- Why should I use handcrafted soap?
- Why are Sarva soaps more expensive than other brands?
- What makes a soap natural, and what would make a soap not natural?
- Why is natural so important?
- Is Sarva soap hypoallergenic?
- I’ve heard handcrafted soap doesn’t last very long. Is this true?
- How do I know which Sarva soaps are vegetarian or vegan friendly?
- Why is there sometimes a delay in availability of my favorite Sarva soap?
Why should I use handcrafted soap? What’s so special about it?
Soap is created through a naturally-occurring reaction between sodium hydroxide and any oil, such as olive oil. This reaction transforms these ingredients into soap and leaves behind no sodium hydroxide, and, depending on the soap’s formulation, little to no oil.
Glycerin is present in artisanal soap as a byproduct of the above process. Glycerin is a humectant, drawing ambient moisture to your skin. All skin types need moisture, even oily skin! Most moisturizers use oils to help your skin feel soft. Glycerin is not an oil and is non-comedogenic (will not clog your pores).
Commercial soaps are often stripped of their glycerin through chemical processes; glycerin is profitable and is used to make other products. Artisanal soaps retain all of their naturally-occurring glycerin, and many people notice a difference in how their skin feels with regular use of artisanal soaps.
Learn more about this topic on the Sarva Soaps blog.
Read customer praise for Sarva Soaps.
Why are Sarva soaps more expensive than other brands?
I know you can spend less on commercial or handcrafted soaps. I also know that to many people… it’s just soap! I don’t see it that way. Is it “just” your skin?
At Sarva, I offer you mindfully, carefully developed soaps which are the culmination of years of knowledge, experience, and research. I bring my passion for natural, holistic living to everything I do. I am an artisan with over 10 years of soapmaking experience and formal training in clinical aromatherapy, and you benefit directly from that knowledge and experience.
Most soaps, even those which are labeled natural, are not 100% natural. They often include synthetic pigments or fragrances; these keep manufacturing cost down and are not always good for us or our environment. Sarva sources out the finest all-natural raw materials—the best pure vegetable oils, luxuriously rich butters, beautiful natural colorants, divinely scented essential oils—so that you can treat yourself and your skin to a completely, truly natural and beautiful soap.
I avoid cheap fillers such as soybean oil, which I believe doesn’t contribute anything meaningful to a soap’s quality. Instead, I invest in the highest quality vegetable oils I can find, creating a superior product: Better lather, better rinsing, and an overall more luxurious feel on the skin.
In short, I believe the cost of these high-caliber natural ingredients is well worth it.
And I give you more of this goodness with every bar! Compare the size of other artisanal soaps to Sarva’s generous 4.5- to 5-ounce bars.
The meticulous formulation and craftsmanship of Sarva soaps has garnered recognition and admiration. I am passionate about my craft, and I want to share this passion with you.
Feed your spirit and treat your skin well with a small but luxurious indulgence. At pennies a day, it’s a wonderfully economical investment in your sense of well-being.
Please consider the impact on our environment, and potentially your own well-being, when you choose synthetic products. Your favorite commercial soaps might not be true soaps… often they are synthetic, mass-manufactured, non-biodegradable detergent bars which cost far less to make, in both time and materials, than the handcrafted, luxurious creations you find at Sarva… and they can be harsh to your skin.
What makes a soap natural, and what would make a soap not natural?
Two primary factors determine whether a soap is natural: Coloring and scent.
- Coloring: Sarva soaps are colored strictly with herbs, spices, clays, charcoal, or other botanicals. I do not use micas or oxides. Oxides and micas are popular in many “natural” soaps, but they are actually laboratory-created, synthetic lookalikes of true mineral pigments. There’s good reason for this: mineral oxides in their natural form contain metals that are not good for the skin, and the synthetic oxides have been engineered to be free of such metals. Sarva soaps does not ever contain true earth-mined mineral oxides for these reasons. However, I also do not use lab-created oxides, as these clearly are not natural materials and can carry a questionable ecological footprint in their manufacture. I occasionally use titanium dioxide, a bright white, the only common oxide which is natural in source.
- Scent: Sarva only uses essential oils, never synthetic fragrance oils. This may prevent me from offering certain types of scents, such as copies of your favorite fragrance or food-like scents (strawberry, favorite desserts, etc.), but I am willing to make that sacrifice in order to provide you with an all-natural product.
