What is
Cold Process Soap
My soaps are made using the cold process soap technique, which is based on an ancient art going back years & years ago, but with some modern technology added in.
Soap making involves a bit of chemistry, creative artistry & time, all rolled into one.
Soap chemistry basically is; Alkali + Acid + Water = Salt + Glycerine.
So the alkali (sodium hydroxide or lye) is combined with the water (any liquid) and added to fatty acids (cold-pressed oils such as olive, avocado, coconut, etc), a chemical reaction occurs called saponification thus creating SOAP!
No lye is left in the final soap after saponification.
My soaps are handmade with love in small batches using quality natural ingredients including plant oils & butters, mineral-rich clays, botanicals infused into plant oils, botanicals & pure therapeutic essential oils. I don’t use Palm Oil in my soaps.
Once the soaps are made, they are hand cut & stored on my curing racks for 6 weeks to harden. This leaves just the moisturising, nourishing benefits of the plant oils & butters and the amazing healing & therapeutic powers of nature.
SIMPLE NATURAL VEGAN
NO NASTIES
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Botanical Oil Infusions
Once I harvest my botanicals, they are placed on drying racks for a few days to remove any moisture that could spoil the oil. I use a process where I macerate the botanicals & put them into the plant oils, mainly olive or sunflower. After about 6-8 weeks, I strain the botanicals from the oils. Now the oils are ready to be made into soaps, balms & bath salts.
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Butters
I use several different butters but mainly Shea Butter, Mango Butter & Cocoa Butter. I always buy Fairtrade & organic where possible. These are what makes cold-process soaps hard, creamy, silky & luxurious.
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Clays & Botanicals
I use a variety of natural mineral-rich clays that are not only used for the colours they provide but also for their therapeutic & skin-loving properties. These clays are sourced from mainly France, Brazil & Australia for the highest mineral quality.
Not only are the botanicals that I grow in my garden used for oil infusions but they are also used for making up a tea or for decoration. The botanicals that I grow are: Lavender, Calendula, Chamomile, Arnica, St Johns Wort, Comfrey, Yarrow, Aloe Vera, Rose, Cornflower, Echinacea, Spearmint, Peppermint, Kaffir Lime, Lemon Balm, Orange Balm, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Bay Laurel.
