Soap

Everyone uses soap but rarely does anyone know what's in it. I only just realized the components to soap when it became a solution for our 20lbs of lard from our pigs. I started freezing the lard but I could only make so many pie crusts before lard started taking over our freezer. Now we are avid soap makers and sell it at our farmer's market. We make it with lye, water, lard, and essential oils. It's very interesting to see the public's reaction to our lard soap. I think it's interesting enough to share.

1. “Oh, I don't use lye soap.” said one customer.

Our reaction was to inform her that all soap is made with lye. If there is no lye then it's NOT soap, it's detergent.

2. “Isn't lye bad for your skin?”

Lye mixed with water and fat chemically reacts in a process called saponification. Once that happens the finished product of soap doesn't contain lye because the fat neutralizes the lye.

3. “On an ingredient label of Dove or Irish Spring it doesn't say lye.”

Lye became a word that consumers didn't want to hear so labels now use a different name for it. It is more likely saponified oils or sodium cocoate, which is sodium hydroxide (lye) mixed with coconut oil. Each soap manufacturer has their own recipe which can make it less harsh based on how much fat or oil they put in it. All the recipes start with lye, water, and some sort of fat, oil, or butter.

4. “Why do some soaps advertise no lye.”

Some people use soap melts to make their soap. When they use soap melts, they are using soap chips that they are melting, adding color and fragrance to, and pouring into their own molds. They are finishing the soap making process, but someone else did all the work to make soap chips or melts.

5. “I can smell the lard.”

Yes, plain soap with no fragrance will smell like whatever fat or oil that is used. However, it washes away clean and doesn't leave you smelling like lard. It is also very moisturizing.

We have learned a lot since we started making soap. We were completely unaware of the process or what went into it. Now we have over a year of soap making experience and are happy to educate the public about soap. We enjoy making it, but the best part is using the lard that our pigs give us.