Palmetto Soap Company uses the cold-process method of making soap. Cold-process method is an age old method of soap-making that has been around for thousands of years. Soap is the product that results in the chemical reaction of a fatty acid and a strong base. This chemical reaction is called saponification.  The heated acidic oils and fats are mixed with a lye solution (strong base), and the heat from the saponification process itself produces soap without external heating elements. During this time the breaking down of ions and the rebuilding of ions takes place. This rebuilding of ions in the lye solution results in the formation of glycerin.

Glycerin is an important emollient by-product in cold-process soap. It is a humectant (a water-attracting ingredient).

Other ingredients or additives can be added at trace (right before the liquid chemical combination is ready to be poured into the molds) to cold-process soaps that are in many ways beneficial to the skin. Some of these ingredients include:  essential Oils, oatmeal, herbs, flowers, ground spices, citrus peels, and super fatted oils (like shea butter, cocoa butter, and almond oil to name a few). 

Palmetto Soap Company soaps are made with all natural ingredients that are not only from plant-derived sources, but also not tested on animals. Our soaps are tested only on human friends

Only natural cosmetic grade clay pigments are used to make all the wonderful colors. These include: oxides and ultramarines.  Other ingredients beneficial to the skin and also used for coloring are mud such as, dead sea mud, red and green French clay,  beta carotene, chlorophyll, and spices such as, allspice, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, and annatto seed extract.

If you care about your skin and what goes on your body then handmade soap is better for you because of the natural glycerin content. Glycerin is an important emollient by-product in cold-process soap because it is a humectant (a water-attracting ingredient). Glycerin draws moisture out of the air onto your skin. Industrial manufacturers of soap remove the glycerin and sell it as a by-product to make lotions and shampoos. Not only does this make industrial manufactured soap drying, it adds to the expense of having to buy lotion and shampoo. We also add shea butter to our soaps to make them extra moisturizing.

It is recommended not to leave cold-process soap sitting in a puddle of water in the soap dish because of the high glycerin content. Store the soap on a soap dish that drains and it will last longer than other soaps.

Essential oils are natural substances that are extracted from grasses, flowers, herbs, trees, shrubs, resins, and spices. Through controlled use essential oils are used to maintain and promote spiritual, physical, and psychological well-being. The use of these oils in this manner is referred to as Aromatherapy. We use all aromatherapeutic grade essential oils in our handmade shea butter soaps.