Store-Bought Soaps vs. Handmade Soaps

Store-bought “soaps” are actually more detergent than soap. They are mass-produced for profit and have lots of inexpensive synthetic ingredients in them that aren’t healthy for skin. Glycerin produced in this “soapmaking” process is taken out and placed in other products, such as lotions and facial creams. This leaves the glycerin-stripped soaps drying and hard on the skin. The consumer is then forced to buy even more products to counter the drying effects of commercial soaps.

Handmade Artisan Soaps are made using either the cold process or hot process method in small batches. We use the cold process method at Wyoming Cowgirl Soap Company. Our artisan soaps are made from scratch to ensure quality & control. Natural oils and butters go into the making of our soaps and we use 100% pure essential oils (an exception is our standardized Honeysuckle Essential Oil blend).

In Cold Process Soapmaking, triglycerides (ex: olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, cocoa butter) are mixed with an alkali (sodium hydroxide). When mixed, the oil’s composition changes with the help of the alkali in a process called saponification, which results in a long-lasting bar of handmade soap that is loaded with moisturizing glycerin. The soap maker using the cold process method has complete control over what ingredients go into each bar.

When the soap batter reaches a state called “tracing”, the soap maker knows the saponification process has begun. Tracing occurs when the oils and alkaki have emulsified and the soap batter has the consistency of thick pancake batter. Once the soap batter has reached trace, it is poured into molds where it thickens and hardens. The handmade soap is usually allowed to harden for 24 hours before unmolding. Once unmolded, the soap must be cured for 4 to 6 weeks to allow the saponification process to complete and for excess water to evaporate. No sodium hydroxide remains after saponification.

Once cured, the soaps are trimmed, steamed, packaged, and readied for sale.