If you have already used our soaps, you may want to skip this introduction and go directly to our Snooty Soaps Listing but if you haven't then here is some information you may find interesting!

The Lye Question

The most frequent question we get is "Is this lye soap?" Our answer is that all soap is lye soap - you cannot make soap without lye. HOWEVER, this is NOT the lye soap from pioneer days. THIS is luxurious, mild, long-lasting soap that actually nurtures your skin - it is heavily "super fatted" meaning that we put in more rich, whole oils than the lye we put in can possibly react with so there is no lye left in the soap.

What is "Cold Process Soap" and how is it different from commercial soap?

We use the "cold-process" to make our soaps. This means that we use just enough heat to melt the solid fats that go in our soaps. The vitamins, proteins, and minerals in the whole oils are not subjected to the extremely high temperatures found in the commercial process. The cold process retains the naturally occurring glycerin of the reaction (the commercial process removes the glycerin and sells it - it's a very lucrative by-product of that industry). Glycerin attracts and holds on to moisture -it's a good thing to have in your soap! Typically, the cold-process soap maker will use the whole oils instead of oil fractions which gives the cold-process soap the benefit of the nutrients found in the whole oils. And the cold-process soap maker will not add "fillers" so often found in milled commercial soaps - these fillers can irritate skin. Cold-process soaps are distinctly (and delightfully!) different than commercial soaps - they last longer and they are good for your skin.

Why do you call yourself a "Soap Snob"?

In the world of cold-process soap makers, there are those who will make a soap with large proportions of less expensive oils - like corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, canola oil or the generic "vegetable oil". It's not surprising due to the cost - olive oil can cost up to six times as much as generic "vegetable oil" and up to two and a half times the cost of sunflower oil! These less expensive oils still give one the benefit of glycerin retention but we at SoapLady prefer the richness, longevity, and FEEL of an olive oil soap. Most of our soaps are 50% olive oil and 15% shea butter. And we put SILK in all of our soaps . We use other fine ingredients like emu oil, hemp oil, kukui nut oil, wheat germ oil, whipping creme, organic carrot juice, or avocado oil (depending on the formula) because we're fussy and....ok, yes, soap snobs. We also really push the envelope on the degree to which we "super-fat" our soaps - we break the "rules" here. And we take pride in the very fine quality essential oils and fragrance oils we use to add distinctive and delightful fragrances to our soaps. Many people who say they usually "can't stand" scented soaps, tell us that ours are "different." The "difference" they are perceiving is, in our opinion, the difference between a "perfumey", less expensive fragrance and a quality essential oil or fragrance added in approprate amounts.