I Couldn't Find the Right Soap. So I Made It.
I tried a lot of soap before I started making it.
Some bars left my skin tight and dry, others cleaned fine but didn't smell like anything by day two. A few were great in the store and a disappointment everywhere else.
So I did what makes the most sense to me: I looked up how soap was actually made, ordered some supplies, and started experimenting. That was many years ago, and making soap is still my favorite thing to do.
What's Actually in Most Store-Bought Soap
Here's the thing about commercial soap bars: a lot of them aren't actually soap.
Many are detergent-based cleansing bars. During manufacturing, the glycerin, which is the ingredient that keeps your skin from feeling tight often gets pulled out and sold separately for other uses.
What's left cleans your skin. But it strips it at the same time.
Handmade soap keeps the glycerin right where it belongs. That's not a marketing claim, just a simple fact.
Why Handmade Soap Costs More (And Why That's Fair)
- Ingredients cost more. Small batch means no bulk discounts.
- It takes time. Soap has to cure for 4–6 weeks before it's ready to sell.
- You're not paying for filler. Every ingredient has a job to do.
A drugstore bar and a handmade bar are not the same product. Comparing prices directly doesn't make a lot of sense.
My Personal Favorite: Mocha + Mint
When I started experimenting with scents, Mocha + Mint came together early, and it's stayed in my own shower ever since.
Coffee is a natural exfoliant. Mint keeps things bright and zippy without being too much. Together they wake you up without feeling like a lot of effort.
It's the bar I recommend most to people who say they've had bad luck with soap.
The One Thing Worth Knowing
If your skin has felt off after washing for years, it might not be your skin.
It might just be what you're washing with.
Try It for Yourself
The Mocha + Mint bar is in the shop now. If you've been curious, that's a good place to start.