FAQ - Handmade Soap Questions

What is soap?

Not many people even know what soap really is. Several of the cleansing bars that you buy at the store, for example, are detergents, and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars, or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harsher than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates rather than oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut and palm) and is a gentle cleansing product more appropriate for use on skin than detergent and much more mild than detergents.

Is there lye in the soaps that I buy from North Country Soapworks?

Some people may question the use of lye in handmade soap. The fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. ALL bar soaps are made with lye, however, when made correctly, there is NO LYE remaining in the final bar of soap. Whether your soap is manufactured by large corporations, or smaller handcrafted soap makers, the above rings true, regardless. Lye must be used to make the soap, but there should never be any remaining lye in the final bar to hurt the skin.

Why Goat Milk?

Goat milk adds richness, and a creamier lather to bath and body soap, and it's also very moisturizing. Why Goat Milk soap? Milk has been used as a cleanser and beauty aid for centuries. Goat milk however, has special qualities, some that are still not fully understood. It is used universally by people with sensitivities to other types of milk for everything from feeding babies to bathing. By adding milk to our soap we lower its pH which helps to maintain the natural pH mantel of your skin.

How is soap made?

Soap is made by adding water, oil and butters together, along with something to form them into soap (an alkali). That ingredient is Sodium Hydroxide which is lye. For liquid soaps, it is Potassium Hydroxide. The chemical reaction is called saponification. The soap maker must calculate the correct amount of lye for the specific oils used in each recipe. If too much lye is used, the bar may be hard and crumbly. If too little, the bar becomes soft and will become rancid faster, due to the natural oils & butters that are used in handmade soap.

What is saponification?

Saponification is a chemical reaction that takes place when oil is mixed with an alkali solution, such as sodium hydroxide (lye), water & oils or butters. In other words, the oil and lye combine to make soap. When the proper amounts are used at the proper temperatures, all of the lye and oil are consumed by the reaction and only the soap remains. Generally, slightly more oil is used resulting in a soap that is more moisturizing for the skin and ensuring that all of the lye is used up in the curing process.

What is glycerin?

Handmade soap contains the natural forming glycerin that is normally removed from other store bought soaps. In order to make the extremely hard french milled soaps, the glycerin must be removed or the soap would be too soft. Companies may extract the glycerin through a variety of methods and then add a percentage back to say it contains glycerin. We believe that ALL handmade cold process soap is "glycerin soap". Not simply the clear transparent soap with added glycerin. Transparency does not make a glycerin soap. On average - and it changes with the recipe, made from scratch, handmade soap contains around 10% naturally retained glycerin. Glycerin soap is especially good for sensitive and delicate skin, and for children. Because it is a high quality by-product in the soap making process, many mass commercial soap manufacturers often extract the glycerin and sell it as a by-product to be used in higher priced products like lotions and skin creams. Sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself.

What about the 100% glycerin soaps that I see in the stores?

We're sorry to have to break the news to you, but there is no such thing. Not ONE in the market today. The manufacturer might have added 100% glycerin to the soap but you have no idea how much. What you can be sure of, is that the soap is not made of 100% glycerin. Read the ingredients! If there were such a thing, the soap bar would be very mushy and soft and wouldn't lather at all. Natural glycerin, is, after all, a liquid.

What are those clear soaps in the stores?

What makes soap clear most of the time? Alcohol! Obtained from corn grain alcohol to petroleum rubbing alcohols. Even though most consumers think of clear soap as "glycerin soap", they are made with a variety of foaming agents, wetting formulas (makes the water wet to lift dirt and oil) and alcohol along with the standard mix of oils, water and lye. The "feel" that many people get from this clear soap is from synthetic ingredients, detergents & foaming agents.

What is melt & pour soap, and is this the type of soap that North Country Soapworks makes?

Melt and pour soap is basically just what the name implies. It's a soap base, made with alcohol, purchased in large blocks. The soapmaker then melts it down in a double boiler or microwave oven, adds fragrance and color and pours it into a mold. North Countrys Soapworks soap is NOT melt and pour. We make our soap the old fashioned way, from scratch, by hand. We use only the best skin-loving ingredients in every batch. Anyone can melt and pour a pre-manufactured soap block. Not everyone can produce a good bar of natural soap. At North Country Soapworks, you can be assured that we certainly can, and do!

Why does handmade soap need to cure, and how long does that take?

Handmade soap needs to slowly cure over time to harden. As the bars harden, they become more mild. Like a fine wine, the longer the handmade soap cures, the better it is. We utilize the discounted water cold process method of soapmaking which allows us to cure our soaps for 2 weeks before they are ready for sale. i.e. Saponification has been completed and all traces of lye is used up and not remaining in the finished bars. Optimally, handmade soap should cure for 4-6 weeks. Remember, the longer, the better. The completely cured bar will be much harder due to all the moisture being evaporated out, which makes the bar less soluble (it will last longer)

What are the benefits of using handmade soap?

There is a wealth of evidence of the healing properties of a handmade bar of soap. Those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic often find immediate relief by switching to handmade soap. Compared to store bought soap, handmade soap is very mild. They are often made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in commercially made bar soap. One of the biggest differences between commercial soap and handmade soap is glycerin. Glycerin is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy.

How should I take care of my handmade soap to make it last?

Handmade soap is a special product. Because it contains glycerin, it can retain more moisture than other soaps. To extend the life of your handcrafted soap, place it in a well-draining soap dish. Keep unused bars in a cool, dry place out of direct contact with water. A good soap is like a good wine, the longer it cures, the better and more mild it becomes. Our soaps will last approximately 2 - 3 weeks for single use.

What is your turn around time from order placement to delivery?

We ship all orders within 2 business days, unless the item is out of stock. We keep a small supply of all our handcrafted soap on hand and replenish as they are ordered so that they arrive to you at the peak of freshness. Please note that our normal ship time on all orders is 4-5 business days (7-10 business days during the busy holiday seasons).

Why do the bars vary in size?

All of our soaps are made in small batches by hand from start to finish, which makes them all unique. We hand cut each and every individual bar, and this is where they will vary a little in size. The average weight on all our bars is 4 - 5 oz.