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

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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.

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.