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Goats Milk Soap & Bath Products
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QUESTIONS ASKED… AND
ANSWERED……
What’s the difference between store bought soap and handmade soap?
Most people don’t know that commercially manufactured soaps contain petroleum products, alcohols, synthetics and preservatives. Some of the famous brand name soaps that you buy today are actually not soap at all. Nowhere on the packages does the word "soap" appear, rather the products are labeled "Beauty Bars" or "Deodorant Bars". These Beauty Bars also contain chemical components called "Builders" that increase the efficiency of the soap. In natural soap there are no "Builders" and the glycerin that is a natural by-product of soap remains in the soap
These commercial bars are made with cheap ingredients such as petroleum oils and are mass produced with added preservatives. Commercial manufacturers also remove the beneficial and moisturizing natural glycerin from their bars to put into their more expensive skin care products. These products are more drying and less beneficial than a real soap made from natural oils. Natural, hand made soap is carefully crafted a little at a time out of good quality oils, herbs, spices, and fragrance oils.
Isn't there lye in home made soap?
All
soap is made with lye, but there is no lye remaining in the finished
product. Any soaper who claims that they make their soap with no lye, is
lying. Any advertisements that say that the soap contains no lye is
just a marketing stint. Soap making is a chemical reaction. All
soaps are a mixture of an alkali and oil. Lye is a mixture of sodium
hydroxide and liquid (in our case, goats milk). For anything to have
cleaning and lathering qualities it has to have some sort of alkali.
When an alkali is added to oils saponification occurs and produces soap.
Detergents use petroleum products whereas soaps are made with organic
oils.
The oils and lye combine molecules during the process and create a new
substance - soap (and as a bonus - glycerin, a great moisturizer).
I once had a soaper at a market tell me that she does not use any lye in her soap. Curious on how she was going to explain this one, I asked her if she made cold process or melt and pour soap? She claimed that she did not use lye with her soap and that she melted it down so that her soap was very mild and good for my skin. I advised her that the method that she used was melt and pour where you buy big blocks of soap that has already gone through the “cold process” stage and that yes, there was lye used to make the bulk soap that she bought. She looked at me confused and said that she would have to check into that. No Lye… No Soap… there are no if’s, and’s or but’s about it!
Why use handmade soap?
Handmade soap contains natural oils and glycerin which is wonderful for
your skin! We do not add any preservatives, hardeners or lathering
agents to our soaps. Commercial soaps often have petroleum in them and
are made from synthetic detergents where the glycerin is extracted and
used in higher priced products. Do you ever wonder why your skin is
tight, dry or itchy after using them? Handmade soaps are also unique in
appearance; no two bars are exactly alike since each bar is crafted, cut
and wrapped by a person, not a machine.
How should
this soap be handled and stored?
Our handmade soaps do not contain any hardeners or detergents,
therefore, it is important to let the soap dry after usage. A self
draining soap dish, shower rack, or one of our handmade corian soap dishes will
give the proper drainage. This will help keep the soap bar fresh and the
bar will also last longer. If you wish to store the soap before hitting
the shower, keep it in the wrapping and put it in your sock drawer or
linen closet. The longer the bar cure, the harder the bar gets and the
longer it will last.
What is this “cold process” method?
Cold process soap making involves working with fats, liquid and an alkali. Soap is created when oils like coconut, palm and olive oil are blended together with the alkali; sodium hydroxide (more commonly known as lye). As the two are stirred together, a chemical reaction begins, blending all the oil with the lye mixture which turns all the ingredients into soap. A properly made bar has no free lye in it, and is gentle and cleansing. With the cold process method, the soap must cure (dry) for a period of time before packaging. The longer the cure, the better the bar. Cold process method is certainly not the fastest way to use handmade soap, but it is the best!
What is the
difference between the process of making commercial soaps and handmade
cold process soaps?
There are two processes for making soap. Commercial soap (Irish Spring,
Dove, Body Shop soap) is manufactured by using a hot process method. In
the hot process, oils and alkali are boiled together for a period of
time to create saponification (the process where the oils and the alkali
merge together). During the boiling, the soap product and glycerin
separate. In large commercial processes, the glycerin is separated out
and sold, and the soap mixture is then formed into bars or other shapes.
