What is Saponified or Saponification?
It is the process or result of making soap by combining a strong alkali with vegetable oil. The oil chemically reacts with the alkali to produce glycerin and soap. The alkali used in modern soap making is either sodium hydroxide, to make bar soap, or potassium hydroxide, because of its greater solubility, to make liquid soap. The common term for alkali became simply “lye.” Due to a chemical change during the soap-making process, no lye remains in the final product. However, because we offer full disclosure of all ingredients used in manufacturing the products we sell, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are included as ingredients.

What is Glycerin?
Glycerin is a natural occurring by-product of hand made soap. The benefit of glycerin is that it moisturizes your skin. Most commercial manufacturers remove this valuable commodity and sell it to other industries, to be used in cosmetics and moisturizing lotions, etc.

What is Sodium Borate used for?
Sodium borate, also known as Borax, is added to liquid soap in a very low concentration to balance the pH of the solution and will not irritate or dry the skin beyond what is usual for soap.

What is Butyrospermum Parkii?
Commonly known as Shea Butter, is made from the Karite Nut of the Mangifolia Tree, found in the semi-arid Savannahs of West and Central Africa. Because of its gentle and non-toxic nature, the fruity part of the nut, when crushed, surrenders a vegetable oil used in cooking, soap-making, skin and hair care. Commonly used in the treatment of eczema, rashes and severely dry skin, it also provides natural protection against damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun.

I've spent a lot of money on natural bar soaps that have disappointing lather. What makes yours different?
The oils used in the handmade soap we sell are carefully chosen by the soap maker (In The Potters's Hand Inc.) for the character they impart to the final soap. Coconut oil generates big bubbly lather, creates lots of glycerin, and is very stable. Olive oil has natural antioxidants and renders a creamier lather.

What is meant by Fragrance Free?
There are absolutely no synthetic (chemically-produced) perfumes, unlike unscented products which could still contain fragrance chemicals. Manufacturers often add masking chemicals to cover the scent of other chemicals. The result is a toxic product that you can't detect with your nose.

Compatible with the Feingold® Program
Gluten-Free Savonnerie products have been reviewed and accepted as compatible with the Feingold® Program. The Riverhead, New York based Feingold Association, founded in 1976, is dedicated to helping families of children with learning and behavioral problems, as well as chemically sensitive adults. The association offers a dietary program developed by the late Benjamin Feingold, M.D., Chief of Allergy at the San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, which eliminates certain synthetic additives and foods shown to trigger hyperactivity, attention deficits, and other health problems. For more information about the Feingold® Program please visit: http://www.feingold.org/