Artisan Soap – Our Complete Guide with Product Reviews

What is Artisan Soap?

Artisan soap is soap that is made by hand, But actually it’s much more than that.

Artisan soap is made from organic, natural ingredients and in most cases the soap is also vegan.

In recent decades there has been an explosion of handmade soap brands entering the skincare market all creating truly wonderful natural soap products that look and smell fantastic.

What is the Meaning of Artisan?

According to the dictionary Artisan is “a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand”

For all the Artisan’s I’ve met this definition seems to sell them short.

When I think of an Artisan, yes I think of someone who makes things by hand, but usually the person in question is truly dedicated, you could even say immersed in what they create.

Usually they have a back story, a reason or a cause that drives them to create beautiful things and many have given up high profile jobs to do exactly what they love.

When I think of someone who is an Artisan I think of someone who has found their purpose in life.

What is Natural handmade Soap Made From?

Natural handmade soaps are generally made from plant-based oils and butters.

Examples of these kinds of oil are coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil and castor oil.

Please do be wary of palm oil due to the way this crop is farmed. If you do choose a product that contains palm oil please make sure that it is farmed in a sustainable way. Our advice is to avoid if possible.

With water these essentially make up the base of the soap.

Once the base is made then the soaps are enriched with a variety of essential oils and herbs to enhance the colour and fragrance of the product.

Whilst many organic soaps are vegan some can be made from animal products such as artisan goats milk soap.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Organic Artisan Soap Bars?

Many people have switched to using artisan soaps because they are more earth-friendly.

They don’t contain harsh chemicals and they are made with natural ingredients.

Here are some of the benefits of artisan soap bars:

• Made with natural ingredients – so no chemicals and synthetics
• Cleans skin without drying it out
• Great moisturising properties keeping your skin soft and smooth for longer
• Often vegan, so not tested on or made from animal product
• Last longer than liquid or other soaps
• Supports small and/or local businesses
• Packaging is also most likely sustainable
• Eco friendly, waste sent into our waterways is not harmful

How is Artisan Soap Packaged?

Artisan soap makers provide their products in a range of packaging materials however being true to their sustainable values these materials are usually plastic free and zero waste.

Sometimes no packaging is used however If it is used it’s usually in the form of a biodegradable box.

Eco friendly tissue paper is also a good alternative and can add a nice touch of colour to enhance the product.

Handmade Soaps Make Great Presents

Hand-crafted artisan soaps make amazing presents for your friends and family, either on birthdays, at Christmas or simply to say thank you to someone.

As they are made by small businesses and skilled individuals they will always be a very unique and thoughtful gift that will be appreciated by anyone who receives them.

What I love about Christmas artisan soap is that the soap makers use spices and fragrances that relate to the festive season such as frankincense.

Caring for your Artisan Soap Bar

One question we get asked all the time is how can you make sure your soap bar lasts especially in the bath or shower.

We created the article “How to Store Hard Shampoo in the Shower” which although being written for shampoos and conditioner bars has almost exactly the same advice that’s needed for traditional artisan soap bars.

When storing soap bars between uses it is very important to use a good quality soap dish. We have a few natural soap dishes in the greenerlyfe shop.

Soap dishes are crucial in keeping your soap in good condition. One of the worst things you can do is to leave your artisan soap bar in the shower tray whilst showering.

Can I Make my Own Artisan Soap?

Of course the answer is yes and many people do, you could even become an artisan soap maker yourself!

There are a few ways to approach this:

1. Make your handmade soap from scratch
2. Buy the soap base and get creative with the colours and scents
3. Purchase a kit which comes with all ingredients and full instruction on how to create the perfect soap.

Obviously making soap from scratch is the most difficult but many would argue if the most rewarding however as a beginner I’d suggest starting with the soap base or the kit until you feel more comfortable.

Stephenson Organic Soap Base

Ideal for adding your own favourite scent, making as gifts for other people etc. Our Melt and Pour Certified Organic Soap Base is free from any foam boosters and preservatives. Made from organic vegetable oils, this base contains no alcohol or harmful products to dry your skin!

