Soap Production Process

Read the Labels: What's in Soap

As the words in the labels become lengthier, it is becoming more difficult to discern their meaning. Education is how you, the consumer, can protect yourself. Is there a product or ingredient name that you would like to have explained? Email me and we'll respond.  Have a comment, question or concern about one the ingredients below? Please let me know!

angela@celticnaturals.com Angela J. Buckley

Once upon a day, we didn't have to read labels. You didn't need to. You went to the Farmer's Market to buy essentials, such as flour, oil and fruits and vegetables. Then you went home and "processed" yourself, that is, you baked, you sewed, you made it. As a result, you knew exactly what was going on your skin and into your mouth. However, as society progressed, individuals specialized in producing products. Still, the customer and the vendor knew each other. This intimacy in the marketplace served as a protection to the customer. Individual service, mindfulness of the customer's needs and limitations where (and still are!) the hallmark of the small vendors.

Today, with globalization, the vendor is no longer uniquely tied to her customer. Without the direct personal interaction, labeling becomes a safety requirement. However, labeling is a shared burden. The manufacturer must honestly follow the law and serve the interest of its customers. Reading and writing is a two-way street. The manufacturer writes, but the consumer must read, and comprehend.

Labels by Law

Labels are designed by law to protect the consumer. However, the practicality of law is compromise between manufacturers, lawmakers seeking reelection and watchdog groups. As a result, different products have different labeling requirements. Soap, for example, has an exemption. Soap is not required to have any product or ingredient label on it. Other skin care products are required to list all ingredients that exist in the product at levels greater than 1%, unless the ingredient is specifically an active ingredient, or the ingredient has been listed by the FDA. In California, any ingredient found on their "Cancer List" must also be listed.

Below are terms and ingredients most commonly found in all natural soaps.

Glycerine: Glycerine is a natural humectant, which means that it attracts moisture. This wonderfully useful ingredient has many uses. In skin care, it is most notable for its ability to smooth and soften. It absorbs naturally into the skin while drawing in moisture. Glycerine is a natural byproduct of the soap making process. Unfortunately, during the ramp to WWII, glycerine was also need as an intermediate ingredient to use smokeless gun powder and other explosives.

Saponification (the soap making reaction) was the primary source of glycerine production, essential to the War Effort. It became patriotic (and profitable) in the USA to remove the glycerine from soap.   The resulting soap was drying and aggressive to skin.

Lye: In order to make a natural bar soap, sodium hydroxide better known as lye, is required for the reaction. A warm lye solution is mixed with a warm oil/fat solution to create soap. In a proper reaction, there is no lye left in the soap, as it is broken down and consumed by the soap process. The proper soap is completed in a pH range that is safe for human skin, typically with approximately 5% extra oils for skin moisturizing.

Potassium hydroxide: The "lye" used to make an all natural liquid soap. Although the process requires more time (and energy), the reaction process is essentially the same. A liquid paste is created, then diluted with water and adjusted with a boric acid solution to bring the pH into range that is safe for human skin.

Sodium hydroxide: see lye.

Saponified: Saponify, saponification all refer to the soap making process. The saponified precursor indicates that the coconut oil has been used in the soapmaking process. Frequently, the manufacturer will then leave "sodium hydroxide" off the label, since it was consumed during the soap making process.   Furthermore, all natural soap manufacturers attempt to write clear, understandable ingredient lists. Most consumers do not understand the proper chemical name of sodium cocoate, therefore, the label reads saponified coconut oil. There are currently no legal guidelines (as of yet) which say how an ingredient is named, so long as it is clear to the consumer.

Sodium palmate: saponified palm oil using sodium hydroxide for solid soaps

Sodium olivate: saponified olive oil using sodium hydroxide for solid soaps

Sodium soyate: saponified soybean oil using sodium hydroxide for solid soaps

Sodium cocoate: saponified coconut oil using sodium hydroxide for solid soaps

Sodium tallowate: saponified beef tallow using sodium hydroxide for solid soaps

Potassium palmate: saponified palm oil using potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps

Potassium olivate: saponified olive oil using potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps

Potassium soyate: saponified soybean oil using potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps

Potassium cocoate: saponified coconut oil using potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps

Potassium tallowate: saponified beef tallow oil using potassium hydroxide for liquid soaps

Sodium bicarbonate: baking soda

Sodium borate: Borax

Sodium tetraborate: Borax

Disodium tetraborate: Borax

Manufacturing soap

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Botanical Soap Making Kit Sale Price: $16.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description 16 oz. opaque suspension formula soap, rose mica powder colorant, apricot seed, blendable fragrances. cool citrus, warm vanilla and fresh herbal. Plastic mold instructios and bonus loofah. Features Rejuvenating and Exfoliating Botanical Soap Making Kit. Makes 7 exfoliating soap baRS Contains 3 blendable fragrances, to create a scent as unique as you. Awesome, fresh, handmade beauty products made totally by you! Limited only by your imagination.

