Q: How are today's hand-made soaps created?
A: Soap is made through a careful blending of water, sodium hydroxide, and any of a variety of oils, all measured and combined in very specific ratios and at very carefully controlled temperatures. This blending process, called saponification, results in a smooth, thick liquid soap to which fragrance oils and/or essential oils and other ingredients are added to create a specific soap blend. The soap then solidifies in molds under controlled conditions, is hand-cut into bars, and then is allowed to cure for several weeks prior to use.

Q: What are saponified oils?
A: Saponified oils result from the careful combining and continuous stirring of water, oils and sodium hydroxide, a process that initiates a chemical reaction that produces heat. This reaction is the heart of the soapmaking process and continues well into the curing period, transforming the individual oils and other ingredients into a smooth and creamy soap blend.

Q: What are essential and fragrance oils?
A: Essential oils are highly concentrated oils derived from plants, each carrying their own scents and beneficial properties. Fragrance oils may be strictly synthetic, or most often will be a combination of synthetics and essential oils (as in many perfumes). Fragrance oils allow soapmakers to diversify and expand their line of options.

Q: Why are custom soaps more expensive than "grocery store" soaps?
A: For two reasons. Custom soaps are much more labor intensive to create than mass-produced grocery store bars. They are made in small batches of 40 bars at a time, and all ingredients are weighed, blended and poured by hand. Custom soaps also utilize very costly ingredients - some essential oils cost as much as $160 per ounce! All of the oils are the purest possible, and there are none of the dozens of synthetics and chemicals found in grocery store bars (just read the label on the back of a bar of Dial!).

Q: Do any of the oils have special properties?
A: Many of the oils we use have been reputed throughout history to have beneficial - almost magical - properties:
- Avocado - moisturizes and heals
- Hemp Seed - soothes and heals dry skin
- Coconut - lathers and moisturizes
- Palm - produces a mild cleansing lather
- Olive - heals and holds in the skin's moisture

Q: What should I expect from my new bar of soap?
A: You will probably find that our soaps are somewhat softer than grocery store soaps, since they lack all of the artificial hardeners and chemicals. Our soaps have a richer lather, due to the presence of natural glycerin that is processed out of grocery store soaps, and the oils in our soaps will leave your skin with a softer feeling without residue.

Q: How can I get the longest life from my soap?
A: Leave the soap wrapped until ready for use. During use, store the bar on a well-drained soap dish or other holder to allow the bar to dry between uses.

Q: I have sensitive skin. Will your soap adversely affect me?
A: It shouldn't. All of the soap we produce utilizes the finest ingredients possible, and we test all of our soaps to verify that they are pH-neutral. We have been told repeatedly by people with sensitive skin who have had problems with other soaps in the past that they have had excellent results with Oregon Soapworks. However, should you have any reaction whatsoever, please discontinue use and return the bar for a full refund.

Q: What about cruelty to animals?
A: We do absolutely NO testing on animals, and we use NO animal fats or animal byproducts in any of our soap products.