Organic Soaps - What is a Difference between Natural & Organic Soap?

While I was working on the next post on Organic Soap, I realized that there could be a little bit confusion between a Natural Soap and Organic One. So perhaps, I would just write something about their slight differences.

Firstly, let's begin with a basic understanding of soaps.

Since 1000 B.C., soaps have been invented and are primarily used for hygienic and sometimes medical purposes. They usually come in a solid moulded form, typically in rectangular shape, and therefore termed as soap bars.

Next, what is a soap made of?

Natural soap is made from animal fats or plant oils or even butters, and the primary ingredient used is oil or some combinations of oils such as olive, palm, coconut and almond. When the oil mixture reacts together with lye or sodium hydroxide solution (known as chemical base), it produces a sodium salt or soap and glycerin. Glycein is actually a sweet syrupy alcohol that softens and conditions the skin.

Depending on soap recipes and personal preferences, sometimes, butters such as vegetable or cocoa are added as well. Therefore, theoretically speaking, infinite varieties of natural soaps can be made depending on the combination of fat and/or oil. But only certain combinations (or "special recipes") will give you the better quality soaps that last longer lasting, produce more lathers, give good feeling on your skin and pleasant smell to your nose.

You can find out more on my previous post - How to Make Your Own Soap

How does a soap remove dirt from your body?

Soaps remove dirt from a dirty surface by attracting and clinging to dirt from the surface, and wash away with the water. This thanks to the structure of the soap molecule. One end of a soap molecule (carbon chain from oil and fat ingredients) is able to attract organic compound such as oil, while the other end of the molecule (sodium ions - that is why we need sodium chemical base) like to cling on water.

Therefore, when you wash with soap, your skin oil containing the dirt is attracted by the soap molecules. Then these molecules grap hold on to the running water when you rinse your hand with water. So this is how soaps get rid of oil and dirt on your body.

Finally, what is a difference between natural and organic soaps?

Well, the only difference is simply that organic soaps are made of organic ingredients such as aloe, peppermint and oats that are free from pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers or other chemicals harmful to personal health.

That's it. Simple? Life is already so complex, why make things so complicated.

Which is better, natural or organic?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question because essentially, it depends on the combination, quality and amount of the ingredients used in making the soaps.

But, there are benefits of using organic soaps,

Firstly, again, they are free from pesticides or potential health hazardous chemicals especially when used over a long periods.

Secondly, making soaps using ingredients from organic farming is better for the environment because organic farming does not cause any pollutions to the soil or water with chemicals. (I know what my next subject for my organic is going to be)

Point to note - it is very difficult to get soaps that are made of 100% organic ingredients, but you can find natural soaps made of 100% natural ingredients with some organic ingredients.


So, hope you have a better understanding of natural or organic soaps.


Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health & Our Planet Wellness

Organic Soap - How to Make Your Own Soap (Part 2)

In Part 1, I summarized the process of making organic soap bar. Perhaps, some of you have already got used to a liquid soap contained in a bottle with pump dispenser.

So for today post, I will summarize the basic process of making liquid organic soap.

Equipment you need:

1. A grater
2. A stainless steel pot
3. A stirring spoon
4. A cup (8 ounces)

Ingredients

1. Organic Soap Bar, (about 4-ounces)
2. Distilled water (a gallon)
3. Herb or other natural ingredients

If you are not keen to make your own organic soap bar, you can always begin with an organic melt and pour soap base. These organic soap base can be easily found in the soap supply websites, just type "organic melt and pour soap base" on Internet Search Engine (e.g Google, Yahoo, MSN). If not, you can go to your nearby the organic store to get some.

Steps:

1. Grate the soap bar into smaller pieces
2. Heat a gallon of distilled water (i.e. 16 cups).
3. When the water is almost boiling, remove the pot from the heat.
4. Add the grated soap into the hot water and let it melt on its own.
5. About 15 to 20 minutes later, stir the mixture to ensure the soap is completely melted.
6. Then let the mixture sit for at least 12 hours or overnight.
7. The next day, blend the mixture a few times with 10-15 minutes intervals.
8. You can customize your liquid soap by adding herb ingredients during the process of blending.
9. When the mixture becomes thickened, the liquid soap is done.

So making your own liquid soap can be a quite simple and less expensive. You can easily customize your liquid soap with your favorite herbs and other natural skin soothing ingredients

Not forgetting that you can also be helping our planet by storing your liquid soap in those old bottles.

Most importantly, it is a better alternative to purchasing commercial liquid soap that comes with chemicals potentially harmful to your family's and your health.

If you are planning to make you own soap for the first time, then I think that it will be good to get some books on handmade soaps, at least two books. This allows you to have better understanding of the process because different authors provide different processes or methods in detailed. Once you have followed the guides provided in the books and tried a few times, then you can begin creating your own handmade soaps recipes and your own cooking processes.

Of course, if you prefer, you may consider taking a class, so that you can discuss and share experiences with your friends or classmates.

As usual, I think it is not difficult to get started, but it is certainly not something you can learn overnight. It will take time to learn and master the methods like everything else. The most important thing is that you must enjoy the entire learning process and be positive.

That is all for the second part of How to Make Your Own Soap.

Next post, probably, I will try to look for what the popular "ready made" organic soaps products are available in the market.

Let's Learn & Experience Organic for Better Personal Health
& Our Planet Wellness