What is the difference between handmade soap and commercial soap?

Author: Jamie Hermann  |  Last update: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Handmade soaps are entirely made with natural ingredients. Traditionally soaps were made with animal fat, handmade soaps are truly made from natural oils like coconut, tallow, avocado, and many more. The scents used in these soaps are also natural and are extracted from flowers and other natural resources.

Why is handmade soap better than commercial soap?

The natural ingredients in these soaps can help them hold the skin's natural moisture in balance and protect it from external irritants. Commercial soaps may consist of harsh chemicals that remove the skin's natural oils. This can then lead to dryness and itching with irritation that has sensitive skin.

What is a commercial soap?

Commercial soap typically is produced en masse by large multinational companies worldwide. They're made as cheaply as possible to minimize cost and maximize profits. In fact, commercial soap manufacturers often remove glycerin from the soap that they produce. Glycerin is responsible for keeping the skin moisturized.

What is the difference between homemade soap and soap?

Commercial soaps dry your skin out and can be very uncomfortable when used long term, especially for children. The chemicals in these soaps dehydrate your skin and cause itchiness. These soaps also have an allergic reaction in your skin. Handmade soap, on the other hand, tends to be much gentler on the skin.

Is handmade soap better for your skin?

Unlike commercial soaps that are often made with harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances, handmade soap is gentle and safe for all skin types. Plus, the natural ingredients in handmade soap can help to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote healthy skin cell growth.

Difference between Handmade Soaps and Commercial Soaps!

What are the disadvantages of commercial soap?

The main disadvantages of commercial soap are related to the use of synthetic chemicals, fragrances, and preservatives. The ingredients may dry and irritate your skin. Commercial products also offer fewer customization options. Despite several significant drawbacks, some commercial soaps still offer a few advantages.

Why is handmade soap so expensive?

Handmade soap is crafted with the highest quality ingredients and low-volume production, which makes it more expensive than mass-produced products.

What type of soap is best?

We recommend Dove Sensitive Skin & Cetaphil soap for general cleansing the skin. Soaps with perfumes should not be used as they can dry out the skin. If the skin is broken due to cracks and/or fissures, the patient may use an antibacterial soap such as Dial Soap or Cetaphil Antibacterial.

How long does homemade soap last?

How Long Does Handmade Soap Last? You'll be amazed at just how much longer natural soap lasts than its commercially manufactured counterparts. You can expect 1-2 years in optimal conditions! The truth is, though, quality natural soap bars should be used much faster than that.

What are the three main ingredients of handmade soap?

There are 3 key ingredients in soap: oil or fat, lye and water.

What makes a luxury soap?

Natural and organic ingredients are cultivated with care for the environment. Sustainable farming practices, organic certifications, and eco-friendly packaging contribute to a luxury bar soap's elegance, ensuring that the earth is cared for as much as your skin. Luxury is also about ethics.

Is homemade soap better than store-bought?

Mass produced soaps are often made by combining detergents, lathering agents and synthetic ingredients, and can by definition not be called soap (make sure the label actually says soap). Handmade soap is milder and keeps the skin healthier.

Is expensive soap worth it?

Luxury soap is milder and contains fewer chemicals than a regular soap. As a result, it has a better moisturizing effect on your skin. The natural and organic ingredients used in luxury soap help to retain moisture in your skin, preventing it from becoming dry and itchy.

What are the disadvantages of homemade soap?

Cons:
  • The soap has already saponified, so the recipe can't be customized.
  • Fresh ingredients like milk and purees will eventually go bad in the soap.
  • If your fragrance or essential oil has a low flashpoint, some makers find the higher temperatures can burn off the fragrance, causing it to fade.

What is commercial soap?

Commercial soaps are made from soap noodles. Fragrances and caring agents are added to them to give moisturising and that perfumey smell we all love. Natural handmade soaps are made by a process called saponification. This converts virgin oils into cleansers. Fragrance is added via natural essential oils.

How can you tell if soap is natural?

Here are five basic rules of thumb to keep in mind when trying to decide if a soap is natural or not:
  1. It's made from vegetable oils (if you see “tallow” or “tallowate” in the ingredients, this means animal fats)
  2. It's scented with essential oils only, or if unscented, is truly absent of scent.

What happens if you use homemade soap too soon?

You can absolutely use your handmade soap as soon as saponification is complete, you just won't get the full, awesome benefits of what your soap potentially has to offer.

Can I use 10 year old soap?

Using a soap past its expiry date isn't likely to be a huge safety risk, but it may not work as effectively. You might find it doesn't clean as well or produce that satisfying lather. Using rancid soap can also impact the fragrance and likely make for a less pleasant bathing experience.

What ingredient makes soap last longer?

Oils like coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, tallow, lard, and shea butter are rich in saturated fats, creating a solid structure in your soap. The increased solidity results in a longer-lasting bar that holds its shape.

Which is world no. 1 soap?

Lifebuoy World's Number 1 Hygiene Soap Brand | Lifebuoy Global.

Is Dove better than soap?

Ordinary bar soap has a relatively high pH which can dry and strip your skin. Dove, however, has a neutral pH that's balanced with your skin to avoid any damage. It actively cares for your skin, adding skin-natural nutrients to keep it feeling its healthy best.

What is the healthiest soap to use?

What Are the "Best" Non Toxic Soaps?
  • Aspen Kay Naturals Aloe Vera & Calendula*
  • Bee the Light Simple Man Soap* with Organic & Fair Trade Essential Oils.
  • Crate 61 Cold Process Natural Bar Soap*
  • Sweet Harvest Farms Sample Soap Pack*
  • 100% Pure Coconut Butter Soap*
  • Meliora Bath & Body Soap*
  • Fontana Essentials Bar Soap*

Is selling homemade soap profitable?

Handmade soaps with natural ingredients cater to this need, appealing to conscious customers. Profitability: The cost of materials is relatively low compared to the premium price consumers are willing to pay for handcrafted soaps. With the ability to start small and scale up, soap making can be profitable.

Why choose handmade soap?

Handmade soaps are entirely made from natural ingredients, every material used to make soap is natural. Handmade soaps deliver the most delightful essence when you use them for bathing. The essence delivered by such handmade items is never overpowering, they fit into the room very easily.

What makes a soap luxury?

Luxurious soaps often contain high-quality oils, exotic butters, and other premium ingredients that enhance their creaminess and feel. The key is in the ingredients list - not all oils are created equal, and the presence of specially sourced materials can elevate a soap beyond the ordinary.

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