How to Tell If Soap Is Really Natural: A Simple Guide
Almost every soap on the shelf says "natural" somewhere. The tricky part is that nobody checks what that word means. So here's how I'd shop for soap if I didn't make my own.
Is It Real Soap?
Real soap is made by mixing oils or butters with lye. Many "beauty bars" aren't soap at all. They're detergent bars. Neither one is automatically bad, but it helps to know what you're buying.
On a label, real soap might list the oils and lye, or names like sodium cocoate (soap made from coconut oil) or sodium olivate (soap made from olive oil). Don't worry about the lye. When soap is made right, no lye is left in the finished bar.
Read the Whole Label
The front of the box is marketing. The back is the truth. Look for oils and butters you recognize near the top of the list. For example, every bar we make has shea butter, coconut milk and kaolin clay, and you'll see them on our labels.
Watch for These
- Sulfates like SLS and SLES. Our soaps are sulfate-free.
- Parabens. We don't use them.
- "Fragrance" with no details. If scent matters to you, ask the maker what they use.
Scent: Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils?
We make both, and we're upfront about it. Our PURE collection is scented with essential oils. Our Signature soaps use phthalate-free fragrance oils. Both can bother very sensitive skin, so if scent is a problem for you, test a small spot first.
Ask the Maker
A good small business is happy to tell you what's in their soap and how they make it. If you have a question about any of ours, just reach out. I'm happy to help.
Our Tip
Natural doesn't mean right for everyone. The best test is your own skin. If a bar leaves you soft and comfortable, it's a keeper.
Ready to try a bar you can trust? Start with our French Lavender & Oats, made with pure lavender essential oil.
A little about us: I'm Gracie, a third-generation soap maker. My grandmother started our family's soap making, and I'm proud to carry it on. We're a small, faith-centered family business in Waddell, Arizona, and we make everything by hand in small batches.
