Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a homemade soap over a commercially prepared soap?
Commercially produced soaps are made in large batches where the glycerin is removed. The soaps are then cut and packaged via machines. The extracted glycerin is sold for use in lotions or specialty soaps. You may see glycerin as an ingredient on a commercial soap label because they will add back the glycerin. Handmade soaps are produced in small batches from start to finish. This includes mixing the ingredients, scenting, cure time, cutting and packaging. The natural glycerin that occurs remains in the soap. Glycerin is a humectant, that which helps to hold the moisture to the skin.
We suggest reading the labels on your soaps. Most commercial soaps are really detergents, a product used to remove oil. This is great for your laundry but may not be the best for your skin. Some commercial ingredients may include parabens that reduce bacteria, surfactants such a Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which increases the lathering power, and synthetic preservatives or stabilizers like EDTA or BHT. If you are concerned about what you see on the label do some research.
Commercially produced soaps are made in large batches where the glycerin is removed. The soaps are then cut and packaged via machines. The extracted glycerin is sold for use in lotions or specialty soaps. You may see glycerin as an ingredient on a commercial soap label because they will add back the glycerin. Handmade soaps are produced in small batches from start to finish. This includes mixing the ingredients, scenting, cure time, cutting and packaging. The natural glycerin that occurs remains in the soap. Glycerin is a humectant, that which helps to hold the moisture to the skin.
We suggest reading the labels on your soaps. Most commercial soaps are really detergents, a product used to remove oil. This is great for your laundry but may not be the best for your skin. Some commercial ingredients may include parabens that reduce bacteria, surfactants such a Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which increases the lathering power, and synthetic preservatives or stabilizers like EDTA or BHT. If you are concerned about what you see on the label do some research.
What are the different methods of soap making?
All soap uses oils and/or fats mixed with lye that saponify to create soap. Originally, our ancestors made lye by pouring hot water over wood ashes that were held in a leach barrel. These early soap makers saved their fat drippings to be boiled and filtered. The lye water and fats were mixed by boiling them in a cast iron pot, stirred just until it thickened, cooled and cut into bars. This was a caustic process since lye that was created did not have a consistent quality. If the lye mixture wasn't strong enough the soap may not set up or and there was too much fat the soap may go rancid. If the lye level was too high, the soap would be too harsh to use on skin. If available, bayberry or wild ginger could be added to their liquid soaps for bathing and borax or resin was added for laundry soap.
Cold Process Soap (CP): This method involves melting the oils to mix with the lye solution, bringing the mixture to trace and adding scents, color and botanicals. The soap is then poured into molds to set or cut into bars and allowed to cure for 4-6 weeks.
Hot Process Soap (HP): This method starts out like the cold process soaps but the mixture is heated to force the gel stage quicker which allow the water to evaporate.
Melt and Pour Soap: Melt and pour is exactly what is says. Melt and pour soaps begin with a soap base made with oils, butters and lye and usually sold in blocks to soap crafters. The actual soap making process has already been done for the crafter. This base soap is melted and poured into various molds. Scents, color and botanicals can be added to create these bars after melting the base.
Please note there is no such thing as a lye-free soap! ALL true soap begins with lye and fats/oils. If you don't see the name sodium hydroxide (lye) on your soap label you are most likely purchasing a melt and pour soap, a commercial soap that has been rebatched or milled or a detergent. For example is you see sodium tallowate on a lable it is tallow (beef fat) and saponified with lye, Sodium palmate = palm oil saponified with lye. Reading soap labels can be quite interesting!
All soap uses oils and/or fats mixed with lye that saponify to create soap. Originally, our ancestors made lye by pouring hot water over wood ashes that were held in a leach barrel. These early soap makers saved their fat drippings to be boiled and filtered. The lye water and fats were mixed by boiling them in a cast iron pot, stirred just until it thickened, cooled and cut into bars. This was a caustic process since lye that was created did not have a consistent quality. If the lye mixture wasn't strong enough the soap may not set up or and there was too much fat the soap may go rancid. If the lye level was too high, the soap would be too harsh to use on skin. If available, bayberry or wild ginger could be added to their liquid soaps for bathing and borax or resin was added for laundry soap.
Cold Process Soap (CP): This method involves melting the oils to mix with the lye solution, bringing the mixture to trace and adding scents, color and botanicals. The soap is then poured into molds to set or cut into bars and allowed to cure for 4-6 weeks.
Hot Process Soap (HP): This method starts out like the cold process soaps but the mixture is heated to force the gel stage quicker which allow the water to evaporate.
