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FAQ: What base do you use for your soap?

A frequent question asked is "What base do you use for your soap?" My answer; I don't. I make all my soap from scratch.

Standard ingredients in a pre-made soap base usually include a mix of oils such as olive, coconut, and palm, and an emulsifier. Some bases also contain Propylene Glycol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Soaps made in this fashion skip the important curing stage so they easily melt in the shower or bath. Also, the soap maker has no control over the base's ingredients.

Cold and hot processed soap making, on the other hand, is made from scratch. It is an art and takes patience, effort, precision, and skill. The maker selects what oils to use based on the characteristics the maker would like to see in the finished product. For example, I commonly use olive oil for its mildness and moisture, coconut oil for its lather and hardness, shea butter for skin nutrients. Then I will select specific oils with characteristics for the skin type I am formulating for. An example is Evening Primrose oil which I use in my dry and mature skin formulas but to its GLA content, you can read more about this oil and why I use it here.

I was certified as a Master Soapmaker in 2017. If you'd like information about Master Soapmaker Certification through the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild (HSCG) you can read about it here.

All Mountain Girl soap is made completely from scratch. My singular focus is to make the best soap I know how. Use select ingredients from my region. Formulate with an expert hand. Craft in micro-batches. It’s what I do.

Learn More: Handmade Soap Guide - Nearly Everything You Need To Know

From Me to You,