Also known as “handmade soap” or “homemade soap”, handcrafted soap is a blend of both science and art. By combining the scientific knowledge of the last 150 years and the artistic creativity of the soapmaker, each bar is safe, luxurious and unique. Handcrafted soap is soap in its true and most pure form. Handcrafted soap can be made from scratch by the cold or hot process methods or by utilizing a pre-made soap base. The Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild recognizes any soap made by these methods to be handcrafted so long as at least 50% of the process is done by hand. True soaps are the result of a chemical reaction between vegetable or animal fats, water and lye. When combined, they transform into soap and glycerin with no lye remaining in the soap. This reaction is called “saponification”, which literally means “the making of soap”. Handcrafted soapmakers generally pride themselves on the unique recipes that create their signature soaps.
Glycerin is a “humectant”, which means that it attracts and retains moisture on your skin. It is like a natural skin lotion in the soap. Glycerin is a natural by-product of the soapmaking process. Most commercial soap manufacturers remove the glycerin from the soap, process it and then sell it to other industries where it is used in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other products. With handcrafted soaps, glycerin remains intact in the soap. The end result is mild, pure soap that gently cleanses your skin without being harsh, irritating or drying.
The Truth About Handcrafted Soap Handcrafted soap is soap in its true and most pure form. Most handcrafted soapmakers use food-quality, natural ingredients, starting with a variety of vegetable oils such as olive, coconut, or palm, or they may use purified tallow or lard. To these might be added specialized oils, nut butters or seed extracts to bring the desired qualities to the finished bar. Fragrance oils or plant-based essential oils are added for scent. For color or texture, soapmakers often use cosmetic-grade pigments or dyes, botanicals, herbs, spices or other natural ingredients. For those with sensitivities, many soapmakers also make “simple soap” with no additives or scent.
Besides all the wonderful ingredients that may be in handcrafted soap, perhaps the biggest advantage of handcrafted soap is in the soapmakers themselves, each of whom invests their care and attention to detail into every batch and bar. When you use a bar of handcrafted soap, you know it was made with the personal touch of a local soapmaker. Most handcrafted soapmakers use food-quality, natural ingredients in their soaps.