What is the difference between your soap and the stuff in the store?
Our handmade soaps are made with premium, wholesome ingredients I carefully select for their quality and their ability to contribute something beneficial and special to our finished soap. This means that you will be able to pronounce every ingredient that goes into my soap. Most soaps that you find in the store commonly use detergent-based synthetic ingredients. I invite you to compare the labels and you will see for yourself what the differences are.
Is Sodium Hydroxide the same as lye?
Yes it is. Sodium Hydroxide is a molecule (NaOH) that is required in order to make soap. However, during the process of soap making, all lye is consumed and the finished soap contains no active lye. To make soap, you combine oils, butters, water, and lye. Once they have complete the saponification process, lye is no longer present in the finished product. I add additional oils (called "superfatting") to my soap to further ensure that no free-floating, unattached lye molecules are present in the final soap.
How do you make soap?
I use the cold process method the majority of time. I also use the hot process and sometimes a glycerin base melt and pour methods of soap making. Besides the melting of all liquid and solid oils together, there is no other heating used in the cold process method. Hot process is the method which "cooks" the soap batter. For cold process soap, after proper measurement and mixing all ingredients together, the soap is poured into molds and left to "sleep" for 24-48 hours before it is unmolded. After that time, the saponification process is fully completed and we have soap! I then cure the soap for 4 to 6 weeks in order for the water content to evaporate out of the soap to make the bar harder and last longer.
Each bar is double checked, weighed, packaged, and labeled before making it’s way to you! Each bar (depending on what soap is made) weighs between 3 to 5.5 ounces each, although some may weigh more.
My soap is made in fairly small batches and because of this, there may be a natural design variation between batch or between two bars of the same batch. Even though two bars may be exactly the same recipe and batch, it is a handmade product so no two are exactly the same. Every bar made is uniquely different.
Why is some of your soap brown or turn darker with time?
Many things affect the color of soap. The most common is the vanilla content in the batch. Vanilla adds a sweet scent to the soap but vanilla, or vanillin, typically causes soaps to turn brown over time. The amount of vanillin effects the rate of the color change but in no way affects the quality of the soap. Fragrances with low levels of vanillin or no vanilla will not change much. Fragrances with high levels will turn a dark chocolate brown over time. This generally happens in the 4-6 week cure period, so the colors after the curing of my soaps should be their final colors.
How do I care for handmade soaps?
Caring for your handmade soaps may be a bit different than what you are used to with store bought soaps. After each use, make sure to place handmade soaps in a well-drained dish away from direct streams of water. Because there are no detergents in handmade soap, the bar should be allowed to completely dry between uses in order for it to last longer.
Can Owyhee Soap Company make a custom product for a special event in specific colors and/or scents?
Yes! I am happy to provide favors for weddings, baby showers, life events, or whatever you might need. You do need to keep in mind that due to the process of soap making and curing time, I need a minimum of 8 weeks to create a custom soap for you. Please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs and pricing. I’m sure that after we discuss it, we can come up with just the right soap for your event. Please note that custom orders are not returnable or refundable due to their extremely personalized nature. Payment for custom orders is due in full at the time of placing the order unless other terms are agreed upon.
Refunds and Exchanges
Because of the personal nature of Owyhee Soap Company’s products, I can not accommodate any returns. However, my goal is to make you happy with your purchase and if you are unsatisfied for any reason, please email me at kathy@owyheesoapco.com and I will do my best to work something out for you.
If a return is agreed upon within 14 days of receiving your item(s) and to be eligible for a return, your item(s) must be unused and in the same condition that you received it, unopened and in the original packaging. Please do not send your purchase(s) back to me unless agreed upon to do so. Once your return is received, I will notify you when it is received. Your refund will be processed within 4 business days.
I only replace items if they are defective or damaged. Please make your selections with care because I generally cannot accept returns/exchanges on personal care items.
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item unless otherwise agreed upon. Original shipping costs are non-refundable.