Real Handmade Soap 101-The sordid truth of what you may be using!
Saving a few $$ on handmade soap may not always be the wisest choice and here's why:
Why Real Handmade Soap Matters
When it comes to handmade soap, not all bars are created equal.
For over 30 years, Sweet Harvest Farms has handcrafted true cold-process soap using premium organic oils, time-honored methods, and recipes developed exclusively in our soap kitchen. Our goal has always been simple: create a luxurious bar that thoroughly cleanses while leaving skin feeling soft, comfortable, and beautifully cared for.
One of the greatest benefits of traditional cold-process soap is the naturally occurring glycerin produced during the soapmaking process. Glycerin is a natural humectant that helps attract moisture to the skin and is one reason many people prefer handmade soap over commercial cleansing bars.
Unlike mass-produced products, our soaps are made in small batches from scratch—not from a pre-made base. Each batch is carefully formulated, poured, cured, hand-cut, and individually wrapped to ensure exceptional quality and consistency.
A true cold-process soap requires time. Our bars are allowed to cure properly, creating a long-lasting, hard bar that performs beautifully in the shower. That's why our generous 7-ounce bars typically last 8–10 weeks with normal use.
Every bar is handcrafted using nourishing organic oils, including Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, and Sustainable Palm Oil. We also include Vitamin E and Rosemary Extract, a natural antioxidant used to help maintain the freshness and quality of the oils.
Natural colorants, herbs, botanicals, and skin-safe fragrances are thoughtfully incorporated into many of our recipes, creating soaps that are as beautiful as they are enjoyable to use.
What Should You Look For When Purchasing Handmade Soap?
Not all products marketed as "handmade soap" are created using the same methods. Consumers often ask how they can tell the difference between a true cold-process soap and products made from a pre-manufactured base.
Here are a few things to consider:
Ask How the Soap Is Made
True cold-process soap is created by combining oils and lye from scratch. The soapmaker formulates the recipe, blends the ingredients, pours the batch, and allows the bars to cure over time.
Some products sold as handmade soap begin with a pre-made soap base that is melted, colored, scented, and poured into molds. While these products can be beautiful and enjoyable to use, the process is very different from creating soap entirely from scratch. They melt quickly, become mushy and leave a residue on your skin and shower floor. Many leave your skin dry and "itchy". These are from harsh detergents added to lather. A good true organic soap will leave your skin not only clean but moisturized as well.
Despite claims of being natural, some products often contain various chemicals including petroleum, esters (linked to cancer risks), alcohols (known to dry the skin), lower quality oils and waxes, detergents (for increased lather), and preservatives. It's important to remember that your skin absorbs everything applied to it, potentially entering your bloodstream, making the choice of skincare products crucial to your health and well-being.
Ask About Cure Time
Traditional cold-process soap typically requires several weeks of curing before it is ready for use. During this time excess water evaporates and the bar becomes harder, longer lasting, and milder.
At Sweet Harvest Farms, every batch is cure-dated so we know exactly when it was made and when it is ready for use.
Look at the Bar Itself
A well-cured bar of cold-process soap is usually firm, dense, and long-lasting. When used properly, it should not become excessively soft or dissolve rapidly in the shower.
Learn About the Ingredients
Quality soapmakers are usually proud to discuss their ingredients, oils, additives, and methods. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Do Your Research
There are many talented and honest soapmakers producing exceptional products, although they are becoming harder to find. It;s hard to compete with the cheap beauty bars and melt and pours being sold as soap. The more you learn about the craft, the easier it becomes to recognize quality, regardless of who made the soap.
"No research needed since we found Sweet Harvest Farms. We put cure dates on our bars now but had no idea shops selling melt and pour and soap made of a base were doing the same :( to deceive. As a shop owner it is very frustrating to hear this...even more disappointing to hear as a shopper. I love your soaps and when it's time to splurge or treat myself" ~ Deb Woods"
"Thank you so much! I just don't know how people sleep at night. I could not in good conscience sell an inferior, possibly harmful product, just to put a few bucks in my pocket ~M.M."
Why We Share This Information
We believe educated customers make the best customers. Whether you choose Sweet Harvest Farms or another handcrafted soapmaker, understanding the difference between mass-produced cleansing bars, melt-and-pour products, and true cold-process soap helps you make informed decisions for yourself and your family.
The History of Soap
The art of soapmaking dates back thousands of years. Historical records show that civilizations in Babylon and Egypt combined oils and alkaline salts to create early forms of soap. At Sweet Harvest Farms, we honor that tradition while incorporating modern knowledge, premium ingredients, and over three decades of experience.
Our commitment has never changed: handcrafted from scratch, thoughtfully formulated, and made with ingredients we would proudly use on our own families.
Our bars weigh approximately 7 oz. or more and each bar WILL LAST 8 - 10 WEEKS!! You will be more than pleased with the condition of your skin after just one use of a Sweet Harvest Farms bar! Take a peek at our Testimonial page to see why our customers will use nothing else!
It's not just soap....It's an experience!
Note: Sweet Harvest Farms, original and copy-written, luxurious soap recipe is not sold under any other name. This recipe is exclusive to Sweet Harvest Farms and we take our intellectual rights seriously protecting them to the fullest extent available to us.