Yes, our soap is cold-process soap. This is the "old-fashioned" way of making soap.

We have adjusted our techniques as the business has grown to keep the handmade aspect of our soap-making process 100% intact for that "old world artisan" appeal.

In my opinion it is coconut oil. Whenever you check out different books and websites offering recipes for handcrafted soap you will find over 90% include coconut oil. This is where the lather attribute of your soap comes from. There are other minor players like castor oil, but coconut oil is the key. Another great quality of coconut oil is that it has a very mild pH level that is awesome for human skin.

Get your kids to help make some for gifts for friends. The recipe is very basic:

Start by mixing the following dry ingredients.

* Baking Soda - 8 ounces
* Citric Acid - 4 ounces
* Corn Starch - 4 ounces
* Sea Salt - 4 ounces

Then slowly add the following:

* Water - 3/4 tbsp
* Essential or Fragrance Oil - 2 tsp
* Oil - 2 1/2 tbsp (any light vegetable oil or olive oil)
* Food coloring (optional)

- If mixture starts to fizz, you are adding the liquid too quickly. Be sure to add slowly and mix thoroughly.

Mix ingredients well, then into molds to get different shapes. Remove from molds and allow to dry for a couple hours. Store in plastic bag or airtight container until ready to use.