How we make it
Cold-process soap, cured the old way.
Cold-process soap is made by mixing oils and lye at room temperature and stirring to trace — no cooking. The bar finishes turning into soap in the mold, then cures for 6–8 weeks before it ships.
About this collection
Why we make cold-process soap.
During saponification, oils and lye become soap and natural glycerin. In cold-process soap, that glycerin stays in every bar.
Curing lets water evaporate, so the bar becomes firmer and the lather feels creamier. We cure every bar 6–8 weeks.
Every GHAM bar is cold-processed. Browse below; each product page lists its complete ingredients.
Common questions
Good to know.
- What is cold process soap?
- Soap made by combining oils and lye at room temperature, without cooking. It sets in the mold and then cures for several weeks.
- Is there lye in the finished bar?
- Lye is needed to make any true soap, but it's used up during saponification. A properly made and cured bar contains soap and glycerin, not free lye.
- Cold process vs. melt and pour — what's the difference?
- Melt and pour uses a premade base that is melted and reshaped. Cold-process soap is made from scratch from oils and lye, so the maker chooses every oil and butter.
- Why cure soap for 6–8 weeks?
- Curing lets water evaporate, giving a firmer bar that lasts longer in the shower and a creamier lather.
Related collections