All About
Hello, my name is Linda Leting and I am the heart and hands behind Sweet Soul Soaps.
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To be perfectly honest, Sweet Soul Soaps was initially born out of boredom! My cousin and I were sitting one day with nothing to do and decided to take a trip to the craft store. We discovered melt and pour soap. It was really fun and I wanted to learn more. I soon learned that melt and pour was a quick method and If I wanted something more authentic and natural I could make the soap from scratch.
A few planes, trains, and classes later, Sweet Soul Soaps began. I find a genuine passion in what I do and I currently exhibit my soaps at farmers markets, and pop up shops almost every weekend! I am happy to launch my online store so my soaps can be available to more folks to order, try, love and reorder!
SOAP FAQS
What is soap anyway? Definition: a surfactant compound used for cleaning. In its most essential form, soap is composed of sodium hydroxide(lye),oils, and distilled water.
Saponification: The chemical reaction that takes place when oil, lye and water mix, turning this lovely concoction into soap.
Isn't lye dangerous? Is that really in the soap? All soap is made with lye, literally! In fact, you cannot legally call it "soap" if it does not contain these 3 simple ingredients. Stroll the aisle of your favorite store, and you'll notice on most commercial body wash you will see titles like “beauty bar” or body bar. Commercial soaps are more closely categorized as "detergent" as they contain hardners and salts to make a harder, longer lasting bar.
Is there any lye in the finished product? No. After the soap is poured, it must firm up, get sliced, and cure for 4 to 6 weeks. At the end of that process there is no lye remaining in the finished soap.
Why is artisan soap more expensive than commercial soap? Artisan or cold process soap is made from scratch with quality ingredients butters and oils like shea butter, coconut oil, mango butter etc. Depending on the quality of materials, the rate for a handcrafted soap ranges from $5 to $12. You truly get what you pay for, so pay attention to ingredients in anything that will be going on your body and absorbed into your pores.
What do your soaps do? While I don't make any "guarantees" and results will vary on a personal level based on skin types and water conditions, my family, friends and customers agree I make a luxurious bar of soap! Feel clean on the inside and indulgent on the inside days knowing you are using all natural, quality ingredients. I list all of my soap ingredients, so please do your own research on the properties of said essential oils, salts and butters used in these soaps.
What is the difference between commercial soaps and cold process soaps? Commercial soaps or “popular store bought soaps” are about quantity, not quality. I'm not here to knock your favorite brand, (rhymes with love etc) I just want to educate you about what is legally soap and that what you put on your skin matters. Most commercial soaps contain ingredients that are lab created chemicals and although they may cleanse well, smell strongly etc, they are not categorized as "soap". Read the labels! Commercial brands add chemicals, lathering agents, and hardners that can be irritating or drying on the skin. Artisan soaps maintain natural glycerin and then I add extra oil in the soaps to maintain is natural form and quality.
Can I use your soap on my baby? People have been using all-natural soaps like these on children for hundreds of years! So in theory, yes! Please consult your pediatrician as a babies skin is very sensitive. Consider suggest unscented options.
Do you use palm in your soaps? I use only sustainably sourced palm from a very reputable supplier I also have soaps that contain zero palm please pay attention to ingredient listing.
What is a “cosmetic grade fragrance oil? Cosmetic grade fragrance oils are synthetically made in a lab. "But Linda, I thought you said your soaps were natural." The International Fragrance Association who represents fragrance manufacturers, takes data, generates reports and publishes recommendations for usage. Fragrance oils do not have full ingredient disclosure under the trade secret status for the FDA, but most are derived from essential oils. And while some are made synthetically, those that I select contain NO PARABENS and NO PTHALATES. If you are looking for a 100% natural option go for one of the "no fragrance" or "essential oils only" soap options.
To Review:
For all soaps, please discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Sensitive skin? Kids? Consider the unscented options.