Chagrin Valley All Natural Handcrafted Soaps soaps are made using the old-fashioned cold process method in small quality controlled batches. We use fresh plant oils and butters gently warmed and then slowly mixed with an alkaline solution.
The mixture is stirred until it thickens at which time essential oils, botanicals, and other beneficial ingredients are added. The result is a mild, rich, soothing soap that feels creamy in your hands, offers a magnificent long-lasting lather, and leaves your skin clean, soft, silky, and radiantly healthy. Since no additional heat is applied once the oils and alkali (base) have been mixed, this method of soapmaking is called the Cold Process method.
Real soap is the result of a natural chemical process called saponification, in which an acid (the oils and butters) and a base (sodium hydroxide--which is lye) dissolved in water (or other liquid), are brought together to form a salt (soap). The words "saponified oils" actually means that the oils are mixed with lye water. The naturally occurring glycerin that helps moisturize your skin, is a by-product of saponification.
I know you are asking…is there lye in my soap? The answer is NO! Real soap cannot be made without lye (sodium hydroxide), but when the lye is mixed with the vegetable oils and liquid during the initial soap making stage, a soap making process called saponification begins. At the end of saponification all of the lye has reacted with the oils to make soap. There is NO lye left in a bar of Chagrin Valley Handcrafted Soap. (See our explanation of the chemical process.)