Natural Soap Making

For  health conscious consumers seeking healthier skincare alternatives, understanding how natural soap is made can provide valuable insight into the quality and benefits of the products they use every day. Natural soap is more than just a cleansing product, it's a blend of science, craftsmanship, and nature.

At its core, natural soap is created through a process called saponification, where fats (oils and/or butters) react with an alkali to form soap and naturally occurring glycerin. However, not all natural soaps are made the same way. Different soap-making methods influence the soap's appearance, texture, ingredients, and skincare benefits.

Let's explore the most common types of natural soap making and what makes each method unique.

1. Cold Process Soap Making

Cold process soap making is one of the most popular methods used by artisan soap makers. In this method, oils and lye are mixed at relatively low temperatures, and the soap is poured into molds where saponification occurs over 24 hours after being poured.

The bars are then cured for four to six weeks to allow chemical bonding to continue, excess water to evaporate and the soap to harden.

Benefits of Cold Process Soap

• Allows for more complex artistic expression with intricate swirls and designs  
• Retains naturally produced glycerin
• Allows complete control over ingredients
• Ideal for incorporating botanicals, clays, and essential oils
• Produces long-lasting bars with rich lather
• Has a more consistent appearance

Here are a few pictures of our cold process bars showing layers, swirl designs and embeds.

2. Hot Process Soap Making

Hot process soap making follows the same basic principles as cold process soap making but includes addition of heat during production. The soap mixture is cooked, accelerating the saponification process.
Because the soap is largely saponified before being molded, it can often be used much once it has cooled. A cure time is still necessary, as soap curing us more than just about the evaporation of water, but one benefit is that it cures much sooner than cold process soap.

Benefits of Hot Process Soap

• Suitable for adding delicate ingredients after cooking
• An excellent option when working with notorious fragrances or essential oils
• Rustic, handcrafted appearance
• Retains naturally produced glycerin
• Requires less fragrance or essential oil per batch as they are added after the cook(after saponification has completed)
• Also allows complete control over ingredients

Melt and Pour Soap Making

Melt and pour soap is created using a pre-made soap base that has already undergone saponification. The base is melted, customized with colors, fragrances, or botanical additives, and then poured into molds.

Benefits of Melt and Pour Soap

• No handling of lye required
• Quick and beginner-friendly
• No cure time needed, can be used once cooled and hardened
• Excellent for decorative soaps
• Requires less fragrance or essential oil for scenting

While melt and pour soaps can be made with natural ingredients, the quality depends heavily on the soap base used. Brands committed to natural skincare often choose bases free from synthetic detergents, parabens, and harsh preservatives.

4. Rebatching

Rebatching involves grating fully cured soap and remelting it with small amounts of liquid like water, or milk, then adding to the scent or colour, before remolding or shaping into new bars. 

Benefits of Rebatching

• Allows correction of imperfect soap batches
•  Ideal for adding heat-sensitive ingredients
•  Allows for the refreshing of bars that have lost their scent or natural colour over time
•  Reduces wastage as it utilizes soap shavings and ends.

Many soap makers use rebatching to ingredients that may have been forgotten during initial soap production.

Which Soap-Making Method Is Best?

Each soap-making method offers unique advantages, and the best choice depends on your skincare goals.

Our preferred method evidently is the cold process method, with the hot process method taking a close second. For us here at Sheer Burst Skincare, the quality of ingredients ultimately matters as much as the production method. Natural plant oils, butters, botanical infusions, and select fragrance oils and high quality essential oils are paramount to us. 

We no longer use melt and soap in any of our formulations as we prefer to be in control, as far as possible, of all the ingredients added to our skincare products. 

The Bottom Line

When choosing natural soap, understanding the ingredients and how it was made can help you select products that align with your values and your skin's needs. Whether your need, natural soap offers a simple and effective way to bring more of nature into your daily skincare routine.