What cold-process soap actually is
How cold-process soap is made
Cold-process soap is made by mixing plant oils with an alkali and leaving the mixture to saponify and cure. Heat is not used to rush the reaction. That is the whole method.
Why the glycerin stays in the bar
During saponification, oils turn into soap and glycerin. In a proper cold-process bar the glycerin stays in the bar. That is why these soaps tend to clean without the tight, stripped feel of many mass-produced bars, where glycerin is often removed and sold separately.
Which bars in this range are cold process?
In our handmade range, that is the process behind the everyday British bars — Friendly Soap, Jungle Culture, Heavenly Bubbles and the others.
Cold-process is not a scent and it is not a skin type. Lavender, rosemary, lemongrass and cedarwood are the same method in different essential oils. Exfoliating bars (sea salt, coffee, poppy seed) and job-specific bars (mechanic’s, cook’s, gardener’s) are still cold-process; they just have a different brief.
How to look after a cold-process bar
What it does ask of you: keep the bar dry between uses. A wet dish shortens the life of any handmade bar, glycerin or not. A drained soap dish or a sisal bag is the whole maintenance routine.
If you want one bar to test the method, start with an everyday scent you already like. The process is the same across the range. The smell is the only decision.
Handmade Natural Soap collection
FAQ
Is cold-process soap the same as melt-and-pour?
No. Melt-and-pour starts with a pre-made base. Cold-process starts from oils and an alkali and cures over time.
Does cold-process soap contain glycerin?
Yes. Glycerin forms during saponification and stays in the bar if it is not extracted.
Is cold-process soap plastic-free?
The bar itself is. Packaging on this range is sold as plastic-free; check the product page for the wrap.
How long does a cold-process bar last?
Depends on how dry you keep it. Sitting in water shortens its life more than how often you use it.