[Explanation] Why Handmade? Why Cold Process?
There are probably a lot of people wondering
"Why handmade soap?"
Handmande soap because
Health and environmental concerns
Commercial soap and shower gel contains harmful/toxic and irritating ingredients as well as being a hazardous industrial waste
Harmful ingredients in commercial soap and shower gel
Petrochemicals – based cleaning agent, unsafe for humans in long term, carcinogenic
Paraben – chemical preservatives, carcinogenic
Perfume/fragrance – allergies and hormonal issues, aggravates skin problems
Coloring – artificial dyes, skin irritant
There are many more but these are the most common in commercials soap and shower gel products
Natural vs artificial
NATURAL
Handmade soap
Plant-based ingredients
Earthy in colour
Subtle scent (of essential oil)
Maximum shelf life is 24 months
ARTIFICIAL
Detergent
Artificial chemicals
Bright/neon colours
Strong fragrances
3-5 years shelf life
Why cold process?
Cold process is 1 out of 4 methods of making soap
Other 3 – hot process, rebatching, melt and pour
Cold process
low temp
unique recipe
short working time
retains natural glycerin
long curing time
Hot process
unique recipe
short curing time
long working time
high temperature (benefits/essential oil may be cooked away)
glycerin may be extracted
not as smooth as cold process soaps
Rebatching
fix of
failed cold process soap
for dedicated additives
not as smooth as cold process soap
high temperature
Melt and Pour
simple and fast
transparent/white/colourful
standard recipe
may not be 100% natural
may not have glycerin