What Ingredients Are in Handmade Soap?

One of the things people often notice when they pick up a bar of handmade soap is how short the ingredient list can be.

At markets, someone will usually flip the bar over, read the label, and say something like, “That’s it?” In a way, that’s the whole point.

Traditional handmade soap is built on a fairly simple foundation. Most cold process soap recipes start with just a few core ingredients: oils, lye, and a liquid such as water or goat milk.

Those ingredients go through a chemical reaction called saponification. During that process, the oils and lye transform into soap and natural glycerin. By the time the soap is finished curing, the lye itself has been fully converted and what’s left behind is a solid bar of soap.

The oils used in soap making are where a lot of the character of the bar comes from.

The plant based oils used in my cold process soap include olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. Each one contributes something a little different to the finished bar. Olive oil is known for creating a gentle, conditioning soap that feels mild on the skin. Coconut oil helps produce the bubbly lather most people expect when they wash their hands or step into the shower. Castor oil is often added in smaller amounts in vegan soaps because it helps stabilize and support the lather. Soap makers combine these oils in different ways depending on the type of bar they want to create - all handmade soap is not alike!

Beyond the base oils, many soap makers also add simple ingredients to give the soap a little personality. Natural clays are often used for color and can also add a silky feel to the lather. Botanicals like herbs or flowers might be included for visual interest.

The goal usually isn’t to add as many ingredients as possible. If anything, handmade soap tends to focus on the opposite idea: using a handful of good ingredients thoughtfully.

For many people who start paying closer attention to what goes on their skin, that simplicity is part of the appeal. When you read the ingredient list and recognize everything on it, the product starts to feel a little more approachable. Sometimes good soap really is just a few ingredients working well together.

Ok, bye!