Hand-Made Glycerine Soap

Pictured above: Bitty’s Oatmeal Bath Soap

What is the difference between Castile soap and glycerin soap?

Castile soap is a name used in English-speaking countries for soap made exclusively from vegetable oil, as opposed to animal fat. Examples of oils used in castile soaps include olive, coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba.

Glycerin Soaps are soaps that contain glycerin, a natural part of fat or oil. The soap-making process involves the rendering of fat or oil
with lye. In industrial soap-making, the glycerin is then usually removed. Home-made soaps usually contain glycerin, which is easy to
melt.

…So glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap-making process. The term “Glycerin Soap” is commonly used to refer to clear soap.
Generally, the clear soap has extra glycerin added to it to produce a very nourishing, moisturizing bar.

Glycerin is a “humectant.” It draws moisture to itself; the theory is that if you wash with glycerin soap, a thin layer of glycerin will
remain, drawing moisture to your skin.

Castile soap (including our own at a ph of 9 and Dr. Bronner’s at 9.5) has a very high alkalinity level, measured at about 9-10 pH. Skin
and hair has a slightly acidic pH level known to be about 5 to 6. Due to the high pH level, liquid castile soap is usually not recommended
for dry skin or psoriasis. However, for some people, Castile soap is the only soap their skin can tolerate.

Clear Glycerine Soap Ingredient Listing
• Saponified Coconut Oil
• Saponified Palm Oil
• Saponified Castor Oil
• Saponified Safflower Oil
• Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin)
• Purified Water
• Sodium Hydroxide (lye, a saponifying agent)
• Sorbitol (from berries, moisturizer)
• Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier)
• Soy bean protein (conditioner)
• Fragrance

White Glycerine Soap Ingredients
Same as above, but adds:
• Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener)