Meet The Little Soapmaker and see the soapmaking process

Yes, there are real people behind the soap, and every step involved in making your soap -from mixing to labeling - requires the hands of The Little Soapmaker and her crew. Click on a thumbnail image to see a close-up version and read the soapmaking process explained below!

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The Soapmaking Process Explained

Going clockwise:

1. Lye and liquid (usually water or goat's milk) are mixed carefully outdoors.
2. Lye mixture, when cooled, is then mixed with the oil mixture (extra virgin olive, shea butter, sunflower, castor, soy, coconut, etc.) until it "traces".
3. Traced (slightly thickened) mixture is then poured into molds.
4. Saponification (the chemical change that makes soap) begins! This takes from 24-76 hours.
5. Now molds full of fresh soap are ready to removed.
6. Soap is cut before it begins to harden.
7. We hand bevel every bar of soap for smoother edges.
8. Soap is then stacked in an airy room to cure for at least a month.
9. Now soap is ready to be hand labeled.
10. Selling the soap!
11. Jeff, expert soap critic.
12. Zoe with her prize winning goats.
13. Travis, lends a helping hand whenever home.
14. Julie & husband Dave enjoying time away.
15. Becky (bottom-left in center picture), lotion & candle maker and occasional sales person.
16. Grandson Porter (top-left in center picture), computer expert!