What's Difference between Handmade Soap and Store-Bought Soap?

• Handmade soap is more expensive – Typically selling in a range from $4 to $9 per bar, handmade soap is far more expensive than most store-bought soaps. It’s worth it, though. Read on.

• Handmade soap contains all its natural glycerin – In the soapmaking process glycerol (glycerin) is liberated from the triglycerides, which are then converted to sodium salts. Chemically speaking, soap itself is a “salt”. Glycerin is FANTASTIC for your skin, but it is far more commercially valuable than the soap itself. 

• Handmade soap can be custom formulated – We can make soap in very small batches, so we can easily custom formulate. 

• Handmade soap uses natural essential oils – Commercial store-bought soaps are usually scented with chemicals. Most soapmakers, however, use all natural essential oils instead. These oils have real therapeutic properties. 

• Handmade soap preserves the natural oils – The coconut oil, shea butter, and other natural skin-nourishing oils we use actually stay in handmade soap to protect and heal your skin naturally.

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Best-Selling Handmade Soaps 2024

1.Midnight Waters olive oil soap bar 

Price & Where to Buy: $6.50 @ Etsy

This family-run handmade soap shop is based out of Oregon and has a large variety of soap that is made from scratch. They are truly one of the best selling soap on Etsy. For those who enjoy olive oil soaps, give their Midnight Waters olive oil soap bar a try.

This crisp and clean scent includes a wonderful mix of bergamot, orange, sparkling cassis, deep sea water, hyacinth, blue lilies, lemon zest, patchouli, and seaweed. A refreshing unisex shower selection.

Listing is for 1 bar weighing approx 4-5 ounces each bar is hand-cut so some size variation does arise you will receive 1 bar weighing over 4 oz. 

2.Americana Organic Handmade Soap

Price & Where to Buy: $10 @ LynnWaters

Sweet Harvest Farms Americana natural and Organic Handmade Soap is made with saponified Organic oils of Shea Butter, Coconut oil, Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Palm Oil (always sustainable) along with Orris Root, Vitamin E and Rosemary Extract

This is a delicious citrusy, spicy, mild floral scent that is my absolute favorite!! Customers pick up this bar and always say "yum"! Very unique apple, orange aroma.

3.French Lavender Fields Yogurt Handmade Bar Soap

Price & Where to Buy:  $7.5 @ Walmart

A luxurious, Face and Body, Provence inspired, yogurt infused soap loaded with Essential Oil of Lavender and a hint of Patchouli. Well balanced, moisturizing, and creamy. Feel the calming and soothing effects of Lavender, enhanced by the vitamins and protein in yogurt. Our soaps are perfect for everyday use or for gifts!

All of products are Yogurt Infused. Yogurt has amazing properties for the skin: Lactic Acid helps dissolve dead skin, tightens pores, hydrates and diminishes wrinkles. Zinc is anti-inflammatory and soothing. Calcium helps heal dry skin. B2, B5 and B12 vitamins keep the skin hydrated and healthy.

4.LoveLeeSoaps Blue Bird Soap Nest Set

Price & Where to Buy: $10 @ Etsy

LoveLeeSoaps creates the most realistic food-shaped soaps we've ever seen. They have varieties that mimic sweet treats like donuts, candy, macarons, and cupcakes and savory foods like french fries, peanuts, pickles, and hot dogs.

This set is so adorable! It is made with moisturizing ingredients. The bird soap has the added scent of soft, calming baby powder. The nest has cocoa added that increases skin hydration and decreases its roughness. This set would make a great gift, guest bathroom soap or even something special for yourself! If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

This listing is for 1 bird, 1 nest, and 3 eggs that weigh a total of 6.5 ounces of soap.

5.MadCitySoap Mango Coconut Milk Sugar Scrub

Price & Where to Buy: $8.50 @ Etsy

MadCity Soap Company is based out of Madison, Wisconsin and has over 15,000 positive ratings on Etsy. The company specializes in all things scented, from creamy soaps to solid perfumes, and even sugar scrubs. With scents like Lemon Curd, Lavender Marshmallow, and Mango Lime Martini, you can be sure to find something that will make your mouth water.

