About Our Soaps

What is Soap?

Short answer: Bar soap is a salt created from the reaction between a fat and lye. 

Long answer: Soap is when a fat (or oil or lipid) meets a strong base and goes through a reaction called saponification to create soap and glycerol. Sodium Hydroxide (lye) creates harder soaps like bar soaps while Potassium Hydroxide (often called "Pot-Ash") yields softer soaps like liquid soaps. When other combinations of fat and base are used, metallic soaps are created; these are used industrially as greases and lubricants, in artist's paint, and as emulsifiers. 

 

Superfatting = Making Extra Moisturizing Soap

Superfatting in soap making is when the soap maker purposefully puts in more oil than the lye can convert into soap, which leaves additional oil in the bar of soap. This additional oil is what provides extra nourishment to the soap. Candler Maker superfats at 8%. Most artisan soap makers superfat 3-5%. 

 

How do you make soap?

There are several different ways, but we use the cold-process method, which goes a little something like this:

1. Calculate how much lye to use to saponify the oil(s) that you are using
2. Safely mix lye into water
3. Melt oils
4. Emulsify the lye water into the oils
5. Add fragrance, colorants, extras, etc.
6. Put into mold and let set for roughly 10-24 hours
7. Cut into bars
8. Cure for 3+ weeks
9. Soap is ready to use

 

Ingredients Used

Ingredient	What is it?	Why is it used?	Can you eat it?*
Babassu Oil	Solid oil from the Babassu Palm, which grows in South America (mostly northern Brazil). Contains 70% fat.	Babassu oil is non-drying, serves as an emollient, is a great source of Vitamin E and melts at about body temperature	Yes, but.... Some folks have stomach discomfort, and reduced blot clotting. Avoid while pregnant or nursing.
Canola Oil	Liquid oil derived from Rapeseed flowers, which grow in Canada and many other countries world-wide	Canola oil adds a ton of conditioning power to soap	Yes
Coconut Oil	Low melting point solid oil derived from coconuts with the majority being produced in the Philippines and Indonesia	Coconut oil is an amazing cleanser and adds hardness to soap bars	Yes
Kokum Butter	Solid oil derived from the seeds of the Kokum Tree grown in Asia and Africa	Kokum helps provide support to the skin's natural barrier and provides intense moisturization	Yes, but...... There has been little research in the effects of Kokum butter on the body.
Rice Bran Oil	Derived from the outer layers of rice and is produced and used commonly in southeast Asia	Rice Bran Oil is rich in antioxidants and adds the slightest sheen to soap bars	Yes
Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)	Extremely water soluble, white crystalline structures composed of sodium, hydrogen, and oxygen. Also known as caustic soda.	We can't make soap without it	NOOOOOO! Your body is roughly 60% water. The reaction between lye and water can reach 200 degrees F. Imagine that inside your water-laden body.
Shea Butter	Solid fat extracted from the seeds of the Shea Tree, which largely grows in Africa	Helps create a hard, long-lasting bar	Yes, but.... It must be food grade, raw, and unrefined.
Tussah Silk Fibers	Fibers from the cocoons of the wild Tussah Silkworms collected in southeast Asia	It provides a silky feel to the lather	Why would you?

*We are not doctors and are not suggesting that you consume any of these. Please consult your physician for any health-related inquiries.