what are artisan soaps?? everyone is talking about...
Updated: Oct 12, 2020
Recently, I had a conversation with a casual acquaintance who heard that I make soap. This person asked, “Why do you bother? There are a lot of soaps on the market, that clean and don’t cost a lot.” To which I replied, You can buy that. I choose to put clean, high quality, and less harsh. I’m not comfortable putting unpronounceable chemicals and detergents on my skin anymore. [For comparison and explanation of manufactured soap ingredients and one of Surprise Elements bars, read “Why Do People Prefer Handmade Soaps over Manufactured Soaps?“]
So, What’s special about artisan soaps?
Answer: Copious.
THE PROCESS:
Artisan/handmade soaps is Oils (Fatty Acid) + Water + An Alkali substance (lye) = saponification aka soap. Soap doesn't need any preservatives in it but needs lye because otherwise, the soap will not form at all.
Artisan the word itself means a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand. An artisan soap maker enjoys the work and carves/shape it carefully with love like olden times, probably the Egyptians might be the last ones doing this purely for cleansing not only from inside but outside too. Not just the soap making process itself but the whole process of curing the soap that takes around 4-6 weeks. An artisan soap maker takes care of her/his soap like a mother takes care of her child.
Check out the video of the making of soap at our Studio.
THE GLYCERIN GAME
That comes in abundance and is a natural byproduct of artisan soap, it is a humectant—it attracts water and seals moisture into the skin. Glycerin is also an emollient, making skin not only moist but also soft to the touch. In commercially manufactured soaps you will not find glycerin as they use other chemicals and detergent to replace it. Where does it go, you ask? Read a detailed blog: Difference between A Handmade Soap & Store-Bought Manufactured soap