What is soap made of: secrets of making of a quality product

What is natural-based soap made of: a basic set of components and technologies

Soap that does not contain synthetic chemical additives has the right to be called natural. The unchangeable basic set of components includes vegetable oils, water and alkali. Do not be afraid of alkali in this case because due to it a process of creating soap from oils starts. Trying to explain simply all the chemistry that is happening, it looks like this: vegetable oils react with alkali, causing them to break down into acid and pure glycerin.

The alkali continues to actively work, this time reacting with the acid. The result is obtaining salts, which end up being soap, and glycerin. In molecular terms, the proportion is equal to three to one. If the technology and proportion are maintained correctly, we get a natural cleansing soap with a moisturizing effect. The alkaline balance in this case does absolutely no harm to skin because oils and glycerin in the ingredient list do not allow any injury to the skin.

At this stage, the production does not end.

In order for soap to have an attractive commercial presentation and a good fragrance, various essential oils, natural dyes and natural additives are utilized. A ready soap mass is poured into molds and goes into the process of so-called “cold ripening” lasting 1 to 2 months. It is necessary that previously used alkali loses its aggressive qualities. There is also a faster variant for making soap, when the initially obtained glycerin and acid are boiled at a temperature of 70 degrees from 4 to 7 hours. In this case, all chemical processes are accelerated and the product is considered ready for use immediately after cooling.

Recently, many manufacturers have switched to the use of soap bases. These are semi-finished products that only need to be mixed with essential oils and other additives. Of course, guarantee of quality and soap-based certificates for soap bases are needed to avoid risks.

What is the difference between natural soap and ordinary conveyer-produced soap

It is necessary to understand that the process described is an ideal variant of how natural soap is created by manufacturers who rely excessively on its quality instead of low price. But there is another side to the “soap medal”, when the availability of this product is more valued by consumers than its eco-friendly regalia and the quality of the composition. The demand of this type is covered by ordinary industrially-made soap.

What is budget soap made of? First of all, from a set of inexpensive industrial fats: vegetable, animal, from trans fats and various mixtures. Vegetable oils are present in the composition but they are usually technical, palm or canola. A large amount of alkali is also put into operation (actually, so much that the residue often has to be washed away). This is justified by the inveterate notion that the more alkali is in soap, the better it washes. A striking example is laundry soap that has 11-12 pH, while the permitted pH for human skin does not exceed 5-7.

Additionally, dye, aromatic flavours and synthetic additives compose the soap’s list of ingredients. The purpose of this kind of soap is to wash well, keep its shape and colour, have a pleasant aroma and, most importantly, be affordable. But its safety for the skin and the environment is always in great question due to the significant concentration of parabens, preservatives, aromatizers and other synthetic additives. Besides, “budget” soap often has a small amount of glycerin.

It is simply washed out during making. How does this whole set reflect on hand and body skin, we think you can imagine yourself. However, we do not argue: there are also good products on the market of this industrial product. But they must be searched for, carefully reading the list of ingredients.

Natural soaps, which are not made by a conveyor method but in small quantities adhering to the recipe under the individual control of a soap maker, are safer. In addition to their main function, they also work as a caring hand cream (due to high concentration of glycerin) and flavouring. It is the cost of ingredients and laboriousness of production that influence the fact that the price of such products is more expensive than conventional analogues.

Secrets of Poetry Home soap: how and from what it is created

It would be strange if we finished this article on the previous paragraph and left you with a question frozen in sight: “And how do you produce your soap?” It’s time to tell what is the soap created from at Poetry Home.

To create our unique Poetry Home soap with niche fragrances, we use a special soap base, which is сustome-made for our company in England, and natural perfume oils. Discussing in order:

• The soap base we work with is based on glycerin. Aside from it, its basic composition includes certified environmentally-clean natural oils, water, sorbitol and Sodium Stearate. The choice of such bases is quite large, so the further composition varies: in some, there may be aloe vera extract or argan oil, in others – goat or donkey milk, somewhere else – olive oil or shea butter. Generally, the range of British bases is huge and we love to discover new options. It is important to note that these products do not contain SLS and SLES products, which pollute the environment, and a number of synthetic additives that destroy the protective skin layer. All are certified, verified and approved.

• Natural perfume oils. They are important not only as glycerin supporters in moisturizing the skin but also as flavouring. The line of fragrances in use is exclusively niche. Someone else can show you how soap with coconut oil, honey or caramel sounds. As to us, we want to acquaint you with the author’s fragrances of our production. After all, it is a miracle of the moment: after washing hands, to immerse into a special atmosphere, pushing the boundaries of a new world with the help of fragrance. Your home will also like it: already after the first use, the soap will generously share the scent with the bathroom.

Upon completion of soap ripening, each item is packed in a separate box and prepared to meet with you.