What is the best way to care for my bar of soap?

You can extend the life of your soap by letting it dry in between use. You should always place your soap on a well draining soap dish. That will do the trick! *Keeping it out of bright sunlight for extended periods is good also.​​

​​

How is Cold Process soap made?

Cold process is the tried and true original and traditional method of making soap. Oils (we use plant-based oils) are combined with an alkali compound (sodium hydroxide/lye). This amazing chemical reaction/process is known as saponification. Saponification can take up to 48 hours and once complete, the end result is soap.

 

True soap cannot be made without sodium hydroxide. While this substance on its own is caustic, once it has done its task in the soap making process, there is zero trace of it left! All that remains is wonderful top quality real soap. We cure our soap for 4-6 weeks after saponification, leaving a nice firm, natural, beautiful bar of soap ready to envelop your skin! 

​

What is the white powder on top of my new bar of soap?

Great question. Handmade soap will occasionally develop soda ash on top of the soap before the saponification process has been completed. This soda ash appears as a white residue/powder and it is completely harmless. It actually looks pretty cool and is a sign of your bar being homemade/the ‘real deal’. This can be typical of natural homemade soaps and it will disappear the very first time you use your new bar of soap. 

*Soda ash is formed when sodium hydroxide in the soap reacts with carbon dioxide in the air. 

​​

​Do you bevel your soap (and what is ‘soap beveling’?)

"Soap beveling" is the process of cutting a slight angle on the edges of a bar of soap, rounding off the ‘sharp’ edges and corners to create a smoother (and depending on your opinion, more aesthetically pleasing finish). While we do like the look, we do not bevel. The first few times, and maybe even the very first time you use your bar of soap, the edges will wear down and soften/round up all on their own! Beveling can also mean less soap, even if only a tiny amount. Envelop Soap Co. says, “You get to keep every single gram/ounce of your bar of soap and also, welcome to simple and natural!” What we’re all about!

​

How long will my bar of soap last?

If you place your bar of soap on a well draining soap dish so it can dry off in between use, it should last anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks. This all depends on if a single person is using, multiple people, how often it is used, and how well the bar is stored in between usage.

​

What is the shelf life of the soap?

Soap bars can last a looooong time, some would even say the shelf life is endless. We feel a year or so is not far fetched. The fragrance will definitely begin to taper off over time though, and that can be noticeable at around 4 - 6 months. 

​

I see honey in one of your recipes, is that bar plant-based? 

The ‘honey’ question! Our soap recipes include plant based ingredients. We do use honey in one of our recipes (which has two versions; lightly scented and ‘regularly’ scented). The bars are called, “Oatmeal, Honey!”. While honey production is attributed to the work of bees, it is also good to remember that the raw material, nectar, does indeed come directly from plants. 

​

We know that since honey is made by bees, it is therefore not considered plant-based. Honey is a contentious issue. Some plant-based and/or vegan individuals consume honey and some do not. We believe it’s a personal choice and we love and respect your decision either way. 

​

I see colloidal oatmeal in a few of your recipes. What is it?

Colloidal oatmeal is made by grinding oat grain into a very fine powder. Among other great benefits, it can also add a soothing and gentle exfoliation feeling to handmade soap. You may notice this nice feeling in our Dreamy Lavender and Oatmeal, Honey! soaps.

​

What do you mean when you list “Zero-waste product” on your soap bar description?

We save soap ends and other bits and pieces of soap that are cut during the making of each batch. The pieces that are too small to be used (or packaged and sold) individually are shredded up to create our Shea & All soap. We also put some of the bits and pieces in our Bag of Bits and Whatnot. Both of these items are considered zero-waste because instead of tossing all of these small pieces and cuts, they get put to great use. And there’s no waste. Perfect! 

My soap bar appears to have lost some of its scent. Why is that?

As a soap dries, the outer layer or ‘shell’ of the bar develops a bit of a barrier and the scent on that outer barrier may seem to fade. Once you use your soap again, the scent ‘inside’ comes out (or seems to return)! In general, the scent from essential oils in soap may begin to taper off at around 4 - 6 months. Soaps that are made with fragrance oils may hang on to their scent a bit longer than soaps made with essential oils. We use essential oils only because we are all about sticking with natural ingredients :) 

 

Why does this Envelop bar of soap look different than the last Envelop bar of soap I purchased?

The ingredients and measurements for each particular soap recipe are always the same. Since our soap is handmade in small batches, there may be minor visual variations from batch to batch. 

 

What are some benefits of cold process soap?

• CP soap (cold process soap) is known for having a smooth texture, resulting in a luxurious feel. 

• CP soap is gentle and appropriate for various skin types, including sensitive and dry skin.

• The 4-6 week cure time results in a gentle and mild soap with a consistent and skin-friendly pH level. It also contributes to a firm and long lasting bar. 

• The CP method is effective in preserving and maintaining the natural properties and scents of each recipe.

• CP soap is eco-friendly as it uses natural and biodegradable ingredients.

 

And for the main question (drum roll please): Is cold process soap wonderful and fantastic and delightful and top quality and just plain super good?

YES! Period.