Melt and Pour Soap: Melt and pour is exactly what is says. Melt and pour soaps begin with a soap base made with oils, butters and lye and usually sold in blocks to soap crafters. The actual soap making process has already been done for the crafter. This base soap is melted and poured into various molds. Scents, color and botanicals can be added to create these bars after melting the base.
Please note there is no such thing as a lye-free soap! ALL true soap begins with lye and fats/oils. If you don't see the name sodium hydroxide (lye) on your soap label you are most likely purchasing a melt and pour soap, a commercial soap that has been rebatched or milled or a detergent. For example is you see sodium tallowate on a lable it is tallow (beef fat) and saponified with lye, Sodium palmate = palm oil saponified with lye. Reading soap labels can be quite interesting!
Do you use essential oils or fragrance oils in your soaps? What’s the difference?
There are pros and cons to both sides of the debate about essential oils and fragrance oils. Many articles have
been written on this subject.
Basically, essential oils derive from plant parts whereas fragrance oils are blended with synthetic compounds or blended with an essential oil that may have been diluted with a carrier. Essential oils retain the benefits of the plant from which they were extracted. Fragrances are made specifically for the scent. There are many scents that are enjoyed that cannot be found as an essential oil such as apple pie and lilac. Many of the popular scents found at bath shops are created using a variety of fragrances.
As far as safety for bath and body products both can be allergens for some people. Just because a product is natural does not mean they are body safe. Fragrance oils may contain components that are not listed on a label as they are considered “trade secrets” the same as those used in perfumery. There are safety guidelines for the use of essential oils and fragrance oils to be considered body safe. A good soap maker is aware of those guidelines and follows them.
For many years I only used essential oils in my soaps. I would get requests for scents that did not come from essential oils. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice a quality fragrance oil is in soap once I started including them in our soap products. Our label will state which is used. If it includes an essential oil it will be called by its name, such as Lavender Essential oil. If the soap uses fragrance oil it will simply say “fragrance’.
How much do your soaps weigh?
Most of our bar soaps are approximately 4.5. Some of our specialty soaps or seasonal soaps are made in individual molds which will create different sizes and weights. The weights are listed on our labels as is is required by labeling laws.
Most of our bar soaps are approximately 4.5. Some of our specialty soaps or seasonal soaps are made in individual molds which will create different sizes and weights. The weights are listed on our labels as is is required by labeling laws.
How do I keep my homemade soap from “melting”?
A Touch of Eden uses no chemical preservatives or hardeners as you may find in commericial soaps. To help extend the life of your soaps place it in a soap dish that drains so that the soap can dry between uses. Hand crafted soaps will "melt" if left on a watery shelf in the shower.
A Touch of Eden uses no chemical preservatives or hardeners as you may find in commericial soaps. To help extend the life of your soaps place it in a soap dish that drains so that the soap can dry between uses. Hand crafted soaps will "melt" if left on a watery shelf in the shower.
Do A Touch of Eden’s soaps have a shelf life?
Generally speaking the older the soap the harder the bar due to the evaporation of the water during the curing process. This evaporation will in turn cause the soap to shrink as well. Some scents will fade over time especially on the surface.
To preserve your homemade soaps leave them open to the air or put them in breathable wrappers. Do not store them in plastic containers or keep them tightly wrapped, and keep them away from excessive heat and humidity. Our recommendation is to use the soaps with 6-12 months of purchase.
Generally speaking the older the soap the harder the bar due to the evaporation of the water during the curing process. This evaporation will in turn cause the soap to shrink as well. Some scents will fade over time especially on the surface.
To preserve your homemade soaps leave them open to the air or put them in breathable wrappers. Do not store them in plastic containers or keep them tightly wrapped, and keep them away from excessive heat and humidity. Our recommendation is to use the soaps with 6-12 months of purchase.
Why are there color variations within the same soap flavors?
A Touch of Eden soaps are handmade in small batches. Although we use the same recipe for specific
scents, there will be variations in the final outcome from batch to batch.
A Touch of Eden soaps are handmade in small batches. Although we use the same recipe for specific
scents, there will be variations in the final outcome from batch to batch.
Hints about using A Touch of Eden’s soaps and bath products:
To prevent staining of wash cloths test your soaps out first. This is especially true of soaps containing some natural colorants such as cocoa powder or pigments.
To prevent staining of wash cloths test your soaps out first. This is especially true of soaps containing some natural colorants such as cocoa powder or pigments.