Are handmade soaps really natural?

A broad answer to the above question would be - Not necessarily. Read further to know the reasons behind it.

We would first want to understand the meaning of a natural soap. A natural soap is one that is handmade, and contains all organic ingredients - products of nature, like plants or its extracts, vegetables, minerals or animal byproducts (e.g. honey or milk). When any man made compound or chemical is present in the final product, the soap ceases to be ‘natural’.

What about lye?

This is a question that frequently pops up while discussing natural soaps. Yes, lye (sodium hydroxide) is used in the making of soap. No one can deny it, because soap is impossible to prepare without lye. Lye is an alkali that is responsible for saponification of the soap mixture.

Saponification takes place at the time of ‘curing’ of the soap, where the mixture is left undisturbed for 3-4 weeks. During this process, the lye is completely neutralized since it mixed with oil. Hence, the soap that is produced is lye-free!

We have an article dedicated to myths associated with lye, that deals with this issue in detail. Follow the link to read:

https://antardwand-organics.blogspot.com/2019/05/bursting-myths-about-lye.html?m=1

Hence, soaps made using organic ingredients plus lye can definitely be called as ‘natural’ soaps!

Essential Oils vs. Fragrance Oils

Most people do think of them as one and the same, but here's the catch. They're slightly different. Essential oils are naturally obtained from plants through distillation. These oils have the characteristic odour and beneficial properties of that plant. On the other hand, Fragrance oils are man made, and contain artificial odour. These oils only have the odour but no healing characteristics. Hence, soaps containing fragrance oils cannot be called natural.

Therefore, it is extremely important to go through extensive research before investing into buying natural soaps. Natural soaps tend to be expensive due to the cumbersome making process. Copies of original soaps as well as fraudulent soap companies have been around in the market, deceiving people by selling them an average soap bar for a hefty price.

Before buying a soap bar, it is crucial to check the authenticity of the seller and check ingredients on the soap bar.

Note: It is also important to verify sellers because of the usage of lye. Though none of it remains in the final soap bar, if the formula is miscalculated, it can affect the chemistry of the soap. Traces of lye may be present in the final bar and can be harmful for your skin.

These are the reasons that the answer to ‘Are handmade soaps really natural’ could be best answered as - Not necessarily. It greatly depends on the source of the ingredients added and the way in which the process is carried out. One must be careful not to blindly buy handmade soaps that read as ‘natural’, and adopt the research method for a healthy skincare lifestyle!