Your Handmade Soap Questions Answered — Straight From the Maker

 

If you've ever seen handmade soap at a craft show  and had questions and wondered whether to ask what you've been curious about, this one's for you. These are the questions I get asked most, and I'm happy to answer every single one.

What is cold process soap?

Cold process is one of the most popular methods for making handmade soap from scratch. It involves mixing oils and lye together at room temperature. The soap then "cures" for 4–6 weeks, which allows the water to evaporate and the bar to harden. It takes patience, but the result is a high-quality bar.

How do you actually make soap?

The short version: we combine skin-loving oils and butters with a lye solution, mix them together until they reach a thick, pudding-like consistency (called "trace"), then pour them into molds. From there the soap goes through saponification, which is a chemical reaction that transforms the raw ingredients into real soap. After unmolding, bars cure for 4–6 weeks before they're ready to use. It's part science, part art and I love every step of it.

Are your soaps natural?

I use natural base oils and butters in all of our soaps. If any of the soap bars contain fragrance oils (synthetic scents) which we always disclose, and others are scented only with essential oils. We never use artificial dyes or synthetic preservatives. If you're looking for a fully natural bar, just look for our essential-oil-scented options.

What's the difference between handmade soap and commercial store-bought soap?

Here's the thing, not all, but most drugstore "soaps" aren't actually soap. They're synthetic detergent bars, which is why they're legally called "beauty bars" or "cleansing bars" instead of soap. They're made with petroleum-based ingredients and are formulated to have a long shelf life on store shelves.

Handmade soap is real soap. It's made by combining oils and lye (more on that below) which creates a natural cleansing bar that retains glycerin, a skin-softening byproduct that commercial manufacturers actually remove and sell separately. That's why many people find real handmade soap leaves their skin feeling softer than commercial bars.

How long does handmade soap last?

A well-kept bar of handmade soap can last 3–4 weeks with daily use, sometimes longer. The key is keeping it dry between uses, so it's not sitting in water, and it'll last much longer. Stored away from humidity, an unused bar can last years (the fragrance might not be there but it's still good, sometimes better with time).

Why is handmade soap so much more expensive than store-bought?

Because it's actually made by a person, in small batches, with real ingredients. There's no factory, no cheap fillers, no mass production cutting corners. The oils, butters, and botanicals used in handmade soap cost significantly more than the synthetic ingredients in commercial bars. You're also paying for the time, care, and craft that goes into every single bar. It's not overpriced, commercial soap is just underpriced because of what's left out of it.

I don't like lye soap — my grandma used to make it and it was harsh. Is there lye in your soap?

Yes and also no. Every real soap on the planet is made with lye. That's just chemistry. But here's what matters: when soap is made correctly, the lye is completely used up in a process called saponification. There is zero lye left in the finished bar. What you're left with is just soap.

Your grandma's soap was harsh because homemade recipes back then weren't always precise, it's easy to accidentally use too much lye. Modern handmade soapmakers use exact measurements and often add extra oils (called "superfatting") to make sure the bar is gentle and moisturizing. It's a completely different experience.

Does handmade soap work for sensitive skin?

Although I can't legally make any claims, it can actually be a game changer for sensitive skin. Because handmade soap is free from synthetic detergents, artificial dyes, and harsh preservatives, many people with sensitive skin find it worth trying. Look for bars made with gentle oils like olive oil or goat milk, both are popular choices for those with easily irritated skin.

Can I use handmade soap on my face?

Yes! Many people use handmade soap on their face with great results. Look for bars with oils like olive oil, jojoba, or castor oil, and avoid anything with heavy fragrance if your skin is reactive. Goat milk soap is especially popular for facial use because it contains natural lactic acid.

What's the difference between fragrance oil and essential oil?

Great question, they get mixed up all the time. Essential oils are extracted directly from plants, flowers, herbs, roots, peels. They're natural and can have aromatherapy benefits. Fragrance oils are synthetic blends created in a lab to mimic a scent. They're not "bad" they're just not natural. They can also achieve scents that essential oils can't (like "fresh linen" or "birthday cake"). Both can be used in handmade soap. We always list which one we use so you know exactly what you're getting.

Every bar we make starts with real ingredients, real care, and a lot of patience — and I think you deserve to know exactly what you're putting on your skin. If any of this made you curious to try a bar, you can browse our olive oil soaps, goat milk soaps, or unscented options — all made in small batches in our studio in Mount Airy, NC. We'd love to find the right bar for you.