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House of Crafts

Organic Soap Making Kit – Making your own soap is tremendously rewarding – All manner of natural ingredients can be added to give texture, colour and aroma to your soaps. This organic soap making kit makes a delightful selection of hand crafted soaps.

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«add soap kit and base here»

I’d Prefer to Buy, Which are the Best Artisan Soaps?

When it comes to the best artisan soap brands the list is long but we’ve managed to bring together a few of the very best to show here.

One point that you should consider is the type of skin you have can determine which organic soap you buy. Some ingredients are better for oily skin for example so please do check with your chosen brand as they are likely to include soaps for all skin types in their range.

Mamma TT Organics

Using organic, unrefined & raw cold pressed oils, butters, edible spices, botanicals and pure essential oils Mamma TT Organics make wholesome, delicate and most importantly, effective products.

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Soap Daze

Soap Daze creates vegan soaps made with natural, nourishing essential oils and botanicals. Based in Devon, all their products are handmade, kind to the skin and eco-friendly. All soaps are plastic free and you can opt to receive unpackaged soaps. All orders are despatched with plastic free packaging.

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Friendly Soap

Even the deepest sleepers can’t resist the power of peppermint, and this soap really is a wonderful wake-up call. Its magic blend of peppermint essential oils and exfoliating poppy seeds creates a luxuriously creamy lather that leaves you feeling clean, polished and ultimately more alive!

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Clovelly Soap Co

All products are handmade in their workshop in Clovelly, Devon, using traditional methods and natural ingredients. They have a real passion for creating unique, handcrafted products that make perfect gifts or personal treats for everyday living. All products are natural, pure, therapeutic grade essential oils, spices, herbs, clays and flowers, blended by hand to create our rich fragrances.

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UpCircle

The circular economy sits at the heart of what UpCircle do – they even named themselves after it! UpCircle also hints at ‘upcycling’, the process of making something better from things that already exist. The companies ultimate mission is to leave the world better than we found it by transforming ingredients that would otherwise be discarded into natural, organic beauty products – better for you, better for the world.

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Common FAQs

Which handmade soap is the best?

This is a tough question to answer. Each soap has a different scent and benefits, so you may need to experiment with them to find your favourite! We’ve listed a few above.

Are handmade soaps good?

Handmade soaps are a great way to incorporate natural ingredients into your skincare routine. These soaps are often made from organic oils, plant powders and honey that cleanse and hydrate the skin. They can be applied all over your body just like any other soap, but they do not contain any chemicals that can irritate the skin or dry it out.

How do you use artisan soap?

The most common ways to use soap are for hand washing, dish washing, and bathing. Aartisan soaps are used in exactly the same way other soaps are used.

What is an all natural soap?

All natural soap is a handmade, handcrafted soap that contains natural ingredients. This means no harsh chemicals, preservatives or synthetics. Soap made with all natural ingredients are gentle and kind to skin.

Why do people like handmade soap?

People are always looking for ways to use natural ingredients for their skin and handmade soap is an excellent way to do this. Not only does handmade soap contain natural oils, it also contains no harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin.

Why natural handmade soaps are better than mass produced soaps?

There are many reasons why natural handmade soaps are better than mass produced soaps. Handmade soaps are made with a variety of different oils and other ingredients to suit your skin type, which means they will be much more soothing on your skin. A good quality handmade soap usually has a higher water content than its mass produced counterpart, which will leave you feeling clean and refreshed after use.

Conclusion

As you can probably tell, here at greenerlyfe we are passionate about artisan soap.

Not only are the ingredients natural and organic soaps made by hand, by small businesses or individuals always carry the benefit of being made with care and love. Commercial soaps are just not the same.

I’d love to hear from you, do you use or make handmade natural soaps? Do you know an artisan soap maker, if so drop them a mention in the comments below.

Please do spare me the time to leave a comment below