What Makes Good Soap?

What makes a good bar of soap?  Is it how well it cleans your skin?  Is it the fact that it helps with skin problems?  Is it how well it lathers?  Is it the look or smell?

Each person is different, so each may be true.  I know I thoroughly enjoy how real lye soap cleans my skin and doesn't leave an "icky" feeling after my shower.  I also love the fact that I can choose whichever soap my skin needs at the time (IE: itchy, rash, dry, pimples, etc...)

To help choose which soap will best fit your needs, here are some breakdowns of what each individual essential oil will do for you:

Tea Tree Oil- This is an amazing oil!  It's great for pimples and dandruff and everything in between.  I use this for my everyday soap.

Lavender- The health benefits of lavender essential oil include its ability to remove nervous tension, relieve pain, disinfect scalp and skin, enhance blood circulation and treat respiratory problems.  Lavender has the Latin name Lavare, which means “to wash”, due to its aroma that gives the feeling of a clean aroma.

French Green Clay- French Green clay originates from quarries in France. When used in soap making, it is added as a natural colorant. French Green clay has very high levels of absorbency. Its molecular structure allows it to absorb oil, dirt and toxins from the skin. It balances oily skin to normal pH levels. It can be used daily on local acne spots and in facial masks. 

Citronella- Citronella is commonly used as an insect repellent (mosquitoes and fleas) but also helps with excessive perspiration (when applied topically) and fatigue (when inhaled). Citronella has a lemon-like aroma with a bitter kicker. Citronella is most well known for its use in candles for use outside to discourage mosquitoes from biting. 

Nag Champa Fragrance-The wonderful aroma of incense; patchouli, sandalwood, and dragon's blood work together to create this wonderful blend. 

Kama Sutra: Aphrodisiac-  Amazingly complex and energizing, aphrodisiac begins with top notes of grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, and green tomato leaf; followed by middle notes of jasmine and dry base notes of eucalyptus and woods.

Buttercream and Snickerdoodle- This is a sweet and yummy fragrance that contains rich caramel and cream notes. What makes this fragrance stand out from other delicious-baked-good scents is the hint of Nutmeg and Praline which adds unique notes not normally found in a Snickerdoodle. Buttercream and all the goodness of the cookie is rounded out with rich base notes of Cocoa and Vanilla.

English Rose- This rose smells like an English rose garden. Not as deep as other roses, this is a true, light rose that smells divine in the bath.

Love Spell (type)-  It has fruity sweet notes of Italian Bergamot, White Lady Peach and Strawberry mixed with middle notes of Apple Blossom, African Tamarind and a touch of Damask Rose. The base is Tonka Bean, Coconut Milk and White Musk.

Carrot Cake- A buttery spice blend with hints of peach, coconut, carrots, cinnamon and warm vanilla.

Charcoal- Applying activated charcoal to your skin, it's claimed, will remove detritus from your skin's surface and can even extract toxins from beneath the skin. The antibacterial properties of charcoal can also help alleviate infections, or keep them from happening.


     

The Differences in Handmade Soap

When shopping for Handmade Soap, my only question is: what ingredients were used?  If I see something other than oil and lye in the ingredients, I don't want it.  Why, you ask?  Well, because the only other alternative is a chemical based product.  If I was going to settle for that, I'd just buy my soap at the store.  So, what are some of the other things you can look for to spot fake soap?  Read on as I give you more information about the soap making process itsef...

There are three (3) different ways to make soap.  Each creates soap using the same base ingredients, however the procedures are a little bit different.  While not all soap is the same, soap is-- well... soap.  If made correctly, the soap should work just the same from any process or ingredient used.  For instance, you would probably never know if you were using a CP/OP bar instead of a CP bar or vise versa.

Processes (Only applies to Lye Soap)

*Cold Process- This is the process most soapers use to make their soap.  Oils are combined with Lye water until the mixture is "traced" (thickens up.)  Once the soap has "traced," fragrace/essential oils and colorants are added in.  Soap is then poured into a mold to harden up.  Usually after 3-5 days, you can then unmold and cut the soap.  Once the soap is cut, it must air dry for 4-8 weeks before being used.  (This is to make sure the lye in the soap isn't caustic.)  Yield- Nice, pretty, smooth bars

*Cold Process/Oven Process- Same as Cold Process except you pop your mold into the oven and let the soap heat for about an hour.  Soap can be cut and used the next day.  Yield- May have bubbles from boiling


*Hot Process- This one is different after you get to your "trace" phase.  Once there you cook the soap until it liquifies and hardens up again, then add your fragrance/essential oils and colorants and pour into a mold.  Once the soap has cooled off, you can cut it and use it.  Yield- Possible ugly bars due to racing the clock to get the soap in the mold before it hardens

Ingredients

The biggest difference in ingredients is in the oil selection.  Some soap makers use animal fat and some use vegtable oil.  Every major soap manufacturer uses a form of tallow in their soap.  (No wonder most of us have skin problems....)

*Vegtable Oil- Vegtable oil can include: coconut oil, palm oil, canola oil, hemp oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, etc...  When soapers use all vegatable oil in their soaps, it's known as "Vegan"

*Tallow- Is animal fat.  If a soaper uses lard, beef fat, or any other animal fat, it falls into this category.

Scents

Essential Oils- are pure distillations of flowers, herbs, roots, or resins that have not been cut with any kind of carrier oil. These oils are often expensive, and they are prized for their potent fragrances as well as their medicinal benefits.

Fragrance Oils- are almost always synthetic.

Types of Soap

*Lye- A dangerous substance that's made from burnt wood.  Protective devices must be worn when dealing with lye.  No lye = No soap  Yield- No chemicals, completely natural soap


*Melt & Pour- A new way to make soap for people who don't want to mess with lye.  All you do is cut it up and pop it in the microwave.  Once it's melted, mix in fragrance/essential oils and colorant and pour into your mold.  Soap will be done in a couple of hours.  This type of soap is also referred to as Glycerin soap.  One marketing slogan was, "So easy kids can do it!"  Yield- 100% Chemicals

~ There are HUGE differences in lye soap and M&P soap.  Please make sure you know what you're buying.  Double and triple check the ingredients and if you're still not sure, ask the soaper. ~

Add to this the soapers skill and creativity- Some are just starting out, where as some have been making soap for years; Some people like to contstantly try new things and some people just make soap.  While there are set basics to make soap, the differences from each individual are what make Handmade Soap unique.