Natural Soaps and Herbal Skin Care Handmade in Ontario Canada with Pure Essential Oils and Organic Herbs

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How is Our Soap Made?

Our soap is made using the old-fashioned cold process method – in a pot on our stove right in our farmhouse studio. Nourishing vegetable oils are heated and thoroughly blended with a carefully calculated lye solution. REAL SOAP CANNOT BE MADE WITHOUT LYE. Real soap is made by mixing oils, lye and water --- which causes a chemical reaction, turning the mixture into what is known as soap. However, this is not the soap that many remember our grandmothers making, as they often had a tendency to use too much lye. Today, soapmaking is an exact science with precise measurements.

The chemical reaction between the oils and lye is called “saponification” and this is what creates SOAP!

The oils are weighed and then melted over low heat.

Sodium hydroxide is added to the liquid, usually water or goat’s milk, to create the lye solution. The liquid gets very hot when the lye is added to it. This solution is extremely caustic and precautions must be taken such as gloves and goggles.

When the oils and lye solution are the same temperature they are blended together. This raw soap mixture will gradually thicken as the chemical reaction begins to take place. When it reaches “trace” other goodies such as herbs, clays and essential oils are added.

The mixture, which is now the consistency of pudding, is poured into handmade wooden moulds and then covered with heavy blankets to insulate. The soap will get very hot and dark as saponification takes place. It will remain in the moulds for 24-48 hours.

The soap is now unmoulded and is in the form of a solid block, but still soft enough to cut into rectangular bars.

The bars are left for a few days, and are then stamped.

The bars cure on an open rack for approximately 4 weeks, where the water evaporates and the bars become harder and milder. After curing, the bars are wrapped and are ready to use!

For a long lasting bar, please be sure to store your soap dry between uses.

What's In Our Soap?

Olive Oil - Our soap formula is 50% olive oil - this makes a hard bar of soap that is long lasting and gentle for all skin types. Nourishing and rich in vitamin E and beta carotene, olive oil is an antioxidant and provides anti-inflammatory effects. It is said to stimulate new cell generation and slow progression of wrinkles. It is extremely mild and helps people with a variety of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and is good for babies and children. Olive oil is also non-greasy and will not clog pores and can be helpful for those with acne.

Because olive oil has such a thin lather, other oils are used in our formula to help create a long lasting bar with a generous lather and other skin conditioning properties. We only use vegetable oils, no animal fats, and do not use cheap hydrogenated filler oils that do not provide beneficial properties to the final bar. Our bars are super fatted 6%, making them extra nourishing for the skin.

Coconut oil - Coconut oil is cleansing and naturally antibacterial and healing. It makes a white, hard bar of soap with stable, big fluffy bubbles.

Palm Oil - Obtained from sustainable sources, palm oil makes a hrd long-lasting bar of soap that lathers well. It is rich in palmitic acid, vitamin E, vitamin K and magnesium and is considered to be a natural antioxidant.

Cocoa Butter - Cocoa butter acts to lay down a protective layer which holds moisture to the skin. It is an excellent skin softener, and has been used to heal and moisturize skin that has been exposed to the elements. We use unrefined cocoa butter that has a mild chocolate scent.

Castor Oil - From the castor bean plant, castor oil lends a certain creaminess to the finished soap. It attracts and holds moisture to the skin and produces a hard bar.