Frequently Asked Questions

1. What kinds of oils or fats do you use in your soaps?
2. Are those oils good for my skin?
3. Does your soap contain lye?
4. How long does it take to make a bar of soap?
5. Does handmade soap require any special care?
6. Why do you add sugar and tussah silk to most of your soaps?
7. Do you regularly carry unscented soaps?
8. What makes your line of baby soaps "baby-friendly"?
9. Do you plan to add any other products?
10. How much soap do I have to buy to have a custom batch created?
11. Are you ever going to carry candles?
12. Where are you located?

1. What kinds of oils or fats do you use in your soaps?

For the majority of my soaps, I use a blend of tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, canola oil, castor oil, lard, and soybean oil.  The Oatmeal, Goat's Milk, and Honey bar is an all vegetable bar made with palm oil, in addition to some of the oils above.

2.  Are those good for my skin?

Each oil lends its own qualities to the finished bar of soap.  And yes!  Handmade soap is good for your skin!

3.  Does your soap contain lye?

Good question!  Properly formulated soap does not contain lye.  However, lye is required to create soap.  You cannot make soap without lye.  Soap is the result of a chemical process called "saponification" - during which fats and oils are combined with a lye solution.  When saponification is complete, the result is soap and glycerine - no lye!

4.  How long does it take to make a bar of soap?

The actual hands-on process takes around 24 hours.  I spend approximately 90 minutes measuring ingredients, combining, and pouring into molds.  The following day, the soap is unmolded and cut into bars.  But the process doesn't end there!  Each bar must cure a minimum of 3 weeks prior to use.  The longer it has to cure, the longer lasting the bar will be.

5.  Does handmade soap require any special care?

With any kind of handmade soap, it is best to keep it out of sunlight and standing water.  Soap will soften and not last as long if left sitting in a wet place.  I recommend wooden soap dishes that allow water to drain away from the bar to extend the life of your soap.  It is also recommended that handmade soap not be stored against metal surfaces.  If soap is stored for a long period of time before use, some fragrances (and more rarely, colors) may fade.  This is normal and does not affect the soap's usability.

6.  Why do you add sugar and tussah silk to most of your soaps?

You may be surprised to hear that sugar actually helps the soap have a fluffy lather!  Tussah silk is raw silk fibers that add silk protein to the finished soap.  I like the way it makes the lather feel silky smooth.

7.  Do you regularly carry unscented soaps?

I do not add any kind of fragrance to the Oatmeal, Goat's Milk, & Honey soap.  The ingredients themselves lend a natural nutty aroma.  I also periodically have unscented, uncolored soap in stock. 

8.  What makes your line of baby soaps "baby-friendly"?

These soaps do not contain any fragrance oils or essential oils and are colored with completely natural items - calendula petals, bananas, carrots or other vegetables.

9.  Do you plan to add any other products?

I am in the midst of creating several different salves and balms.  In the near future, I will be adding soothing eye pillows, bath salts, body fragrances, and home fragrance items.  Look for these items when the site officially launches sometime this summer.

10.  How much soap do I have to buy to have a custom batch created?

The minimum order is 3 pounds.  This cuts into 10 bars.   You select the fragrance, color, and any additives/botanicals you'd like.   Pricing starts at $35 with no additives.

11.  Are you ever going to carry candles?

Eventually I plan to add at least one size of container candle.  In testing now.

12.  Where are you located?

You can reach me via e-mail or by writing to Southern Sundries, P.O. Box 143, Lincolnton, NC 28093-0143.

Do you have a question for me? 
Leave a comment on my blog or drop me an e-mail.