Our Handcrafted Soap Curing Process
Every bar of Grandma's All Natural Soap is made in small batches using the cold process method — a time-honored technique that preserves the integrity of every ingredient. We source the highest-quality pure oils from around the world, including:
- Organic extra virgin olive oil
- Organic unrefined coconut oil
- Avocado, sweet almond, hemp, jojoba, and soy oils
- Rich butters: cocoa butter, unrefined shea butter, and mango butter
- Skin-loving extras: honey, aloe vera, castor oil, lanolin, and essential oils
Natural herbs, powders, and clays give our soaps their beautiful color. Botanicals like oatmeal, sliced almonds, rosemary, and lavender buds add gentle exfoliation — leaving your skin soft, clean, and nourished.
What Is the Curing Process?
After each batch is hand-poured and cut, our soaps undergo a natural air-cure of six to ten weeks — and up to two years for select bars. This isn't just waiting; it's an essential part of what makes our soap exceptional.
During the first two weeks, saponification completes — the chemical reaction between oils and lye that creates soap and glycerin. As curing continues, excess water gradually evaporates, resulting in a bar that is:
- Milder — gentler on sensitive skin
- Harder — holds its shape and lasts longer in the shower
- Richer — produces a creamier, more luxurious lather
Because each bar is hand-poured and cut, weight and shape may vary slightly — a hallmark of true handcrafted quality.
Handcrafted Cold Process vs. Commercial Soap
| Feature | Grandma's Handcrafted Soap | Commercial Soap |
|---|---|---|
| Glycerin | ✅ Naturally retained — deeply moisturizing | ❌ Removed and sold separately |
| Ingredients | ✅ Pure plant oils, butters & botanicals | ❌ Synthetic detergents & fillers |
| Curing Time | ✅ 6 weeks to 2 years for a harder, milder bar | ❌ Mass-produced, no curing |
| Lather | ✅ Rich, creamy, skin-nourishing | ❌ Foamy but often drying |
| Skin Feel | ✅ Soft, moisturized, never stripped | ❌ Can leave skin dry or irritated |
| Batch Size | ✅ Small batch, handcrafted with care | ❌ Mass-produced by machine |
| Additives | ✅ Natural herbs, clays, essential oils | ❌ Artificial fragrances & preservatives |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does handcrafted soap need to cure?
Curing allows saponification to fully complete and excess water to evaporate. The result is a milder, harder, longer-lasting bar with a richer lather. Skipping this step would leave you with a soft, short-lived bar that could irritate skin.
How long do your soaps cure before shipping?
All of our soaps cure for a minimum of six weeks before they leave our hands. Some specialty bars cure for several months or up to two years for maximum hardness and mildness.
Is lye (sodium hydroxide) safe in handcrafted soap?
Yes — once saponification is complete, no lye remains in the finished bar. Lye is a necessary part of the soap-making reaction, but it is fully consumed in the process, leaving only skin-loving soap and glycerin.
Why do your bars vary in size and shape?
Because every bar is hand-poured and hand-cut, slight variations in weight and shape are natural — and a sign of genuine craftsmanship. You may actually get a little more soap than expected!
What makes your soap more moisturizing than store-bought?
Commercial soap manufacturers remove the glycerin produced during saponification to sell it separately. We keep all of it in our bars, along with extra oils and butters that are "superfatted" into the soap — meaning they go directly onto your skin while you bathe.
Are your soaps suitable for sensitive skin?
Most of our soaps are formulated with gentle, skin-nourishing ingredients and are free from synthetic detergents. We recommend checking individual product descriptions for specific ingredients if you have known sensitivities or allergies.
Do your soaps contain artificial fragrances?
We use a combination of pure essential oils and carefully selected natural-safe fragrance oils. Any fragrance oils we use are chosen for skin safety and are clearly noted in each product's ingredient list.