Say goodbye to dull and dry skin with this very gentle exfoliating body scrub. It contains sugar to exfoliate while moisturizing with our unique combination of creamy shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. We have formulated this scrub to be a creamy consistency without messy excess oil floating to the top. No need to stir or shake prior to use! Simply massage into wet skin after using your usual soap and rinse. Your skin will feel like silk. Follow with our dry oil spray or lotion of your choice for complete moisturizing.

This listing is for 1 (one) 4 oz jar of this luxurious sugar scrub in the scent Mango Coconut Milk - tropical blend of fresh mango slices, pineapple chunks, and orange zest topped off with a splash of coconut milk.

6.Sunbasil GardenSoap Yellow Chick Soaps

Price & Where to Buy: $15.50 @ Etsy

The glycerin soaps from Sunbasil in Middletown, Delaware are simply stunning. They are made with bold colors and graphic shapes—they even have soaps made to look like cacti, mermaid tails, and pineapples.

Check out this adorable jar of handmade chick soaps ready to gift to all the chicks on your list. We made this specifically to put a smile to their face. And just in time for your Easter gift giving. Each little chick is cracking from her shell and scented in one of our most favorite scents, honey bunny. A rather fitting scent for Easter and tops our all time favorite list. Delicious notes of notes of bergamot, sweet orange, and crisp apple topped in a golden honey nectar and toffee bits make this extra comforting. Each soap is made carefully by hand with just enough patience to make each face out of soap. A labor of love.
Each jar contains 4 handmade Chick soaps on a their very own paper nest and labelled on top with the words, "hey chickie". Each soap measures 2.25" x 2.25" x .50" Total jar weight 5.5 oz.

7.Tsunami Suds Sea Witch (Sea Moss) Olive Oil Soap Bar

Price & Where to Buy: $6.50 @ Etsy

Tsunami Suds is a small, family-run soap company based in Portland, Oregon , but it might be one of the most popular soap companies on Etsy. The company offers a variety of soaps with unique ingredients like Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and olive oil, as well as alcohol-inspired scents like Absinthe and Grapefruit Bellini. They also offer sweet, cozy scents such as toasted marshmallow and pumpkin bread.

This Sea Witch (Sea Moss) Olive Oil Soap Bar is a great green and clean sort of ocean kelp scent. With this scent you will also enjoy hints of bergamot, orchid, a little ozone, sandalwood and moss. Refreshing coolness.
Listing is for 1 bar weighing approx 4-5 ounces each bar is hand-cut so some size variation does arise you will receive 1 bar weighing over 4 oz.

8.Rainwater Botanicals Pomegranate Vegan Soap

Price & Where to Buy: $8.20 @ Rainwater Botanicals

The new palm free soap is super moisturizing, vegan, biodegradable, non GMO, gluten free, paraben free, and free from sulfates and artificial fragrance or color. Our vegetable soaps offer excellent moisturizing capabilities as always, a clean rinse, and loads of buttery soft lather to keep skin healthy and fresh! Our big 5.5oz bars last amazingly long and are gentle enough for the whole family! Keep natural soaps in a soap dish with good drainage to ensure they last.
Pomegranate seed oil nourishes our skin with its massive store of vitamin C – one of the biggest vitamins in skin care. Pomegranate offers regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties that promote bouncy, glowing skin. We use both the oil and the sweetly scented extract of pomegranate in our skin softening body soap! Pair this with our new Pomegranate Body Cream for the softest skin ever.

This bar is 5.5oz and will last a long time!

9. Dusun Artisans Handmade Vegan Bar Soap (4 Pack )

Price & Where to Buy: $25.99 @ Amazon

This is 100% all natural soap, with four unique scents. Includes Garden of Eden, Citrus Splash, Arabian Nights and Floral Bouquet. Handmade in small batches to ensure the highest quality, freshness and purity. Cold processed soap, preserves the natural glycerin, efficacy of plant based ingredients and natural oils. Quality soap that is long lasting, residue free with a gentle nourishing lather.

Vegan & cruelty free, vegan soap made with luxury ingredients from reputable and ethical suppliers, 100% cruelty free, Halal and never tested on animals. All natural bar soap, palm oil free and made with olive, coconut, soybean, sunflower, corn oils and organic shea butter. Packed full of plant goodness. Suitable for all skin types.

