Cold process soapmaking is a wonder of art and modern chemistry. First, pure sodium hydroxide (also called lye) is combined with a liquid, like water or goat milk. Next, carefully measured oils are gently heated and the lye solution is stirred into the oils. We stir, stir, stir the mixture until it starts to thicken, which is called trace. Next, any herbs, fragrance or essential oils, or other additives are stirred in, and the new soap is poured into molds. These molds are insulated, and after 24-48 hours, the soap is unmolded and placed in a cabinet to cure, which hardens up the soap.

But doesn't lye soap burn your skin? Not today! All true soap is made by combining lye and oils. Thanks to modern chemistry, we can calculate exactly how much lye and oil we need so that NO lye remains in the finished soap. It all reacts with the oils in a process called saponification--literally, soapmaking. We use a recipe that leaves extra oils in the soap for the moisturizing properties they provide. Again, NO lye remains in our soap. It is pH tested after it's cured to make sure it is mild and gentle.

Recently, we have started making a few of our soaps using the hot process method. Hot process is very similar to cold process, except that with the hot method, the soap is actually "cooked" through the saponification process. This allows us to use some fragrances and essential oils that don't work so well in cold process soapmaking. The resulting soap looks a little more rustic, but is every bit as excellent for your skin.

Making soap yourself is a lot of fun! If you are interested, there are many books available today that can guide you through the process. But be careful! It can be addictive!