The downside to the quick and easy soap purchase was that commercial soaps had to be mass produced and developed quickly for retail sale. Chemicals, or "detergents" were added, and artifical fragrances and dyes were used to make the soap more visually appealing. What resulted was a pretty, cookie-cutter soap - but one that was not always beneficial to those with allergies or sensitive skin. Detergents in commercial soap can strip the skin of it`s natural oils.

The interest in the craft of soapmaking has risen over the past decade. With the better understanding of allergies and the ability to do chemistry at home, soapmakers can develop a handmade soap that is far superior to commercial soap products. Whether you prefer a soap that uses animal fats (or "tallow") or one that is a vegetable based soap, the choices are unlimited.

What goes into our soap.....

Most of our soaps are vegetable based, with no animal products. The one exception to this are the soaps that we offer which use goat`s milk. Other than goat`s milk, our soaps are 100% free of animal products. We don`t use dye in any of our soaps. The beautiful array of colors you will see in our soaps are all derived using natural ingredients - spices, herbs, essential oils, and the like.

The following ingredients are used in just about every bar of soap we make: olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, distilled water, sodium hydroxide.

Olive oil

Olive oil is the base for every bar of soap that we make. Since the 6th century, olive oil has been used to craft soaps that are incredibly mild and moisturizing. Olive oil not only has the ability to retain moisture within the skin, it also allows the skin to perform it`s natural duties, such as perspiring and shedding, without clogging the pores. We use olive oil from Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Spain to make our soaps.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is derived from the meat of the coconut tree. Coconut oil adds moisture to the skin and produces a rich, creamy lather. Especially moisturizing for dry skin or those with conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, coconut oil is an incredible product.

Palm Oil

Palm oil is derived from the tropical palm tree. Palm oil is very mild to the skin and produces a firm bar of soap. This is what our great grandmothers were lacking, and why their soaps tended to be slimy as opposed to a firm bar. Many major companies obtain their palm oil from Southeast Asian locations, which contributes to the destruction of the rainforest and wildlife in these locations. The palm oil that we use is obtained in Columbia by small local farmers. This organic oil is cultivated in an environmentally sustainable manner, which in no way contributes to deforestation. Our palm oil is organic and the raw cost to us is considerably higher than if we were to purchase southeast asian palm. Click here for more information about responsible palm oil production.

Distilled Water

We use only distilled water in our soapmaking. The water is boiled and allowed to reach room temperature to ensure that we are using only pure water.

Lye

Every bar of soap that we make includes lye (sodium hydroxide) in the ingredient listing. Although lye is highly caustic, once it is added to the oils and water, a chemical reaction known as "saponification" occurs. At this point the lye is NOT harmful to the skin. The result of this combination is glycerine, which is a natural humectant and an incredible source of moisture to the skin. Most commercial soaps have had the glycerine removed. We have carefully formulated our soaps so that they are "superfatted" and no trace of lye remains. The result of this "superfatting" is a very mild, gentle bar that is rich in natural moisturizers.

Melt and pour

We don`t use a pre-purchased "melt and pour" soap base. Each bar of soap begins with a combination of carefully weighed oils, lye, and water. We measure each herb, spice, or essential oil. Each bar of soap is individually wrapped and an ingredient listing is included. Our "COOKBOOK" page provides a complete listing of ingredients for each bar of soap. If you have a question about what is in a specific bar of soap - just email us with any questions. We have personally made each bar from scratch and know exactly what we are offering to you.

Fragrance oils or essential oils?

We use both fragrance oils and essential oils in our soapmaking. Soaps that are advertised as 100% Natural will contain only herbs, spices, and essential oils. We do not advertise soap as being 100% natural if it contains fragrance oil. Fragrance oil is NOT 100% natural. Although we do use it in moderation, it is still a man made product. We offer soaps with fragrance oils in order to provide a greater selection to the consumer.

Additives

Some of our soaps may contain natural herbs and spices, such as chamomile flowers, mint leaves, coffee grounds, rosehips, tumeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, tea leaves, oatmeal, honey, etc. We list these ingredients on each bar of soap as well as on our COOKBOOK page. Our Goat Milk section contains soap made with goat milk. Goat milk provides a rich, creamy lather and is incredibly moisturizing. The Goat Milk soap bars are a treat!

Dye

There is no artificial dye in ANY of our soaps. Any colorant you see is the result of herbs, flowers, and the like.