What “Handmade Soap” Actually Means

The term “handmade soap” gets used a lot. Walk through a craft fair, browse online shops, or scroll social media and you’ll see it everywhere. But not all “handmade” soap is made the same way — and in some cases, the label doesn’t mean much at all.

If you care about what you’re putting on your skin, it’s worth understanding what handmade soap actually is, how it’s made, and when the term is being stretched a little too far.

The Three Main Types of Soap You’ll See

At a high level, most bar soaps fall into one of three categories:

1. Cold Process Soap

This is what people usually mean when they’re talking about true handmade soap.

Cold process soap is made by combining oils or fats with lye, triggering a chemical reaction called saponification. Once poured into molds, the soap cures for several weeks. During this time, excess water evaporates and the bar hardens, becoming milder and longer-lasting.

Key traits:

• Oils are chosen intentionally (olive, coconut, tallow, etc.)

• Glycerin is naturally produced and retained

• Bars are typically cured 4–6 weeks

• Formulation directly affects skin feel

This is the most labor-intensive method, but also the most customizable and transparent.

2. Melt-and-Pour Soap

Melt-and-pour soap is often marketed as handmade, but it’s better described as handcrafted from a pre-made base.

The soapmaker melts an existing soap base, adds color or fragrance, and pours it into molds. While creativity is involved, the base itself is mass-produced, and the soapmaker has limited control over the core ingredients.

This doesn’t automatically make melt-and-pour soap bad — but it’s not the same as making soap from scratch.

3. Commercial or “Detergent” Bars

Many store-bought bars aren’t soap at all. They’re synthetic detergent bars, formulated for consistency, shelf life, and cost efficiency.

They often contain:

• Synthetic surfactants

• Preservatives

• Artificial fragrances

• Hardening agents

These products are designed to be uniform, not gentle.

Why “Small Batch” Actually Matters

One of the biggest differences between true handmade soap and mass-produced bars is batch size.

Small-batch soapmaking allows:

• Better quality control

• More intentional ingredient selection

• Adjustments based on performance and feedback

• Proper curing time

Large-scale operations prioritize speed and output. Small-batch makers can afford to slow down — and your skin benefits from that patience.

Ingredient Transparency Is the Real Signal

The strongest indicator of real handmade soap isn’t the word “handmade” — it’s ingredient transparency.

A trustworthy soapmaker should be able to tell you:

• What oils are used

• Whether fragrance is natural or synthetic

• How the soap is cured

• Why certain ingredients were chosen

Vague language like “premium ingredients” or “artisan blend” without specifics is a red flag.

The Curing Process: What You Don’t See

One detail most consumers never hear about is curing. Freshly made cold process soap is soft and still chemically active. Proper curing allows the bar to:

• Become milder

• Last longer in the shower

• Perform consistently

Skipping or shortening the cure time saves money, but it often results in a soap that dissolves quickly and feels harsher on the skin.

This is one of the quiet differences between truly handmade soap and rushed production.

When “Handmade” Becomes a Marketing Term

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: some brands use “handmade” as a vibe, not a process.

That can mean:

• Pre-made bases

• Outsourced manufacturing

• Minimal hands-on involvement

• Branding doing more work than formulation

Again, that doesn’t automatically mean the product is terrible — but it does mean the word alone isn’t enough.

How to Choose Real Handmade Soap

If you want to make an informed choice, look for:

• Clear ingredient lists

• Mentions of cold process or traditional methods

• Evidence of curing time

• Education, not just selling

Brands that take the time to explain their process usually do so because the process actually matters.

The Bottom Line

“Handmade soap” should describe how a product is made, not just how it’s marketed. True handmade soap starts with raw ingredients, takes time to cure, and reflects intentional formulation choices — not shortcuts.

Understanding the difference helps you choose products that align with your skin, your values, and your expectations. And once you know what to look for, it’s hard to go back to soap that’s handmade in name only.