What is Cold-Pressed Soap
All soap is the result of a chemical reaction called saponification that occurs between lye and a fat or oil (such as Olive Oil or Coconut Oil). Cold-processed soap, in particular, allows the lye to be neutralized without any outside sources of heat, called “curing”. This is quite a time-consuming process that allows for more gradual saponification. It can take 4-6 weeks for soap to become, well, soap. The lack of heat keeps the essential oils intact and in perfect condition to lather you in therapeutic goodness. It takes patience, but we think it’s worth it!
Cold-processed soap is made by mixing sodium hydroxide (lye) with water, blending it with fatty oils, and adding essential oils and natural colorants like clays. They are then poured into molds and take 24 hours to become soap (saponify). Once removed from the mold, they dry for an additional 24 hours before being cut into individual bars of soap. It’s at this point that the real action begins (although to us it just looks like bars of soap hanging out, doing nothing). Over the next 4-6 weeks, the soap “cures” as all of the lye is used up to break down the oils into their cleansing chains, and water is slowly evaporated, leaving a gentle, firm bar of soap.
When you cold-process soap, the fatty acids of the oils are broken down by the lye. They then form a chain which, on one end loves water, and on another end, loves oil. You can see these chains in action while you’re lathering up. The oil-loving end grabs on to the dirt and grime, and the water-loving end hangs on to the water that rinses it all away.