About Soap

Soap is a cleansing agent made from the interaction of oils and fats [acids] with an alkali [sodium hydroxide] to produce a solid bar.

Oils and fats for soap are compounds of glycerine and natural fatty acids [in general, fatty acids refer to any compound derived from the breakdown of fats].  When oils are mixed with an alkali, they form glycerine and the sodium salts of the fatty acids.  Therefore all soap should, theoretically, have natural glycerine content. 

Many different oils, fats and butters are used in the manufacture of soap that have diffferent beneficial properties.  For example, olive oil contains mainly oleic acid that produces small, mild and creamy bubbles;  coconut oil contains nearly 50% lauric acid which makes big, fat, open, fluffy bubbles; and sunflower oil contains mainly linoleic acide which products big, open, conditioning bubbles

When oils are mixed with the alkali [sometimes called lye] a process called saponification occurs.  Oils are composed of fatty acids, which requires a certain amount of an alkali to saponify them, or change them into soap.  When formulated correctly, there is NO lye left in the finished soap.

Natural handmade soaps only contain good things - no chemicals.  Natural aromatherapy and essential oils are added to the soap to add fragrance, whilst plant extracts, ground plants and flowers are added for colour and texture.