Cold-processed soap differs from industrially made soap in that an excess of fat is used, beyond that needed to consume the lye, & the glycerin left in acts as a moisturizing agent. Over-the-counter soap is often made using a continuous flow method. The soap base is reused over & over again, with filler ingredients & chemicals added.This is not to mention the fragrances that most commercial products use. Companies with trademark fragrances like “Cherry Raindrops” & “Spring Forest Fire” are not obligated by the FDA to disclose the ingredients on the label. Which means these products could contain a plethora of harmful petroleum-based chemicals, many of which have been found to be carcinogenic & irritating to the skin. Our skin absorbs these chemicals, which can cause health issues over time. I use fragrance oils that are phthalate free. Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in products like toys, detergents, nail polish, & hair spray. They’re used to make products more flexible & harder to break. They’re added to fragrance oils for a few reasons. Certain aroma chemicals come in powder form, so a phthalate like diethylphthalate (DEP) is used to convert them into a liquid. That helps the fragrance blend better & burn more easily in candles. DEP is also a fixative, which makes scent last longer in perfume, soap, & lotion. Cashmere Bar Soap
