Honey and Beeswax Soap Ingredients
The following is a list of ingredients we tend to use in our handmade Honey and Beeswax Soap. By using different ratios of oils, we can change the lather and hardness properties of the final product. These are made in small batches, and we strive to be at least 99% natural.
100% Natural Beeswax - Beeswax only partially turns into soap. Therefore, when beeswax is mixed with oil, there is an unsaponifiable residue that produces a harder bar. The harder the bar, the slower it dissolves in water, and the longer it will last. There is a fine balance between the amount of beeswax in soap, the hardness produced, and the desired lather.
Cinnamon Powder - Cinnamon adds not only a yummy scent (I mean, really, who doesn't like cinnamon?), but also a bit of texture to our soap, allowing for a gentle exfoliation in the shower.
Coconut Oil - Coconut oil produces an extremely cleansing soap with large bubbles. Coconut is so effective at cleansing, it can strip the skin of moisture, leaving it dry and irritated. Hence, we mix coconut oil with other oils to improve the lather of our soap, without the drying effect.
Lye - Technically, our soap does not contain lye. We use the cold-process method of soapmaking. This means that lye is added to oils. The ensuing chemical reaction produces soap and glycerin. Superfatting ensures that more oil is present than can be consumed by the lye. The oils are then referred to as 'saponified', ie, saponified olive oil. However, the lye itself is consumed during the reaction that creates soap, and is not present in the final product.
Oatmeal - The starches in oatmeal has been used for centuries to soothe irritated skin. When ground fine and placed in cold-processed soap, it also acts as a mild exfoliant.
Olive Oil - Olive oil provides a thick lather and a very hard bar of soap. Moisturizing soap that is made from 100% olive oil is known as "Castile" soap, named after the region of Spain where it originated. We prefer to mix olive oil with other oils in order to add the moisturizing effect to our own formulation.
Raw Honey - Honey, by itself, is a humectant, and draws water to the skin. However, it has a different purpose during soapmaking. During the chemical process used to turn oils into soap, it speeds the process, creating additional heat and adding a bit of caramelization to the color of the finished product. Honey in soap also adds a creamy lather that lasts longer.
Rose Hip - Rose hip is an all-natural powder derived from the rounded part of the rose flower, just below the petals. We use it as a natural colorant in our soap, producing a tan or brown color (in combination with beeswax and honey). Plus, the powder acts as a gentle exfoliant.
Soybean Oil - Soybean Oil provides a creamy, stable lather. A soap made with just soybean is too crumbly for most people. However, when mixed with other oils, it lends a firmness to a bar that would otherwise be soft.
