Understanding Soap Ingredients
What’s in Your Bar?
When choosing a handmade soap, the ingredients matter. Every oil, butter, and liquid used in soapmaking plays a role in how the final bar looks, feels, and performs. At Wild Roots Artisan Soaps, we carefully select high-quality, natural ingredients to create bars that cleanse effectively while maintaining a luxurious lather.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key ingredients in our handcrafted soaps and what they bring to each bar!
Oils and Butters
1. Olive Oil – Gentle & Conditioning
A classic soapmaking ingredient, olive oil creates a mild, gentle bar that cleanses without stripping moisture. It produces a softer lather and gives soap a silky, smooth feel. Because it’s packed with beneficial compounds, it’s a staple in high-quality handmade soaps.
✔ Creates a creamy, mild lather
✔ Helps produce a long-lasting bar
2. Coconut Oil – Cleansing & Bubbly
Coconut oil is one of the best ingredients for creating a rich, bubbly lather. It adds cleansing power to soap while keeping the bar firm. Since coconut oil can be naturally intense, it’s balanced with other conditioning oils to ensure a well-rounded bar.
✔ Produces a fluffy, bubbly lather
✔ Adds cleansing power to soap
3. Mango Butter – Smooth & Creamy
Mango butter helps create a creamy, smooth texture in soap. It adds richness without making the bar too heavy and helps balance the cleansing effects of coconut oil.
✔ Adds a smooth, silky feel
✔ Enhances the bar’s overall conditioning properties
4. Shea Butter – Rich & Moisturizing
Shea butter is a well-loved ingredient in handmade soap because of its creamy lather and conditioning properties.
✔ Helps create a rich, luxurious lather
✔ Adds creaminess and smoothness to the bar
5. Cocoa Butter – Firm & Velvety
Cocoa butter contributes to a firm and long-lasting bar while adding a velvety texture.
✔ Helps create a hard, long-lasting bar
✔ Adds a silky smoothness to the lather
6. Avocado Oil – Creamy & Conditioning
Avocado oil enhances the creaminess and conditioning properties of soap.
✔ Adds to the soap’s creamy feel
✔ Helps balance cleansing and conditioning effects
7. Rice Bran Oil – Gentle & Lather-Enhancing
Rice bran oil contributes to a stable, creamy lather and balances the bar’s overall cleansing ability.
✔ Creates a soft, conditioning lather
✔ Helps enhance the longevity of the bar
8. Castor Oil – Boosts Lather & Creaminess
Castor oil is a key ingredient for creating a rich, stable lather. Even a small amount can significantly boost bubbles and silkiness.
✔ Adds fluffiness and stability to the lather
✔ Enhances the overall feel of the soap
Liquids: Enhancing the Soap’s Feel
9. Goat Milk – Creamy & Luxurious
Goat milk adds creaminess and richness to the lather, making for an extra-smooth finish.
✔ Produces a rich, creamy lather
✔ Enhances the overall conditioning properties of the bar
10. Coconut Milk – Light & Foamy
Coconut milk contributes to a soft, foamy lather and a silky texture.
✔ Boosts the fluffiness of the lather
✔ Helps create a smooth, silky feel
11. Aloe Vera Juice – Fresh & Hydrating
Aloe vera juice is often used instead of water in soap recipes to create a light, refreshing lather.
✔ Helps create a silky, mild lather
✔ Enhances the soap’s fresh and clean feel
Natural Additives: Exfoliation & Color
12. Ground Oats – Gentle & Soothing
Ground oats provide a mild exfoliation while adding a silky texture to the lather.
✔ Offers gentle exfoliation
✔ Enhances the bar’s creaminess
13. Ground Walnut Shells – Deep Exfoliation
For those who prefer a stronger exfoliant, ground walnut shells help remove buildup and refresh the skin.
✔ Provides a stronger exfoliating texture
✔ Adds a natural earthy tone to the soap
14. Coffee Grounds – Mild Scrub & Natural Colorant
Coffee grounds not only provide gentle exfoliation but also add a deep brown hue to soaps.
✔ Adds natural color
✔ Provides light exfoliation
15. Botanical Powders – Plant-Based Coloring
We use a variety of botanical powders, such as spirulina, turmeric, and alkanet root, to add natural colors to our soaps.
✔ Adds beautiful natural hues
✔ Enhances the soap’s visual appeal
16. Clays – Silky Texture & Natural Color
Clay, such as kaolin or French green clay, provides a smooth, creamy lather while also acting as a natural colorant.
✔ Enhances the soap’s smoothness
✔ Provides natural color variations
Essential Oils – Natural Scent & Aromatherapy Benefits
Instead of synthetic fragrances, Wild Roots Artisan Soaps are naturally scented with pure essential oils. These oils add a clean, natural aroma to each bar while keeping the soap free from artificial additives.
✔ Adds a natural, fresh scent
✔ Keeps soaps free from synthetic fragrances
Some Essential Oils We Use:
Lavender & Lemongrass – Fresh and floral
Orange & Litsea Cubeba – Bright and citrusy
Eucalyptus & Rosemary – Crisp and invigorating
Peppermint & Spearmint – Cool and refreshing
Every Ingredient Matters
At Wild Roots Artisan Soaps, we believe that every ingredient has a purpose. Whether it’s creating a bubbly lather, adding creaminess, or making a long-lasting bar, each oil, butter, and additive contributes to the quality of the final soap.
The next time you pick up a bar of handmade soap, take a look at the ingredients—you’ll know exactly why they’re there!
