“Why is handmade soap so expensive”?

 “Why is handmade soap so expensive”?  “I just buy my soap at the dollar store”  “Why does handmade soap cost so much”? "I can only use Dove soap" 

These are just some of the questions and comments I’ve heard over the years from people who are curious but hesitant to make the switch to a natural soap. While our soap is actually priced very fair and quite comparable per ounce,  education about the benefits of natural soap certainly can't hurt. 

There are so many factors that go into making our handcrafted bars. 

For starters, handmade soaps are truly natural, unlike most generic bars that are really just detergents loaded with parabens (ingredients with the prefixes methyl, isobutyl, propyl, which are endocrine disruptive perservatives) , sulfates (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/ SLS and Sodium Laureth Sulfate / SLES , which are synthetic detergents that can cause allergies and other irritations) and other harmful irritants (like synthetic fragrances). 

Handmade soaps use a base of natural fats like olive oil , coconut oil, or shea butter, which clean but don’t strip your skin of their natural oils like synthetic cleansers do.  Glycerin is a natural by-product of real soap making and you’ll notice a difference fairly quickly in how soft your skin feels compared to store bought “soap”  (notice even the labels of generic bars say things like "body wash" or "cleanser" because they aren't selling real soap).  

We use high quality ingredients that cost more. Our specially formulated, tried-and-true recipe uses quality oils that benefit the skin, and our bars are only scented with pure essential oils, which are much more expensive than synthetic fragrances, as well as high quality, natural, skin-loving additives like herbs, honey, clay and goat's milk for additional benefits to the skin. Handmade soap is nourishing and can help with things like eczema or acne. The savings in moisturizers and skin creams alone make handmade soap worth the cost. 

Interesting to note that while our soaps use only vegetarian / vegan fats and oils like the ones listed above, many soap makers use rendered animal fats like lard.  This is a great way for farms to make use of everything they can and have less waste. It has the same great benefits for your skin.

Did you know that handmade soap is a 4 week process? It’s true – it takes several hours to make a batch of soap (stay tuned for our free video class in the near future if you want to learn more about how to make soap), that will need to be removed from molds and cut 24-48 hours later, and then the soaps need a minimum of 4-6 weeks to cure before the bars are ready to be labeled and sold. 

When soap is properly cured, the bars should be hard and last just as long, if not longer, than generic “soap” when kept dry between uses.

We make our bars in small batches to ensure quality control and do everything by hand. Our large size bars are quite big, weighing in at 5.5 oz.  The price per ounce is actually quite comparable to generic “soap” and really not that much more expensive, if at all. 

Another interesting thing to note – not all handmade soap is created equal. If truly natural is important to you, then look for bars that don’t contain synthetic fragrances or are made with melt and pour bases. Some soap makers make natural bars of soap and then add dyes and synthetic fragrances.  While this is still better than totally synthetic “soap”, some people find these ingredients irritating or drying to their skin and, in our opinion, it defeats the purpose if you are trying to go truly natural .  If you are, be sure to check for dyes and fragrances in any soap bar you may purchase.  All ingredients should be transparent to the buyer.  Melt and Pour soap is a pre-made soap base that is melted down after purchase, and then typically scented and dyed. The ingredients in the original soap are typically not as good as handmade cold-process bars and can be drying or irritating, so be sure to get a complete ingredient list before purchasing melt-and-pour soaps. 

(If you're one who "can only use Dove for my sensitive skin", we highly recommend you read the ingredient list there and then try our Goat's Milk bar. You'll be one of many who've happily made the switch). 

When buying natural handcrafted soaps, you are shopping local, supporting small business and skilled craft, while caring for your skin and the environment in the best possible way! 

It’s a better investment than a $5 cup of coffee (well, you tired moms out there might disagree, so we'll call it an equal investment ;) ), so try out a bar and feel the difference for yourself.

If you’ve tried our soap and noticed the difference, please let us know by leaving a review on the product page!