Handcrafted Soap

I've chosen the “hot process” method of soap-making: indirect heat. You can make and use your soap the same day. However, for a quality bar of soap, a drying period is necessary.

I've also chosen to use only natural and organic products, like herbs, grains, spices and florals.

I do not use any artificial colorants, preservatives or dyes. Because I use only dyes that nature provides, the colour can vary from batch to batch. Each batch is small, hand-made and hand-cut.

The soaps are super-fatted, which means a percentage of the oils are left suspended in the soaps, not saponified by the lye. This provides added moisturizing to the soap, along with the natural glycerin, which is released during the soap-making process.

To understand saponification, or the making of soap, is to understand some basic chemistry. The process of making soap brings three ingredients together: the base is the lye, the acid the oil or fat, and the distilled water the neutral solvent.

Saponification takes place through this chemical reaction and the result is soap. Soap is also a salt, which is the result of the lye neutralizing the acid or oils.

When saponification is complete there is no active lye left in the product! Soap cannot be made without lye. If you don't have lye, you don't have soap!

I make and sell a truly natural soap: no artificial colorants, preservatives, dyes or fragrance oils. I use only essential oils, never synthetic fragrance oils.

I am committed to keeping my products natural.

Mother Earth provides an abundance of natural gifts. As consumers we have opportunities to choose natural or less harmful products, choose to bless “Mother Earth” by helping her to heal and extend the blessing to all life on earth.

I thank each of you who've chosen to purchase a natural soap product!

Soap Base Ingredients

Each soap base contains a combination of several ingredients. Each contributes a specific quality to the finished soap. The sunflower and olive oil are vanilla bean infused.

Coconut oil - This oil comes from the copra or meat of the coconut. It adds hardness to a natural soap and creates a wonderful rich lather. Coconut oil is considered beneficial for dry sensitive skin.

Olive oil - This mild oil is considered an excellent skin moisturizer. Olive oil also acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to our skin.

Palm oil - Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of the palm oil tree. When combined with olive and coconut oil, it produces a stable, creamy lather.

Sunflower oil - This oil is extracted from mature seeds of the sunflower plant. It is considered a light, moisturizing oil that rinses clean.

Natural beeswax - This wax adds hardness to a natural soap, and a lovely honey smell. Beeswax is also considered soothing to rough, dry skin.

Honey - Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin. Honey is considered a natural skin softener.

Organic sugar - Sugar increases the suds of soap.

Natural glycerin - Glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap process, and remains in a natural soap. It is considered an excellent natural skin moisturizer. Most commercial manufacturers remove natural glycerin to speed up the drying process.

Additional oils, butters & waxes

Cocoa butter - This butter is obtained from the cocoa bean and has a rich, chocolate scent. Cocoa butter is considered beneficial as a soothing emollient and moisturizer for rough dry skin.

Jojoba oil - Jojoba is actually a wax, comparable to our skin's own oil or sebum. Jojoba is useful for all skin types, especially acneic oily skin, sensitive skin, and dry skin conditions. Jojoba readily mixes with our skin's own oil and is non-comedogenic. Considered a excellent skin conditioner and moisturizer.

Mango butter - This butter is extracted from the mango fruit, and considered beneficial as a akin moisturizer. Mango butter in soap creates a wonderfully smooth bar.

Meadowfoam seed oil - This oil comes from the meadowfoam plant and is considered an excellent moisturizer and skin softener. This oil has high levels of natural vitamin E, and its moisturizing properties can be beneficial for aged, dry skin.

Monoi de Tahiti - This heavenly-scented oil is the result of gently macerating the tiare flowers in coconut oil. It is highly beneficial oil for very dry and aged skin. For centuries Tahitian women have used this oil to provide moisturizing and lustre to their hair; and also as a massage oil.

Pumpkin seed oil - Rich in vitamins, minerals and vitamin E, this oil is considered useful for its soothing and nourishing properties, and is readily absorbed by dry and damaged skin.

Rose hip seed oil - This oil is extracted from the rose hip seeds of the rose plant, and contains vitamin A. Considered useful for numerous skin conditions and inflammation such as eczema, rosacea, and acne.

Essential oils

Essential oils are extremely concentrated, pure, plant extracts.

Essential oils can be very costly. For example, certain florals require great care in handling and harvesting and can require thousands of flowers to produce one ounce of essential oil. Because of the vast amount of plant material needed, essential oils, such as sandalwood and rosewood, have been over-harvested, and some species are now extinct. Steps have been taken to replace these endangered plants. Meanwhile, one ounce of Sandalwood essential oil can cost $150-$300 per ounce!

Fragrance oils are synthetic versions of essential oils. I use only essential oils in my products. That being said, there are fragrance oils on the market that are virtually free of toxic synthetics.

I will consider using fragrance oils in my products, but only after carefully reviewing the literature. I do get requests for scents such as Lily of the Valley and Lilac, which are not available as an essential oil.

Other Ingredients

I use a variety of botanicals such as herbs, spices, flowers and grains in my soaps. Adding these natural ingredients can create interesting texture and colour. Some add to the effectiveness of the soap, like oatmeal, which is soothing to dry, irritated skin and gently exfoliates. Some herbs I use have added healing properties. Because I use only ingredients that nature provides, the colour can vary from batch to batch.

How to care for natural soap

To care for your natural soap, place it in a dish or caddy that drains water and stand the soap upright, as shown below. The soap can even be flipped upside down for drying. The more surface area exposed to dry in between uses, the longer the soap will last.

Natural soap retains glycerin, a by-product of the soap-making process. Glycerin is the clear gel seen when the soap is exposed to water. If the soap is left lying in water or not allowed to dry in between uses, it will dissolve.

Glycerin is considered a healthy, natural moisturizer that can be beneficial to our skin. Most commercial companies remove the glycerin to speed up the drying process. I've added beeswax to help maintain hardness in the soap.