Making cold process soap is not just mixing oils – it’s a journey full of patience, creativity and heart

Cold Process Soap – how it’s really made

At one of the recent markets, a man stopped by my stall and asked me a question I’ve heard many times before:

“So, what’s the difference between your soap and the one I can buy in a regular shop?”

After explaining the process, he smiled and said:

“Well, in the end they both clean the same, and the one from the shop is three times cheaper.”

I must admit, that comment stung a little. Because yes, both soaps might wash your hands, but cold process soap is a completely different story.

Those commercial, store-bought soaps are mostly made from synthetic detergents – strong cleansing agents that make lots of foam but often leave the skin dry or irritated.
Natural cold process soaps, on the other hand, are made from real oils, butters, essential oils, and various natural ingredients like milk, salt, or honey.
It’s these ingredients that make handmade soap special – gentle, nourishing, and kind to the skin.

I won’t go into all the details of what’s hidden in commercial soap – anyone can check that today. In the age of AI, you can simply take a photo of an ingredient list and get the full breakdown. Instead, I’d love to tell you how I make my soaps.

First of all, I listen.
I listen to what people say, what they ask for, what scents they like. Every idea for a new soap starts with inspiration and curiosity.
When I decide to add a new natural ingredient, the real work begins. First, I have to check if this ingredient is already listed in my CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report).

If it is – great, I can go ahead.
If not – I have to contact my assessor to ask if it can be added, and then… we wait.
And wait.
Sometimes a few days, sometimes even a few months before I get an answer.

Once I get the green light, the fun begins.
Mixing oils, choosing colours, adding natural scents and textures – this is the part I love the most. It’s creative, relaxing and deeply satisfying.

Then comes the magical moment – cutting the loaf.
It’s the time when I finally get to see what nature has created inside the mould. Each swirl, each layer of colour forms its own unique pattern. You never know exactly how it will turn out, and that’s what makes it so exciting.

And what happens next?
Now the soap needs a bit of rest.
We call it curing – it means the soap has to sit quietly for 4–6 weeks to harden and become perfectly mild.

While the soaps are resting, my work doesn’t stop.
That’s when I have to prepare all the documentation – create the PIF (Product Information File), make sure I have all the safety data sheets and allergen documents, design a clear label that follows the cosmetic regulations, and finally submit the product to the Cosmetic Product Notification Portal so it can legally be sold.

Only after all that – and after those quiet weeks of curing – can I finally wrap each bar, label it, and share it with you.

So, do both soaps clean the same?
Maybe they do.
But one of them is made with heart, patience, and respect for nature.

💛 Edyta, creator of Bubbles with Scent – handmade natural soaps made with passion and care

Explore my handmade soap collection here: https://bubbleswithscent.com/collection-cleansers-natural-cold-processed-soap-bath-bomb