Who are we?

Soap ‘n’ Things is a small home-run business based in Cape Town, specialising in crafting artisanal handmade natural bath and body products from edible ingredients such as raw nut butters, cold-pressed oils and animal fats, as well as essential oils, clays and botanicals. We do embrace animal fats in the spirit of reducing waste from animal byproducts, and use local free range beef tallow as well as ostrich oil in some of our products. We source raw, free range or organic where possible, although our products are not certified organic, and all our products are free from preservatives, chemical fragrances or colourants, making it ideal for sensitive skin or the discerning eco-conscious customer.

We have plenty of ideas for memorable gifts, so please contact us today if you have an upcoming occasion and would like something special made up.

White label products are available for suppliers who are seeking more natural ingredients, and we supply to every corner in South Africa.

Why should I use Handcrafted Soap?

Commercial soap products in supermarkets and stores are often made with chemical detergents, hardeners and synthetic lathering agents. Some of these ingredients can be drying or irritating on the skin. On the other hand, handmade soap created with oils, liquid and lye does not contain these harsh ingredients and qualifies as ‘soap.’

Handmade soap also contains glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant that attracts moisture from the air to the skin. It’s produced naturally during the soap making process.

Some commercial soaps remove the glycerin from the bars and sell it to make lotions and creams. Without glycerin, commercially prepared soap isn’t nearly as skin loving, and can leave the skin feeling dry.

How do you make Soap?

Often I am asked the question, “Isn’t homemade soap made with lye or caustic soda? I don’t want to put that on my skin!” and I agree – I certainly don’t want to put lye on my skin either. When calculated correctly, there is no lye leftover in handmade soap. Once the lye and oils emulsify and combine, the saponification process begins. This process turns the lye and oil into soap.

In the final bar, no lye actually comes into contact with your skin because there is no lye in the bar – it’s now soap!

Is it safe to use it on my children or pets?

Absolutely! But please do take care to only use fragrance-free bars for this purpose or bars specifically designed for pets or babies. Castile soap is exceptionally mild and perfect for babies and furkids.

Caring for and using your Handmade Bar Soap

Handmade soaps naturally have a high glycerine content, which is great for your skin – but it also means that the soap requires a place to dry out between uses. The glycerine attracts water and if left in standing water, the soap will break down quickly. To prolong the lifespan of your soap, do not allow it to sit in a dish or container that is bowl-shaped, or that allows water to pool in the bottom. 

Instead, be sure to store your soap in a dry place out of the stream of water, and on a draining soap dish. A slatted wood or bamboo soap dish is ideal because it wicks water away from the soap, allowing the soap to dry properly. Unused soaps need to be stored in a cool, dry place.

Natural Handmade Soap

Being handmade and totally natural, our soaps vary a little in size, fragrance and colour from bar to bar. We do not mass produce nor manufacture machine-pressed soap, so each soap bar can also vary in size and shape.
Certain ingredients may contribute to a slight efflorescence (a white dusting) of salty deposits on unused soap, and while it’s completely harmless, we do take every precaution to prevent and remove it during our production process in order to preserve the aesthetics of the soap. It can be safely wiped off or rinsed off prior to use. 

Precautions: As with any soap, keep it out of your eyes (rinse thoroughly with plain water if this occurs), and discontinue using if irritation develops. Be sure to check the ingredients if you have allergies.