What Is Cold Process Soap? 7 Benefits of Handmade Cold Process Soap
If you've been looking for natural soap, you've probably come across the term cold process soap. But what does it actually mean, and why do so many handmade soap makers choose this traditional method?
At The Good Soap, every one of our soap and shampoo bars is handmade using the traditional cold process method. It's a slower way of making soap, but we believe it's worth the extra time. Cold process soap allows us to create long lasting bars packed with nourishing plant oils, naturally occurring glycerine and pure essential oils, without using palm oil or plastic packaging.
Whether you're completely new to handmade soap or simply curious about how it's made, here's why we believe cold process soap is such a wonderful choice.
What Is Cold Process Soap?
Cold process soap is made by combining carefully selected plant oils with a lye solution. During a natural chemical reaction called saponification, those ingredients are transformed into soap and naturally occurring glycerine.
Although lye is essential during soap making, none remains in the finished bar once saponification is complete. The soap is then left to cure for several weeks before it's ready to use, producing a beautifully hard, gentle and long lasting bar.
Unlike many commercial soaps, cold process soap is made using a traditional method that doesn't rely on harsh detergents such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS).
Related: Lye's Essential Role in Making Cold Process Soap
How Is Cold Process Soap Made?
Every soap maker has their own recipes, but the traditional cold process method generally follows these steps:
- Carefully blending nourishing plant oils and butters.
- Mixing the oils with a lye solution.
- Blending until the mixture reaches trace.
- Pouring the soap into moulds.
- Allowing saponification to take place.
- Curing the soap for several weeks before it's ready to use.
It takes much longer than manufacturing commercial soap, but the result is a rich, creamy bar that's designed to last.
Related: Why Handmade Soap Needs Time to Cure
7 Benefits of Cold Process Soap
1. Naturally Rich in Glycerine
One of the biggest benefits of cold process soap is that it naturally contains glycerine. Glycerine is created during the soap making process and helps attract moisture to the skin. Many commercially produced soaps remove this naturally occurring glycerine for use in other cosmetic products, whereas cold process soap retains it within the finished bar.
2. Made with Nourishing Plant Oils & Butters
At The Good Soap, we make our soap using carefully selected ingredients including olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil and castor oil. These oils are chosen to create a gentle, creamy lather while helping leave your skin feeling soft and comfortable after washing.
Related: What Is Superfatting in Soap?
3. Gentle Cleansing Without SLS
Our handmade soap bars are completely free from Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). Instead of relying on synthetic foaming detergents, cold process soap creates a rich, creamy lather using traditional soap making methods and carefully balanced natural oils.
4. Handmade in Small Batches
Every batch is handmade in our workshop in North Wales. Making soap in small batches allows us to carefully monitor every stage of the process, producing high quality bars that are consistent from batch to batch.
5. Palm Oil Free
Palm oil is widely used within the soap industry, but we've chosen not to use it in any of our soap bars. Instead, we've carefully developed recipes using alternative plant oils that create beautifully hard, long lasting bars without compromising on quality.
Related: Why We Don't Use Palm Oil
6. Plastic Free
Unlike many liquid soaps that come in plastic bottles, our soap and shampoo bars are completely plastic free. Making the switch to a solid bar is a simple way to reduce unnecessary plastic in your bathroom while still enjoying effective everyday cleansing.
7. Long Lasting
Because cold process soap contains no added water once cured, each bar is highly concentrated and can last for many weeks when stored on a well-draining soap dish between uses. A little care helps your soap last even longer.
Is Cold Process Soap Better Than Commercial Soap?
There isn't one type of soap that's right for everyone, but there are some important differences between handmade cold process soap and many commercially produced soaps.
| Handmade Cold Process Soap | Many Commercial Soaps |
|---|---|
| Naturally occurring glycerine retained | Glycerine may be removed during manufacture |
| Handmade in small batches | Mass produced |
| SLS free | Often contains synthetic detergents |
| Palm oil free (ours) | Often contains palm oil |
| Plastic free | Often sold in plastic bottles or wrappers |
Rather than trying to strip your skin, our aim is to create soap that cleanses effectively while being kind to both your skin and the environment.
Why We Choose Cold Process Soap
When I first started making soap, I wasn't planning to start a business. I simply wanted a natural, plastic free alternative for my own bathroom. After discovering the traditional cold process method, I was amazed by the quality of the bars and how long they lasted. Friends and family started asking if they could buy them too, and what began as a hobby gradually became The Good Soap.
Today, every one of our soap and shampoo bars is still handmade in small batches using that same traditional method because we genuinely believe it's the best way to make natural soap.
Explore Our Handmade Soap & Shampoo Bars
If you'd like to experience the benefits of handmade cold process soap for yourself, explore our full range of natural soap and shampoo bars.
Every bar is:
- Handmade in North Wales
- Cold process
- SLS free
- Palm oil free
- Plastic free
- Cruelty free
👉 Browse our Handmade Soap & Shampoo Bars