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Pet Peeves of a Soap Maker (Said With Love… Mostly)

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a soap maker, pull up a chair and enjoy a little behind-the-scenes venting. As someone who’s been crafting handmade soap for years — long before it became the internet’s favorite hobby — I’ve collected a few pet peeves that make me laugh, groan, or facepalm while I’m pouring small batches of natural soap.

This is all in good fun… mostly. 😉

1. When COVID Turned Everyone Into a Soap Wizard

We all remember the pandemic era. Some people learned to bake sourdough. Some learned to knit. And then there were the overachievers who decided to take up soap making.

Overnight, it felt like half the world discovered lye, oils, and YouTube tutorials — and suddenly everyone was selling handmade bars like they were the solution to global peace.

Meanwhile, I’d been over here for years, covered in soap batter, quietly making my small batches of lovely soap.

2. The Great Handwashing Awakening

Maybe it wasn’t creativity — maybe everyone just realized that handwashing is actually… important. Wild concept.

So, naturally, the next logical step was, “I should make my own soap!” Then they think, I should start a business.

Look, I love enthusiasm. And I love that people care about natural soap now. But really does everyone have to sell soap?

3. Soap Will Not Fix Your Entire Life (Sorry, Sasquatch Fans)

Let’s all take a deep breath here.

Soap will not cure anxiety, repair your marriage, clear your taxes, or give you perfect skin, and inner peace...
I don’t care what the Sasquatch marketing departments tell you-

Soap will make you clean.
Soap will make you smell nice.
Soap may make you feel like a woodland lumberjack bathing under a waterfall.

But it will not solve all your problems. If it did, trust me, I’d be retired on a beach somewhere.

4. Everything Tallow, All the Time

I like a good tallow soap as much as the next person.
But somewhere along the way, tallow became the golden child of the soap world, like it descended from a cow-shaped cloud.

Here’s a secret:
Lard makes just as lovely a soap.
(Yes, I said it. Come at me.)

And honestly? Most of our recipes are cousins of each other. Soap makers tweak ratios, add a little this, a little that — but the basics haven’t changed since your great-grandma’s day. Soap makers all have their preferences, but our recipes? They’re not as wildly different as we pretend.

5. Handmade Soap Is Always Better

This isn’t a pet peeve — this is true:

Handmade soap is better than commercial detergent bars filled with detergents and ingredients you need a chemistry degree to pronounce..
Period. Full stop. Stamp it on a t-shirt.

Natural oils.
Real ingredients.
No mystery chemicals that sound like they belong in a spaceship.

Whether it’s my soap or the soap someone started making in their kitchen after watching tutorials — handmade is simply better for your skin.

Any handmade soap, whether it’s mine or your neighbor’s cousin’s pandemic hobby bar, is better than commercial soap

In the End… We’re All in the Suds Together

I poke fun, but I am glad that more people have discovered the joy of small batch soap making. There’s room for all of us — the long-timers, the dabblers, and the pandemic learners who accidentally turned their kitchen into a chemistry lab.

But please, does everyone have to sell it?! The market seems pretty flooded at the moment.

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The Craft of Quality Handmade Soap: What to Expect from my soap

First off, I like to think my soap is pretty good — but I haven’t tested every soap out there in the world. So, I won’t claim it’s the absolute best. First off, I want to state that that all handmade soap is better than any of those hard blocks of detergent that big companies sell as “soap.” All handmade soaps are going to have less chemicals and will be better for your skin.

When I make soap, I focus on a few things that are important to me — and hopefully, to you too:

1. **Size** – I prefer a bar that feels substantial in your hand. I used to make 3 oz bars, but I found them a bit too small. Now, I make bars between 4 and 5 ounces, so you get more soap to enjoy without it feeling bulky or awkward.

2. **Scent** – I like a nice, pleasant scent, but not overwhelming. Just enough to be noticeable without overpowering your senses.

3. **Color** – I aim for natural colors, avoiding artificial dyes like red or bright synthetic hues. I believe natural coloring makes the soap more appealing and true to its ingredients. Most of my colors come from herbs or micas.

4. **Durability** – Humid bathrooms can turn soap into a soggy mess. My soap is designed to be a hard bar that holds up well in moist conditions, so it lasts longer and stays effective.

5. **Feel on Skin** – My soap just feels nice on your skin. Once you try it you won’t want to go back to commercially made soap. It cleans well and leaves your skin feeling soft and fresh, not stripped or irritated.

I’ve recently started making larger bars because I wanted to give you more value and a longer-lasting soap. So now, you can expect a nice, generous bar that’s easy to hold and use.

While I don’t claim my soap will solve every problem in your life, I can say that it’s made with care, natural ingredients, and a focus on quality. It’s simple, effective, and free from unnecessary additives.

If you’re looking for a handmade soap that’s thoughtfully crafted, Lasts, feels good on your skin, and fits comfortably in your hand, I think you’ll find my soap to be a great option. Thanks for taking the time to learn a little about it — I appreciate your business and know you have a lot of choices out there.

Sarah