Frequently Asked Questions
What do you make your soap with?
We use oils, butters and lye (sodium hydroxide) that are food-grade quality, in other words, good enough-to-eat, natural ingredients. Some ingredients are organic. Our colorants are cosmetic grade colorants. The scents (fragrance oils and essential oils) we use are skin-safe and are used at levels recommended by the IFRA (International Fragrance Association). Our fragrances are phthalate and and paraben free.
Does your soap contain lye?
No. This isn't Granny's old-fashioned lye soap where the lye might have been home made and ingredients weren't measured out with precision as ours are. While food-grade lye (sodium hydroxide) is used to make soap, there is none left after the oils and butters react with the lye to form soap. In fact, we actually put 4-6% more oils and fats in the soap than needed to make sure that all the lye is consumed to make the soap. This 'superfatting' helps assure that there is no lye left hanging around in the soap. That extra oil and butter is part of what makes the soap feel so wonderful. And just in case this lye stuff is causing you some sleepless nights, just remember we use food grade lye – and that’s the same lye that’s used in making pretzels, bagels and hominy, and a few other food items that you’ve likely eaten.
Will your soap help my eczema/acne/dry skin, etc?
Soapmakers are not allowed to claim that soap cures or prevents any condition. If we did, our soap would be considered a drug and we’d have to comply with all sorts of regulations. Legally, the only claim we can make is that our product is soap and it will clean. That being said, sometimes skin improves after you stop using commercially produced soap, beauty bars, shower gels, etc. because the detergents, surfactants and sudsing agents in these products may have been contributing to your skin issues. If you encounter a soapmaker who makes medical-related claims, we suggest that you might not want to buy their soap - if they violate this basic principle, who knows what else they don't know or don't comply with.
How long do your bars typically last?
As the saying goes — your mileage may vary. Some of our customers use a bar for month or longer; others go through a bar in a week! It all depends on whether you shower or bathe, how long you stay in the shower, how many times you lather up, how large or small you are, etc. How dry you keep the bar between uses is vital in assuring a long lasting bar. We choose butters and oils that produce a hard soap, but any soap will turn into mush if it stays in standing water. A soap net or dish that allows the bar to air dry is ideal for keeping your soap lasting longer.
How long does your soap stay fresh?
If stored properly, soap can stay good for years. In fact, the older soap gets, the milder and harder it becomes. The passage of time, however, does impact the soap's fragrance. For the best smelling soap, we recommend that you use your soaps within six months of purchase. Also, be sure to store soap away from high humidity and keep it at room temperature or cooler.
Do you offer classes?
No, we are not set up to do classes. Besides - we'd rather devote our time to making soap. If you want to learn how to make soap, we suggest that you visit the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild to look for resources and classes taught by a soapmaker certified by this organization. Good websites to explore include the Soap Queen Ann-Marie Faiola's Teach Soap site, Wholesale Supply Plus's Handmade 101 Library, Natures's Garden Candle & Soap Supplies Recipes and Classes and lovinsoap.com. If you are into YOUTUBE, Bramble Berry and SOAPING101.com are a couple of channels with good information. We also recommend Ann-Marie Faiola's books, Soap Crafting and Pure Soapmaking, Alicia Grosso's The Everything Soap Book, and Anne Watson's Smart Soapmaking. There are many sources for reliable information; these are just a few.