Like any bar of soap, these natural handmade bars prefer to dry out between uses. Please use a draining soap dish to extend the life of your bars.
As these are handcrafted items, I aim to duplicate each variety, however this is not always possible so please allow for slight variations. The soap bar images are a reference only.
Frequently Asked Questions.
* What is Sodium Hydroxide and why is it my soap?
Every soap bar contains Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide in liquid soap (See label explanation below). Without it, there is no soap. When oils mix with Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) there is a chemical reaction - the end result of which is soap. This is called saponification. During saponification the alkalinity of the lye is cancelled out by the acidic oils. After 4-6 weeks of curing time, all that is left is an almost neutral PH bar of soap that no longer contains any Sodium Hydroxide. Not a daunting ingredient when you understand the chemistry involved.
* How do I understand the labels on commercial and natural soaps?
I am very well versed in reading labels when living with allergies, so it opens your eyes to some of the pretty horrendous ingredients in our food and body products.
In Australia, under the Trade Practices (Cosmetics) Regulations, soap labelling requirements state - 'The names of the ingredients in the list must be either their English names or their ‘International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient names’ (INCI). As explained above, Sodium Hydroxide is an initial ingredient in every soap bar, however when oils mix with Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) there is a chemical reaction. What this means is I have a choice of 2 options when labelling my soap. For the example of Oatmeal Soap, I can list:
* Olive Oil, Rain Water, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Organic Oats.
OR
* Olea Europaea Oil, Aqua, Cocos Nucifera, Organic Avena Sativa.
These are the same bar of soap. The latter doesn't need Sodium Hydroxide listed BUT IT WAS STILL USED TO MAKE THE SOAP. I choose to list the first example because I find the INCI names confusing to customers.
Take a look and compare this to the ingredients in a very well known brand of soap:
* Sodium Palmate, Water, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Glycerin, Talc, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Peg-45M, Silica, Disodium Distrylbiphenyl Disulfonate, Tetrasodium Edta, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sericin, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract (French Rose), Jasminum Officinale Flower Extract (Jasmine), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond), Nelumbium Speciosum Flower Oil (Lotus), Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil (Wild Mint), Cymbopogon Martini Oil (Lemon Grass), Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
They both cleanse and condition. What would your prefer on your skin?
* Are there any of the top 10 allergens in your products?
I have firsthand experience when it comes to dealing with anaphylactic allergies, as a mother of a child who is allergic to many of the top 10 allergens. As a result, I want to ensure my soaps and body products are as natural as possible and have been carefully considered for those with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities. These products do not contain the following allergens and are made in a dedicated preparation area to ensure there is no risk of cross contamination. Free from: Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Sesame Seeds, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy, Fish, Shellfish and Lupin.