Here are some questions that I have been asked or I have asked myself when I first discovered handmade soaps and bodycare products:

1) How do you make soap?

Our soaps are made with the old-fashioned cold process method. Lye solution and oils are mixed in precisely measured amounts and at controlled temperature. The mixture is stirred until it thickens to the right consistency (this can be a long process depending on the recipe), scents and natural additives (such as oatmeal, botanicals, etc) are then added. The soap mixture is then poured into molds and left insulated for 24-48 hours, cut into individual bars and left to cure for 4-6 weeks. After the curing period, the soaps are ready to be wrapped or used.

2) My soap smelled very good when I first received it but the scent is not as strong anymore, why?

Unfortunately, that is a problem that all handmade soapers are faced with. Scents do fade, some faster than others. Some scents such as patchouli stick around much much longer, sometimes even over a year. Fortunately, even if the scents on dry soaps fade over time, they will very often smell a lot stronger during use in the shower.

3) My soap seems to be melting in the soapdish, is there anything I can do?

Yes. Like all bar soaps, our soaps should be put in a well-drained soapdish between uses. They are nicer to use and will last much longer that way.

4) Why is handmade soap better than mass produced cleansing products (aka detergents)?

Because it is soap! The synthetic ingredients used in commercial cleansers (such as body washes and bars) is more likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Strictly speaking, they cannot be called soaps, they are detergents. Not all synthetic cleansers are bad but the widely available cleansers tend to contain very harsh cleansing agents because of the low costs.

Handmade soap, on the other hand, are made with simple and natural ingredients, thus are gentler and less likely to trigger an allergic reaction especially for people with problematic skin.

A lot of people with sensitve skin don't even realize that they are reacting to the chemical loaded commerical products they use. In some cases, the conditions can even be caused by these products.

Glycerine, a naturally occurring emollient, which derives from the soapmaking process itself, is extracted from the mass produced cleansing products. This is one of the reasons why commercial bars can lead to dry skin. The extracted glycerine is then used to make creams and lotions that we will need as a result. Handmade soap is naturally more moisturizing thanks to the glycerin.

Handmade soap is also readily biodegradable.