I do my homework in bringing a 100% natural product to you, and Sarva is one of the few soap companies who sell truly all-natural soaps!
Why is natural so important?
This is a very subjective question. People often hold strong and polarized opinions about the use of petroleum-based and other synthetic chemicals on our skin, not to mention the ecological concerns. However, it’s important to select natural materials wisely too, as some are in danger of becoming depleted, and some essential oils should not be applied to the skin. Remember, natural doesn’t equal safe!
I do not use any endangered natural ingredients in my soaps, and I use skin-safe essential oils. This is why it’s important to have training in aromatherapy!
So, why do I choose natural ingredients? Many reasons. I get headaches from synthetic ingredients, especially fragrances, and I know I’m not alone. Further, I believe essential oils and other natural ingredients can do things that a lab-created material can’t. These benefits may not be able to be measured, but I see them every day in how I feel when I work with them and use them for myself, how my private clients respond to the essential oil blends I create for them, and how you, my customers, rave about your experience with Sarva soaps. Nature helps us find our balance.
Is Sarva soap hypoallergenic?
You’re going to see this phrase a lot: There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic soap.
However: Some people who have sensitive skin find that they have a reaction to synthetic fragrances (and some people, myself included, get headaches from them), but they can often use products containing natural ingredients, including many essential oils. However, please be advised that there is no such thing as hypoallergenic soap or cosmetics!
If you have nut allergies or other allergies, contact me before ordering so I can advise you on which soaps are best for you to use. For example, if you have hay fever, you should avoid products containing chamomile herb or essential oil, and if you have nut allergies, you should avoid almond and other oils. (Remember that peanuts are not nuts, so we need to talk more if you have a peanut allergy but aren’t sure about almonds, etc.!)
Know your own skin, research carefully for yourself, and feel comfortable with what you are putting on your body! I repeat: there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic soap or skin care product. I am here to answer your questions.
Please note that I am not a dermatologist and my information does not substitute for medical advice.
I’ve heard handcrafted soap doesn’t last very long. Is this true?
No, it’s not true at all… if you care for your handcrafted soap properly. Special soap requires special care!
I formulate Sarva soaps to be as long-lasting and as gentle to your skin as possible. Handcrafted soap contains lots of glycerin, a wonderful natural humectant (draws moisture from the air to your skin). This glycerin is what can make handcrafted soap soft – if it isn’t allowed to drain properly and dry out between uses. If you keep your Sarva soap in a well-draining dish, you will find that it lasts much longer, often just as long as a mass-produced bar, which often contains little to no glycerin. Many varieties of Sarva soap can last even longer than commercial soaps.
When you buy Sarva soap in quantity, please store your unopened soaps in a cool, dry place away from direct light. Handcrafted soap containing all-natural ingredients has an optimal shelf life of approximately six months. Unused and well-stored bars will keep for years, but their scents and colors will likely fade.
How do I know which soaps are vegetarian or vegan friendly?
As a vegetarian of 13 years, I understand how important this is to my customers. All Sarva soaps are vegetarian-friendly and cruelty-free. Sarva does not engage in animal testing. I only use pure food-grade vegetable oils in my soap formulations… never tallow, lard, or other animal fats. Every product is marked as “vegetarian” and/or “vegan friendly” on its product page so you can buy with confidence.
The only animal product Sarva uses is local Ohio honey. I selected my honey supplier carefully, choosing an apiary who harvests ethically and cares for their bees.
Why is there sometimes a delay in availability of my favorite Sarva soap?
Sarva soaps are lovingly handcrafted in an artisanal process which takes about four weeks to complete for every bar. Soapmaking is a time-intensive and old-fashioned process, a true labor of love. Sarva soaps are crafted in very small batches in order to create such a unique product. Soaps are poured into a mold, left to rest for 24 hours, then sliced and trimmed by hand. Soaps must then harden or “cure” on racks for four weeks before they are ready for you to enjoy.
Sometimes I unexpectedly sell out of a particular soap before the next batch is ready to sell. Thus, on occasion there is a bit of a delay. (And thank you for your patience when this happens!)
Have a soap question of your own? Contact me - I’d be happy to help.