Since the soap mixture is boiled for such a long time, the oils in the
hot soap process can go rancid. So to counter rancidity, whole arrays of
chemicals are added to keep many hot process soaps fresher for a long
shelf life.
Handcrafted soap manufacturers mostly use the cold process method of
production where oils are heated just to the melting temperature and
mixed with an alkali to create saponification. It is then poured into
molds, cut and cooled off, and then cured for approx. 4-5 weeks.
Cold process soaps retain glycerin and do not need chemical
preservatives because the oil is not boiled.
Do the larger
companies make cold processed soap?
Nope. The shelf life of cold processed soap is shorter and the price is
higher due to the glycerin content, oils and higher priced natural
organic ingredients. As well, hand made cold processed soap does not
include cheaper priced petroleum products.
Is there vegetable
glycerin in this soap?
Yes! Cold processed soap has a very high glycerin content that is
created by the saponification process. Because we only use vegetable
oils, it is a vegetable based glycerin.
What is saponified
oil?
Saponification is the chemical process where oils and alkali (sodium
hydroxide) bind to create soap. The saponification process creates soap
and a high amount of glycerin, which of course, retain the glycerin in
the soap.
What is shea butter? And
why do you use it in soaps?
Shea
butter is obtained from the nut of the Mangifolia tree in Central
Africa. It has been used extensively in African countries to heal
irritated skin and soothe stretch marks. Unique to shea butter is it's
high content of non-saponifiable fats, which means much of the shea
butter does not turn into soap and is available as a moisturizing
element in the soap.
Do you animal test?
No, we only test our soap on willing family and friends. Although, our
dirty dog flea soap is tested on our own family pets. They must
like it because I have never heard them complain!
Why don't you make bulk
soap that can be cut by the customers?
Well-made cold process soap starts hardening and curing soon after it is
cut. Extra water needs to be added to have a soap that can be cut for a
longer period of time, resulting in a soap that will wear away quite
quickly.
Can your soap be used
for sensitive skin?
Many people who are sensitive to chemical fragrances, preservatives and
chemical colors find our soaps easier to use.
Why don't you use only essential oils in your soap?
I have chosen to use both essential oils and fragrance oils with my soap. The fragrance oils that I use are purchased from reputable soap suppliers and they are body and skin safe. Some fragrance oils contain essential oils as part of the natural components or constituents. Some do not. Some contain synthetically made constituents of essential oils.
Price is a factor with the oils that I use to scent our soaps with. It takes many, usually hundreds of, pounds of plant material to make a pound of essential oil. It takes about 200 pounds of lavender to make a pound of lavender essential oil. It takes over 2000 pounds of rose petals to make a pound of rose essential oil. (That's why it's SO expensive!)
Certain essential oils will fade with time if you don't use your soap. This tends to be more of the citrus essentials oils. Fragrance oils will normally hold their scent for a long period of time.
Essential oils are powerful organic chemicals. But the same care should be taken whether using fragrance or essential oils in your candles and soap. Chemicals are chemicals whether they're created in a lab, or created in nature. The ironic thing is that fragrance oils are tested and are body safe. Just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe to put in or on your body.
So which is better you ask? I love essential oils. I also love fragrance oils. I use both of them in our soaps. I do not believe that either one is inherently better than the other. They both have their proper uses, cautions and advantages. Like with all things, it is up to us candle makers and soap makers to learn all we can so that we can make educated choices about the products we make.
I do not believe that a soap made with only essential oils is better than soap made with fragrance oils. I don't believe that our soaps that have fragrance oils in them are not natural at all. They are as natural as I can make them, that's why I called my soap company Our Natural Creations. In my opinion, any soap that is handmade, whether it have essential oils or fragrance oils, is 2000 times better than soap you buy in a store. But that is just my two scents worth... ;O)
What are the benefits of Goat Milk?
Goat's milk is a natural emollient that helps soothe and moisturize the skin. It contains vitamins A, B6, B12 and E. Goat's milk has 3 times more beta-casein than cow's milk. Caseins are easily absorbed into the skin and allow for quick hydration of dry skin. The content of triglycerides, capric, caprylic and caproic acid helps balance the skin's natural pH and promotes natural exfoliation of dry skin.
Canadian
Made