Our naturally handcrafted soaps are made the old fashioned way, combining acids (oils) and alkali (lye water) to create the saponification process. The result is a completely natural soap with no nasty chemicals, additives, phosphates, sulfates, detergents, hardeners or lathering agents (the list goes on, next time you are at the supermarket pick up a bar of commercial soap and read the ingredients label, it will shock you as much as it shocked us).

In 2800BC Babylonians used a formula of water, alkali and cassia oil to create the first recorded evidence of "soap" as we know it.  Egyptians, Israelites, ancient Chinese, Roman and other early civilizations were all recorded as using similar combinations of animal or vegetable fats, alkali (often potash) and water to create cleansing products.  Fast forward nearly 5,000 years and unfortunately the commercial "soaps" in use today are a far cry from those early cleansing products. 

Commercial soaps nowadays tend to rely on cheaper mass produced oils, such as Palm oil, and add in other chemicals to replace the moisturising properties lost through the removal of glycerin.  The saponification process in making soap creates glycerin as a natural by-product. (Glycerin was accidentally discovered in 1779 by a Swedish chemist when heating up olive oil). Glycerin draws moisture from the atmosphere and can help lock that moisture into your skin, keeping you hydrated without being greasy. In commercial soaps, glycerin is typically removed - as an expensive by-product - to be used in higher priced beauty products such as make up and lip balms.

During commercial soap making salt is added to make the "soap" curdle, (to remove the glycerin), which effectively turns the resulting product into more of a detergent rather than a traditional "soap". It is then dried, "milled" or flaked into finely ground particles, with various chemicals and additives introduced, before being 'pressed' into molds. The process suits large scale production, but isn't particularly kind to skin, offering an end product that is often drying and damaging and typically including chemicals that are known to cause reactions and allergies.

In comparison, handcrafted soaps which go through the traditional saponification process (whether "hot process" or "cold process") typically use more expensive, quality oils that deliver additional skin loving benefits to your body.  They don't require extra chemicals and are naturally moisturising.  

Do some research and you'll be as excited about home made soap as we are.  It beats the commercial stuff hands down.

Made for you!

But probably the most exciting part of making handcrafted, artisan soaps is that they are made especially for you! Every soap is its own unique "recipe" (the combination of different oils, water and lye). Part of the reward of being a soap maker is the passion - and challenge - in creating different recipes for different needs. Each of our soaps is unique, offering its own blend of skin benefits, cleansing quality, feel (lather, creaminess, hardness) and of course, colours, design and fragrance. We hope you love using them as much as we have enjoyed creating them!