Saponification or how to make soap
Saponification is a simple reaction of natural ingredients derived from natural raw materials, which transforms oils into soap and glycerin, gentle on the skin.
It is the chemical reaction of fatty substances (oils and/or fats, vegetable or animal),
an alkaline agent (soda* or potash* depending on whether you are making solid or liquid soap) and water.
When you mix oil and water, you have surely noticed that they do not mix:
water stays with water, oil with oil!
Now, imagine that the impurities on your skin
are actually attached to a thin layer of natural fat (the hydrolipidic layer of your skin).
Well, the alkaline agent, is our agent that will enter into a somewhat forced dance
with a part of the fatty substances and water, and transform...into soap!
A product with magical properties: one half of its molecule loves fat, the other loves water.
So spread it on your skin, it will love this light lipid film. Rinse it off, it will love to leave loaded with all its impurities!
An excess of fatty substances ensures that no alkaline agent remains in the solid soap, it is the superfat of cold soaps. It helps to not damage your skin too much while washing and that it does not feel tight after the shower.
What remains of the fatty substances is natural glycerin, particularly good for the health of your skin.
*Sodium hydroxide (lye) and potassium (potash) are compounds derived from natural raw materials.
Cold process (CP) solid soap :
a respected skin, a waste-free method
Fats — plant or animal — are melted at low temperatures to preserve their cosmetic qualities. We add our additives (clay, pigments…) before mixing well.
We then trigger saponification with a lye solution (a mixture of pure lye and water). The mixture thickens — we talk about "trace", a texture reminiscent of custard. This is the moment to add fragrances or essential oils.
We either put more fats than necessary from the start or the soap is enriched after the trace: this is what we call superfatting, ideal for taking care of the skin.
Finally, the soaps are moulded, cut, and then rest for at least 6 weeks to dry and harden naturally.
Vegan or not, our soaps are designed to last — and to take care of the skin
!
Liquid potash soap:
a return to the ancestral
Potash, water, and oils (no solid fats here!) take a long time to saponify — sometimes several weeks. This is how our ancestors did it.
On so gently heat the mixture in a bain-marie, until you obtain a soap paste made up of half soap, half water.
This is the paste soap that can be found in hammams!
Next comes the dilution in water, then the addition of the various ingredients that will make up your soap.
The soap is bottled!
