10/15/2025
What Makes Handmade Soap Different?
Handmade soap, crafted with nourishing oils, water, and lye, contains only the essentials. According to the FDA, a product can only be labeled as "soap" if it's comprised chiefly of alkali salts of fatty acids and its cleansing action comes from those compounds, not from added detergents or synthetic additives. This is a fancy way of saying that real soap is oil + lye + water. Many commercial cleansing bars don't qualify.
One hallmark of handmade soap is naturally produced glycerin, a powerful humectant that draws moisture to your skin. During the commercial process, glycerin is often removed and sold for use in lotions or creams, leaving commercial bars much less moisturizing.
