More Info

Our hand-crafted soap is made in small batches which allows us to make small adjustments. Moisture content in the air, temperature and the essential oils used can all alter the way soap reacts in the soap pot. Because we are making small batches, by hand, we can adjust our process to ensure that each batch is of the highest quality. This is just not possible when large batches are being processed by automated machines.

But don't be fooled, not all "hand-crafted" soaps are equal. Making soap requires the coming together of many ingredients and processes. It is possible to make soap quickly and cheaply, but of course this produces low quality soap. Good hand-crafted soap takes at least one month from start to finish (like ours). The ingredients are mixed and stirred for a long time (sometimes as long as 1 1/2 hours) to ensure that all the ingredients come into contact and that the soap does not end up with free floating lye.

Once the soap is mixed, it is poured into molds. It MUST then be insulated for at least 36 hours. This is a step skipped by many soap crafters because it takes time. During this insulation period the lye is used up in producing soap and glycerin and the remaining lye "burns off". Soap that has not been properly insulated tends to have a dusty look (that's lye and ash) and sometimes "weeps" and needs constant wiping while the lye and moisture try to work their way out of the soap. These poorly insulated soaps are lower in glycerin and have free floating lye and ash which is extremely drying and in very sensitive individuals, can actually burn the skin. Also, many hand-made soaps are fragranced using fragrance oils (synthetic oils) rather than pure essential oils. Your skin knows the difference!

Once the soap is allowed to slowly cool down it is placed on curing racks. During this curing time the soap gets milder and the saponification process continues. Excess moisture evaporates and the bars become hard. To insure a high quality soap the curing time should be at least 3 weeks.

You will find that because of our rigorous process and the high quality raw materials we use, each bar of soap will last much longer than other soaps (our customers tell us that our bars last a couple of people from 2 to 3 months, quite often longer). Remember to put them up on the shower rack away from the spray of the shower or a good draining soap dish. Our soaps are high in glycerin and do not contain synthetic hardeners so they will absorb moisture quite readily. In fact, this is one of the reasons it is so moisturizing. The Glycerin actually pulls moisture out of the air and deposits it on your skin. So let your soap dry out between uses and it will last a long, long time.

Are all transparent soaps "Glycerin" soaps?

A common misbelief is that the many transparent soaps on the market today are glycerin soaps and that soaps that are not transparent are not glycerin soaps. The fact is that glycerin is a by-product of the soap making process and unless it is removed all soaps contain glycerin provided the soap making process is sound. Transparent soap starts out the same as any other soap. A solution of sugar syrup, sometimes vegetable glycerin, and ethanol (an alcohol solvent) are added to clarify the soap. The alcohol used is very volatile (even turning on a light could ignite the fumes). This process is not really for the the average hand-crafter and most transparent soaps sold by hand-crafters are made from a melt and pour base purchased in bulk and are not usually "hand-crafted" at all.

A Bit About Essential Oils

While using essential oils rather than fragrance or perfumes oils is preferred it is important to note that not all essential oils are equal. There are many ways to remove the essential oil from flowers and plants; steam, expeller, press or by solvent extraction. The cheapest by far are the oils rendered by solvent extraction. this entails mixing the plant/flower with a solvent. when the oil comes out of the plant the mixture is strained and the oil lifted off. The problem with this method is that there can be remaining traces of solvent in the essential oil. Using these cheaper oils in soaps or other products reduces the quality. Your skin and senses know the difference. The best method is either press or steamed. Although these methods render less oil, it is very high quality and retains the benefits of the plants and flowers from which they were rendered. We use only essential oils that have been steamed or pressed from the plants. If our supplier can not guarantee that the oils were not solvent expressed we simply do not purchase the oils. While cheaper oils are available we do not use them in any of our products as we believe this would diminish the quality.

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