About Handcrafted Soap

The concepts of "handcrafted", "soap" and "soap maker" frequently mean different things to different people. Since these are key terms to the whole of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, it is important that the definitions being used are understood and agreed upon.

"Soap"

"Soap" has several definitions, depending on how exact you want to get.

The technical definiton of soap is "the result of a chemical reaction between a fatty acid and an alkali solution." Fatty acids are the actual fat content of animal or vegetable oils; there are many different fatty acids which combine to make up different oils. The alkali solution is commonly known as lye and is usually sodium or potassium hydroxide. By this definition, soap must be made from animal or vegetable fats/oils and lye. However, note that in the finished product there is no free lye - it is all combined into the resulting soap.

In the 1940's chemists discovered how to change the molecular structure of some naturally occuring substances and also how to synthesize necessary components. What they discovered was called "detergent" (to differentiate it from soap). The big advantage to detergents then and now is that they work well in cold or hard water and can be formulated to clean specific types of dirt and stains.

Modern detergents (known as syn-dets, or synthetic detergents) have become quite sophisticated and are seen in many, many forms. In fact, the majority of the cleaning products on the market are actually detergents of some type or another. Even commercial bar soaps commonly contain all or part detergents.

As a result of these developments, a common definiton of soap has emerged. The common definition of soap refers to any product that bubbles and cleans, particularly if it is in a bar form.

Soap Guild Definiton of "Soap"

Within the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, the definition of "soap" being used is the common, not technical definition. To qualify as soap, the final product must foam and lather, be used for cleaning and be in a form commonly understood to be "soap".

Cold and hot process soaps are made by mixing oils, lye and water. "Melt and Pour" soap is made by the use of a commercially produced soap base which may or may not contain detergents. Both products qualify as "soap" for this organization.

For additional clarification, products that are technically soap (a blend of fatty acids and alkali) may also be referred to as "natural soap" or "soap from scratch".

"Soap Maker"

A "soap maker" within the HSMG is one who takes bulk ingredients and produces a unique and individualized soap. The ingredients can be oils and lye or commercial soap base; both are considered "bulk ingredients".

"Handcrafted"

The process of making and selling soap is complex and involves many steps. These include creating the recipe; measuring and mixing the soap; adding scent and color; creating the shape by molding, cutting and/or trimming; designing and creating packaging; and finally marketing, displaying and selling the final product. Depending on the methodology of the individual, some of these steps are done "by hand" and with creative and artistic involvement and some are done automatically or mechanically.

For the purposes of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild, a soap is deemed to be "handcrafted" if a majority of the time, energy and processes used in its creation are "by hand". In the case of cold or hot process soap the "by hand" part might be in the recipe, mixing, measuring and molding. When a soapmaker chooses to use a pre-prepared soap base, the "by hand" part might be in the artistic design, scent and color.

The definitions outlined above were approved by the Soap Guild membership as official HSMG Policy at the 2005 Annual Meeting.