Is there LYE in your soap?: No. When Handcrafted Soap is properly made and cured, the soap no longer contains lye. The chemical reaction, called Saponification, has converted the lye, water, fats and oils into SOAP. This handmade soap also contains Glycerin, which makes it mild and kind to your skin. We constantly have people talk about how "Grandma's lye soap" would take your skin right off. Well, Grandma didn't use a digital scale to weigh up her ingredients, and it was a guessing game at how strong her lye solution was. Our recipes are perfectly balanced so that NO Free Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) is present in the finished product.
What is Glycerin?: Glycerin is a humectant. A humectant grabs moisture from the air and holds it in suspension on your skin. One molecule of glycerin is created for every three molecules of soap. Which means that handcrafted soap is 25% glycerin! Big commercial companies extract this glycerin to sell to cosmetics companies, who in turn sell it back to you in the form of lotions etc.
Why is Handcrafted Soap Softer?: Because of the 25% Glycerin. You will notice that you can "dent" a bar of handmade soap with your finger. In the hot, humid summer months the bars will sometimes sweat small beads. This is just an indication of the soaps high glycerin content.
How long does a bar last?: Generally about a month. Handcrafted Soaps require a little different handling so that they don't dissolve too fast. Extend the life of the soap by storing it in a well-drained soap dish up out of the puddle of water. For nice wooden soap dishes, check out our "Lotions and Luxuries" section.
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