Cold process soap does not automatically need added glycerin because glycerin is already produced during the soap-making process. Learn why it remains in the bar and how adding extra glycerin can affect softness and moisture absorption.
Cold process soap can contain liquids, fresh pastes and purées, botanical powders, clays and physical scrubs—but they don’t all behave in the same way. Learn why the form, texture and amount of an additive matter to the finished soap.
Cold process soap can sometimes change from fluid and manageable to unexpectedly thick. Learn why over-blending and certain essential or fragrance oils can accelerate thickening, and why losing your design does not necessarily mean losing the soap.
Essential oils and fragrance oils can both give cold process soap its scent, but they are not interchangeable. Understand their different roles, how their scent can behave and why some fragrances can make soap thicken unexpectedly.
Superfat refers to leaving some oil unconverted in the finished soap. Learn why this matters for skin feel and how the principle can be considered when designing soap for dry, oily or more general skin needs.
Not all soap lather is the same. Some cold process soaps produce abundant visible bubbles, while others create a denser, creamier lather. Learn why ingredient choices influence both the amount and character of a soap’s lather.
What makes one cold process soap firm while another stays comparatively soft? Learn how hard and soft oils, butters and lathering oils influence soap hardness—and why making a harder bar is ultimately about balance.
Japanese konjac jelly soap is quite different from an ordinary bar of soap. It has a soft, wobbly, squishy texture, produces a good lather and can be designed for different