10.DeShawn Marie Honeysuckle Soap

Price & Where to Buy: $6.44 @ Etsy

DeShawn Marie has been making soap for her customers for many years. All of her soap products are handmade, cut, wrapped, packaged and shipped from their soap studio in Florida. All of their soap is vegan, and their packaging is fully recyclable. They have perfected their own blends of special artisan formulas that keep their customers coming back for more. And this best selling soap company has a growing line of handmade soaps that includes gift sets. You might even want to buy a Soap Subscription so that you can try an assortment of soaps every month.

This Honeysuckle Soap likes gorgeous sandy beach white with gunmetal grey and rich yellow swirls. Scented with a sweet honeysuckle fragrance that is warm, herbal and floral. Smells like an evening walk with honeysuckle in the air.

11.Rocky Top Soap Shop Winter Scrub Soap 

Price & Where to Buy: $8.95 @ Etsy

This handmade soap company prides itself on offering plant-based soaps. Their colorants are from teas, coffee, botanicals, and natural clays. They make all of their soaps by hand in small batches using the traditional old fashioned cold process method. If you aren't quite sure what to try, they have a sampler pack so you can try out a few different kinds of soap.

This Winter Scrub soap has 4 different exfoliants (colloidal oatmeal, pumice, corn meal and ground walnut shells) and 2 types of moisturizing butters (cocoa butter and shea butter). This combination creates a unique exfoliating, massaging and creamy smooth moisturizing lather.

12.SweetClementineSoaps Marigolds and Sunshine Whipped Soap

Price & Where to Buy: $14 @ Etsy

This soap shop on Etsy offers a fun and fresh collection of handcrafted soap. They select only the best ingredients for their customers and make and test all of their formulas to make them perfect. They offer a great selection of soap bars as well as beautiful personalized soap favors too.

ARIGOLDS & SUNSHINE: Vibrant, bright and bold, this unique floral fragrance combines notes of golden marigolds and geranium with clary sage, petitgrain, tea tree, hints of fresh raspberries and warm amber. Made with a creamy buttermilk formula that leaves your skin feeling soft, clean and lightly scented.Creamy and ultra-sudsy, with a light, fluffy whipped texture.

13.Pink Parchment Soaps Homemade Soap Black Raspberry Vanilla

Price & Where to Buy: $8.60@ Etsy

Now if you are into big chunky soap, then Pink Parchment Soaps might have what you are looking for. They have over 20,000 sales and their 5-star reviews continue to pile up every day. They make silver soap which has the best silky feeling to it.

Black Raspberry Vanilla Handmade Soap - A luscious combination of ripe black raspberries, just a hint of plum and warm vanilla. Perfect for summer, fresh and clean, this is one of our shea butter soaps that has a luxurious lather that leaves your skin feeling soft and clean.

14.Muddy Mint  Mountain Man Shampoo & Body Soap

Price & Where to Buy: $10@ Etsy

This handmade soap shop on Etsy offers all natural cold process soap. They make everything in small batches completely from scratch using ingredients like olive oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and even honey.

Mountain Man Shampoo & Body Soap is an all-in-one shampoo and body bar for men, but I think many women will also love it! This soap is 100% natural and palm-oil free. A base of Coconut Milk gives this bar a creamy lather and the high percentage of castor oil is what makes it a great shampoo bar, since it makes the lather more bubbly. This bar also contains Cocoa Butter, Raw Colorado Honey, and Black Walnut Hull Powder. The black walnut hull gives it a bit of a nice scrubby feel in the dark swirl.
This soap is scented with a strong manly and outdoorsy essential oil blend of Cedarwood Atlas, Fir Needle, and a hint of Juniper Berry + Patchouli.

15.JOAN'S GARDENS Blackberry Vanilla Handmade Soap 

Price & Where to Buy: $6 @ Etsy

JOAN'S GARDENS Handmade Soap has so many fun and unique soaps to choose from. If you love soap that looks like a piece of art then you will find a perfect gift idea in this handmade soap shop.

