Have you ever wondered what all those ingredients are doing in our soap? What role do they play? How much of it is used? Do they work well together? How are they made and how does their making affect the planet?
Yes, of course! These questions came to me too, the first time I used a handmade soap. So let me take you through the ingredient list of our soaps. I will breakdown the ingredients of one of our bestsellers, Rosemary's Song.
Rosemary’s Song, like all our soaps gets made with base combination of Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Castor Oil, Palmolein. The butters, clays (or other additives) and essential oils are specific to each soap. In Rosemary's Song we put Sal Butter, French Green Clay and Rosemary and Basil essential oils.
So, let's take a look at each ingredient and get to know their role in the soap.
Our first and foremost ingredient in soaps is Coconut Oil. We and many soapmakers use Coconut oil because of the incredible lather it produces, the hardness it adds to the soap, and, when used in moderation, its great moisturizing abilities. It is one of greatest cleansers. In Kerala, for eg., people use Coconut oil every day before a bath.
As with everything in life, too much of it can be a bad thing as it can strip your skin off its natural oils. It can leave the skin feeling dry and tight. That is why we use other oils... all in the right proportions.
Olives are rich in anti-oxidants. Olive Oil has deep moisturizing properties. It is a gentle cleanser and can help soothe sensitive skin. It gives a smooth, creamy texture to the soap. Too much Olive Oil can make the soap feel slimy and hence it is combined with other oils.
Canola Oil is made from rapeseed. It is a great conditioner. It provides moisturizing benefits and is suitable for most skin types. It helps soften, condition, and prevent moisture loss. But too much canola oil can make the soap go soft. It also is prone to rancidity.
Palmolein oil, the liquid fraction of palm oil creates a hard, long-lasting bar with a creamy lather, thanks to its high saturated fat content, while also providing mild cleansing and moisturizing properties due to the presence of antioxidants like Vitamin E, making it suitable for most skin types.
Castor Oil is a humectant, which means that it attracts moisture to your skin. Due to this property, it's great to use in cold process soap, because it'll allow you to retain moisture when using. It also creates lovely, large bubbles in soap.
Butters have moisturising prowess and nourishing qualities, and their ability to enhance lather and create a creamy texture makes their role unbeatable in soapmaking. They also lend hardness and longevity to the soaps.
Clay, added to soap, offers several benefits. It primarily acts as a natural detoxifier, drawing out impurities and excess oil from the skin, making them particularly beneficial for oily skin types. The fine mineral particles also gently exfoliate and at the same time lend a silky, smooth feel. We add clays also for colour and oh yes, they are great at holding the aroma of essential oils.
Rosemary is known to increase blood circulation, provide stress and anxiety relief. It is also soothing to the skin. Basil has great antibacterial and antifungal properties. It soothes irritated skin and can calm acne breakouts. The combination of Rosemary and Basil is an all-time favourite giving a lovely herbaceous aroma to the soaps.
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