Learn a little more about these humble yet terrifically skin-loving bath companions in this section.
What is “cold-process” soap?
Very simply put, the cold process method of soapmaking involves mixing fats (whether from animal or plant sources) with specific amount of a strong alkaline solution, usually sodium hydroxide. The chemical reaction between these two ingredients is known as saponification, which, if performed correctly, results in what we all know as soap at the end. Additives such as fragrance and colourants may be added to the liquid soap mixture before it hardens to enhance its beneficial properties, or to pretty it up. After 24 hours from the time it is poured into a mold, the soap is sliced and allowed to cure for 3-4 weeks before it is ready for use. This is to help the soap harden and last longer in the shower (curing allows the soap to lose some of its original water content).
It is completely different from melt-and-pour soap, where one begins with a store-bought, pre-made base, melts it down, mixes in other desired ingredients, pours it into a mold and the soap is ready to use almost overnight.
As a personal preference, I only use vegetable oils, pure essential oils and natural colourants such as clay. The main reason being is that I want to stay clear of known skin irritants which are so commonly found in commercially-produced ‘soap’ bars, which really are detergent-based.
Can I use your soap for my hair?
In short, yes. Everyone in my family uses my soap from head to toe. But to be fair, all of us have short hair. So if you are concerned about tangles and you use conditioner most of the time, here’s a natural alternative for you to try: make a lemon juice rinse by mixing 1 part strained lemon juice to 1 part warm water. Rinse this through your hair after shampooing, and rinse out with warm water (just as you would with your usual conditioner). Say hello to silky soft, bouncy, shiny locks. 
Unfortunately I can’t say if this rinse would adversely affect those with coloured or permed hair.
Alternatively you can make a vinegar rinse by mixing 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. It’s a cheaper alternative to using lemons, but my hubby complains of the lingering smell of vinegar in the shower when I’m done. I guess it’s not that nice to smell like a salad dressing.
Does your soap lather well?
The next time you pick up bar of soap from the pharmacy or supermarket, check its list of ingredients. You will probably spot this one: Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS), or its close relative, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. These are cheap foaming and cleansing agents that are also used to make household floor cleaners (but of course in higher percentages in such products), and they can produce copious amounts of fluffy lather which we are so accustomed to. In order to make commercially-viable ‘soap’ products, companies opt to use these ingredients to cause their products to lather and cleanse. They do clean well, but for some of us who have more sensitive skin, we find that SLS strips off our skin’s precious natural oil barrier, leaving most of us with uncomfortably dry, itchy and red patches on our skin.
In my cold process soap, the saponified vegetable oils produce lovely lather, varying from dense bubbles to fluffy ones. Different oils giving different kinds of lather. For a quick overview of which oils produce what kinds of lather, read this article.
How long do your soap bars last?
It depends on how you use and store them. Keeping them as dry as possible in between uses, resting it in a well-drained soap dish and well-ventilated room helps a lot. If your soap bar is primarily for washing your hands, most will last for about 2 months or even more. If you’re using it in the shower, it could last anything between 3 to 6 weeks.
In my family where we showered our magically-messy kids aged 2 and 3 almost 3 times a day, a single bar of soap would last them 2-3 weeks.
As for best-before dates, I’d say they’re good for a year from the time you bought them. Please try to use them up within this time frame, or all those skin-loving oils may go rancid.
How can I make my soap bar last longer?
As cold process soap bars generally tend to be softer than most commercially-produced bath products, it’s best to rest your soaps on well-drained soap dishes in between uses. Don’t let them sit in a puddle of water, or your precious soap bars will melt down into forlorn-looking puddles of goo. They’re still usable, but nowhere near as pretty as when you first got them!
As for storage, keeping your unopened bar of soap in a cool, dark and dry place would be best.
I like the scents in your soap so much that I can’t bear to use them. I keep them in my drawer/cupboard instead. How long can I leave them there?
Firstly, I’ll have you know that the soap bars in your drawer are very, very sad… Because they want to do good things to your skin, and are happiest when being used regularly. But if you really, really want to use them to make your clothes smell nice, I’d say that they’re good for about a year after you buy them.