Creative Shapes Soap Making Kit by Plaid List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $22.99 You save: $7.00 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Create your own soap designs! Kit comes with coloring, soap, and molds.

Soap Making Kit List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $23.95 You save: $1.04 (4%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 6-10 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Everything you need to make great-smelling soaps in a variety of attractive colors and shapes are included in this Soap Making Kit. The natural essential oils and cocoa butter allow you to create super moisturizing and luxurious soaps at home! Kit includes 2 lbs. clear glycerin soap base, Spring Collection liquid colors (lilac, peach, seafoam), Massage Bars soap mold, Geometric Shapes soap mold, 1 ounce cocoa butter, 1 ounce Cucumber Melon Fragrance; and 1 ounce Lavender Fragrance. Made in USA. Features Everything you need to make great-smelling soaps in a variety of attractive colors and shapes are in

Daisy Loaf Soap Kit List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $13.75 You save: $6.24 (31%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description This all-inclusive Loaf Soap Kit by Life of the Party contains all the materials to make your own "soap within a soap" bars! The material included will make two 7" loaf soaps that when sliced will make eighteen 3/4" unique bars of soap.Each kit includes: Glycerin Soap, 2 flower loaf soaps, Pearberry Fragrance, coloring dyes, and a loaf mold.Create unique colors by either mixing colors in melted soap, or pouring layers of different colors. Tie dye effects can be achieved by dripping color right into melted soap and swirling with a toothpick!Not a toy. Not suitable for children under 3 years of age. Melted soap is hot! Features Kit Contains: 24-oz clear soap Two (2) 6 Inch Daisy loaves .25 fl-oz Pearberry fragrance Red, Blue & Yellow coloring (.25 fl-oz each) One (1) 7.75'' x 10.25'' soap mold

Mold ‘n Play Soap Kit List Price: $14.89 Sale Price: $2.00 You save: $12.89 (87%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description KidKleen Mold 'n Play Soap KitMold it, shape it and get ready to lather up. Soft and squishy soap lets your child bathe and clean while creating super soapy shapes. Makes bathtime fun!!!The Mold 'n Play is a fun tub activity for little bathers - just roll, press and shape the Mold 'n Play soap in all different ways. Kids can make their very own creations, all while getting squeaky clean!Includes:3 x Containers of Mold n Play Soap (with flexible lids with cookie cutter animal shapes- star, octopus and fish) 1 x Multi Shape extruder with fun built in stampers 1 x Double-sided roller for flat and fun decorations 1 x Whale shaped book mold Features The Mold 'n Play is a fun tub activity for little bathers - just roll, press and shape the Mold 'n Play soap in all different ways. Kids can make their very own creations, all while getting squeaky clean!

The Soap Barn: Lavender Soap Making Kit See Reviews For This Product Description Cold processed olive oil based soapmaking kit. This kit is a replica of our Soap Making 101 class in a box.  We've had many request from interested clients who live out of town who can not attend our classes so we've designed this especially with them in mind.  Everything is included; coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, sodium hydroxide, thermometer, high heat spatula, krinkle kutter, fragrance, color, mold, liner and instructions.    Kit makes approximately 3.25 pounds of soap.  Everything is premeasured and weighed out so scales are not necessary.

The Soap Barn: Almond Soap Making Kit See Reviews For This Product Description Cold processed olive oil based soapmaking kit. This kit is a replica of our Soap Making 101 class in a box.  We've had many request from interested clients who live out of town who can not attend our classes so we've designed this especially with them in mind.  Everything is included; coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, sodium hydroxide, thermometer, high heat spatula, krinkle kutter, fragrance, color, mold, liner and instructions.    Kit makes approximately 3.25 pounds of soap.  Everything is premeasured and weighed out so scales are not necessary.

Cool Kids Soap Kit Sale Price: $16.95   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product

Bombs Away Bath Bomb Kit by Life of the Party Sale Price: $17.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Makes 5 Large fizzing bath bombs. Great for gifts! Make your own fragrant bombs. Furiously fizzes in your bath. Suitable for children 12 years and older. Awesome fesh, handmade beauty products made totally by you! Limited only by your imagination. Features Makes 5 Large fizzing bath bombs. Great for gifts! Make your own fragrant bombs. Furiously fizzes in your bath. Suitable for children 12 years and older.

The Soap Barn: Chocolate Scented Soap Making Kit See Reviews For This Product Description We call this one our calorie-free way of getting our chocolate fix! Cold processed olive oil soap making kit. This kit is a replica of our Soap Making 101 class in a box.  We've had many request from interested clients who live out of town who can not attend our classes so we've designed this especially with them in mind.  Everything is included; coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, sodium hydroxide, thermometer, high heat spatula, krinkle kutter, fragrance, color, mold, liner and instructions.  Kit makes approximately 3.25 pounds of soap.  Everything is premeasured and weighed out so scales are not necessary.