Behind the Bar-How your soap is made

 

Behind the Bar – How Your Soap Is Made

Ever wonder what goes into making a bar of handmade soap? Let’s take a peek behind the scenes and follow the journey from raw ingredients to the beautiful, skin-loving bar you hold in your hands.

Step 1: Choosing the Oils

It all begins with a carefully chosen blend of nourishing oils and butters.

• Coconut oil adds big, bubbly lather.

• Olive oil gives gentle cleansing power.

• Avocado oil creates a creamy, silky feel.

• Shea butter brings rich moisture and skin conditioning.

Each oil plays a specific role in the finished bar. I choose my recipe based on how I want the soap to feel on your skin, how well it will lather in different types of water, and the balance between cleansing and conditioning.

Step 2: The Magic of Saponification

Next comes the science. The oils are blended with a lye solution in a chemical reaction called saponification. This is what turns a mixture of oils and lye into soap. It may sound a little intimidating, but when done correctly, all the lye is completely transformed—there’s none left in the final bar. What remains is pure, gentle, safe soap.

Step 3: Adding Color & Scent

Once the base is ready, it’s time to have fun. This is when I add natural clays, micas, or other colorants to create swirls, layers, and patterns. Fragrance or essential oils are added to give each bar its unique personality—whether that’s fresh and clean, sweet and fruity, or deep and earthy.

Step 4: Pouring & Setting

The soap is poured into molds, where I can swirl and smooth the surface. Then it rests for 24–48 hours while it continues to firm up and finish its initial transformation.

Step 5: Cutting & Curing

Once set, the soap is removed from the mold and cut into individual bars. But they’re not quite ready for your shower yet—each bar must cure for 4–6 weeks. This curing time allows excess water to evaporate, making the bar harder, longer-lasting, and even gentler on the skin.

Step 6: The Final Touch

After curing, each bar is checked, cleaned up if needed, and labeled. When you pick up a finished bar, you’re holding weeks of careful work—a perfect blend of artistry, science, and a little joy.

Handmade soap isn’t just soap—it’s a craft, a slow process, and a labor of love.