even the most sensitive skin. None of the alkali (lye) remains in the finished soap. All those skin cleansing products we buy from commercial manufacturers, are not soap at all, by definition they are detergents, because they don't contain the glycerin formed during the production. It was there, but products made commercially have the glycerin stripped from them
because it is more valuable as a by-product.
While handmade soap is obviously better for our skin, it's also better for the environment, it's phosphate free and biodegradeable.
Soap made with the "cold-process" method, what we do, requires an extensive curing period, we cure a minimum of 6 weeks. The resulting bars are dry and hard, which in turn will make them last longer. Handmade soap is typically very long lasting when properly cared for, meaning, allow it to dry between uses.
I like to describe handmade soap as being like wine, the more aged or cured it is, the nicer it becomes. I've used some of our soaps that have cured over a year, and they are extraordinary in lather and texture.