Q. Is there any difference between handmade cold process soaps and commercial soaps?

Answer

There are two processes involved in soap making. They are a hot process and the other is a cold process. Commercial soaps are made with the use of a process called, “hot process technique”. Here the alkali and oils are heated together so as to form saponification- it is a process where the oils and alkali bind and the soap products and the glycerine separate. Handmade soaps are made by using a process which is called, “the cold process technique” where the oils are boiled just to reach the melting temperatures and then mixed with an alkali to cause saponification. After that, the mixture is poured into molds, cut and cooled down, and then cured for about 4 to 5 weeks.