TheBlackberry Vanilla Handmade Soaphas a "true" blackberry scent with a hint of vanilla...This soap is made with 30% olive oil and creates a creamy lather that will treat your skin with kindness. Any soap dish would be happy to hold this one!

How to Make Soap at Home?

Basic soap-maker supplies and tools

The following are basic soap-making supplies, many of which you can find online:

• slow cooker

• plastic, glass, or stainless steel container (for measuring lye)

• heavy duty plastic, glass, or stainless steel container (for mixing lye and water)

• digital kitchen scale

• silicone spatulas (that are used only for soap-making)

• immersion blender (with stainless steel shaft)

• candy thermometer (that is used only for soap-making)

• silicone loaf mold (or individual molds)

• soap cutter

Basic ingredients

To make this DIY soap with coconut and olive oils, you’ll need:

• 20 oz. coconut oil

• 10 oz. olive oil

• 9 oz. distilled water

• 4.78 oz. 100 percent pure lye

• 20 to 40 drops of essential oils, if desired

• colorants (optional)

• dried herbs or flowers (optional)

Bar soap for beginners

There are two methods for making bar soap from scratch:

• Hot process. In hot process soap-making, external heat accelerates saponification. Most soaps can be used the next day, though it’s ideal to wait 1 week if you want a harder bar.

• Cold process. Cold process uses the internal heat that’s naturally produced during saponification. The bars will completely harden in 4 to 6 weeks.

Below, you’ll find instructions for hot process soap. This method is beginner-friendly and has a fast turnaround. It makes 30 ounces, or 7 to 10 bars, of custom bar soap.

Directions

• Measure your ingredients and put on your safety gear.

• Set the slow cooker to low.

• Add the coconut oil to the slow cooker. As it melts, prepare the lye solution. Slowly add the lye to the water. (Do not add water to lye — this is unsafe.)

• With a spatula, carefully stir the solution as you add the lye. It’ll become hot and release fumes, which is OK.

• Set aside the lye solution. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

• Check the oils. If the coconut oil has completely melted, add the olive oil. Stir well.

• Check the temperature of the oils using the candy thermometer. Once the oils have reached 120 to 130°F (49 to 54°C), place the immersion blender on the side of the slow cooker.

• Gently pour in the lye to avoid splashing. Stir slowly.

• Set the blender to low. Stir the mixture, moving in circles. Keep the blender immersed to avoid air bubbles.

• Continue blending and stirring for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the soap has reached trace. This is when the oils and lye solution have thickened and look like pudding.

• Cover the slow cooker. Cook on low for 50 minutes. If the mixture bubbles, stir it gently.

• Turn off the slow cooker. Let cool until the mixture drops below 180°F (82°C). Add essential oils and colorants, if using. Mix well.

• Pour the mixture into the soap mold. Smooth the top with a spatula. Tap the mold onto your work surface to eliminate air bubbles. Top with dried herbs, if using.

Soap finishing steps

Generally, here’s what the final steps involve:

• After pouring the soap into the mold, let it sit for 24 hours.

• Once cool, carefully remove the soap from the mold.

• Cut into bars with a soap cutter or knife. If you used single soap molds, simply pop them out.

• You can use your soap at this point, but you may want to let it dry for another week. This will improve its hardness and quality.

FAQ

1.Are handmade soaps worth it?

However, handmade soaps do not usually contain any preservatives or harsh chemicals that are commonly found in commercial soaps. Handmade soap is more expensive – Typically selling in a range from $4 to $9 per bar, handmade soap is far more expensive than most store-bought soaps. It's worth it, though.

2.Does handmade soap sell well on Etsy?

Handmade soap can make a wonderful gift or a great accent to your own bathroom. Plenty of people make soap and sell it on Etsy and oftentimes they are made with all natural and organic ingredients from local vendors.

3.Can soap be made without lye?

In short the answer is no. Soap must be made using lye. Lye is the key ingredient in making soap. All products that are legally allowed to be called soap, must have gone through the process of saponification.

4.What is a all natural soap?

All-natural soap is made with all-natural ingredients and all-natural soap bases. In all-natural soap, there should be no lye or other potentially harmful ingredients, as well as any additives. Traditional soap could include ingredients like parabens, which are one of the most toxic yet common beauty ingredients.

Read More:

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