Why Does Handmade Soap Feel Different?

 

 

If you're used to commercial body wash, handmade soap can feel a little different the first time you use it.

And that's okay.

It's still soap.

The biggest difference is usually the feel.

Handmade bar soap tends to have a different lather than bottled body wash. It might be creamier, less foamy, or just feel different on your skin.

That doesn't mean one is automatically better.

They're just different products.

The Ingredients Matter

Handmade soap is made from a specific recipe of oils, fats, liquids, and other ingredients.

The recipe determines a lot about the finished bar—how hard it is, how it lathers, how it feels, and how long it lasts.

That's one reason different handmade soaps can feel completely different from each other.

And Every Bar Isn't Perfectly Identical

That's part of the fun.

Small-batch soap can have slight differences in color, texture, or shape from one batch to another.

It's handmade.

We're not trying to make every bar look like it came out of the same machine.

So Is Handmade Soap Better?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

If you love your body wash, keep using it.

We're not here to tell you your shower routine is wrong.

But if you've never tried a handmade bar before, it's worth giving one a shot.

At Mojave North Star Co., we make our soap in small batches using our hot-process method and straightforward ingredients.

No big sales pitch.

Just a good bar of soap.

And sometimes that's all you really need.

 

https://etsy.me/4g38zHt 

 

What Makes a Good Bar of Soap?

There are a lot of ways to make soap.

There are also a lot of ways to make soap look impressive.

Big swirls. Fancy colors. Complicated scents. Bars that look more like dessert than something you wash your hands with.

None of that necessarily makes it a good bar of soap.

For me, a good bar is a lot simpler than that.

It should clean well, feel good to use, and hold up long enough that you're not watching it disappear down the drain after a handful of showers.

It Should Actually Clean You

Seems obvious, right?

That's the whole reason we're using soap in the first place.

A good bar should leave your skin feeling clean without making the process unpleasant. You shouldn't need a complicated routine or a pile of different products to get there.

Soap has been doing this job for a very long time. It doesn't need to be reinvented every five minutes.

It Should Feel Good on Your Skin

This is where personal preference starts to matter.

Some people like a bar that feels very creamy. Others prefer something that feels a little more cleansing. Some want a noticeable scent, while others would rather have unscented soap.

There's no single "perfect" bar for everybody.

That's one reason we keep several options around at Mojave North Star Co. Our unscented bar isn't going to appeal to everyone, and neither is pine or lavender.

That's okay.

The point is finding the bar you actually enjoy using.

It Should Last

A good bar shouldn't vanish because it got a little wet.

This is partly about how the soap is made, but it's also about what happens after you use it.

If you leave a bar sitting in a puddle of water every day, it's going to get soft. That's true regardless of how good the soap is.

Give it a place where the water can drain away and let it dry between uses.

Your soap doesn't need much more than that.

Simple Ingredients Are Nice

There's something to be said for knowing what's actually in the thing you're using.

Our bar soaps are made with straightforward ingredients, rather than trying to turn a bar of soap into a chemistry experiment.

That doesn't mean every ingredient with a complicated name is automatically bad. Chemistry is chemistry, and plenty of perfectly useful ingredients have names that look like they belong in a spelling bee.

But I like knowing what I'm making and why I'm putting it in the recipe.

It Doesn't Need to Be Fancy

This is probably the biggest thing.

A good bar of soap doesn't need to be fancy.

It doesn't need elaborate packaging sitting on your bathroom counter. It doesn't need twenty ingredients. It doesn't need to make promises about completely transforming your life.

It's soap.

Make a good bar. Use good ingredients. Give it a scent people actually want to smell, if you're adding fragrance. Make sure it holds up to everyday use.

Then let people get on with their day.

That's pretty much what we're trying to do at Mojave North Star Co.

Make good soap. Keep it simple. Don't overcomplicate something that already works.

And honestly, that's a pretty good standard for a lot of things.

 https://etsy.me/4g38zHt 

Simple Bathroom Organization With Less Plastic

 

Our bathrooms have a funny way of collecting bottles.

Shampoo. Conditioner. Body wash. Face wash. Hand soap. Shaving cream. Something that promises to make your hair shinier. Something else that apparently makes your skin happier.

Before you know it, the shower looks like a small retail display.

And while I'm not suggesting you throw everything in your bathroom into the trash, there are some pretty easy ways to simplify things—and cut down on the amount of plastic sitting around at the same time.

Start With What You Actually Use

The easiest place to start is probably the most obvious:

Look at what you have.

How many bottles are sitting in your shower right now?

How many are actually being used?

If you have three half-used bottles of basically the same thing, finishing those before buying another one is an easy win.

You don't have to completely overhaul your bathroom. Just stop adding to the pile.

Give Bar Soap a Chance

One of the simplest ways to reduce plastic packaging in the bathroom is to replace a bottled product with a bar where it makes sense.

Bar soap doesn't need a plastic bottle.

It doesn't need a pump.

It doesn't need a complicated package with seventeen words on the label telling you how "refreshing" it is.

It's just a bar of soap.

And when you're finished with it, there's no empty plastic bottle left behind.

Keep Your Soap Dry

If you're going to switch to bar soap, there's one thing worth getting right:

Let it dry.

A draining soap dish or soap saver keeps your bar from sitting in water and helps it last longer.

This also keeps the bathroom counter looking cleaner. A bar sitting in a puddle of soap isn't exactly an upgrade to your bathroom organization plan.

A little drainage goes a long way.

Simplify the Counter

Bathroom counters seem to attract clutter.

If something doesn't get used every day, consider putting it away.

A small basket, drawer, or cabinet can make a surprisingly big difference.

Keep the things you actually use regularly within reach and move everything else out of the way.

You don't need an Instagram-perfect bathroom.

You just need one where you can find your toothbrush.

Reuse What You Already Have

Reducing plastic doesn't mean replacing everything you own with expensive "eco-friendly" versions.

In fact, buying a bunch of new stuff to replace perfectly usable stuff isn't necessarily helpful.

Use what you already have.

Reuse containers when they're appropriate.

Finish the products you've already purchased.

Then, when something needs replacing, look for an option that creates less waste.

That's a much more practical approach.

Look at the Little Things

There are plenty of small changes that can add up over time.

Depending on what you use, you might consider:

• Bar soap instead of bottled body wash

• A refillable container instead of buying another disposable bottle

• A reusable razor instead of disposable cartridges

• Reusable washcloths instead of disposable wipes

• A simple soap dish instead of a plastic bottle with a pump

You don't have to do all of these.

Pick the ones that actually make sense for you.

Less Plastic Doesn't Have to Mean More Complicated

I think that's the biggest thing.

Sometimes "sustainable" gets presented as a lifestyle that requires buying a whole new set of products.

I'm not particularly interested in that.

I'd rather make small changes that actually stick.

Use what you have. Buy less. Choose products that don't need unnecessary packaging when practical. Take care of the things you own so they last.

That's a pretty good place to start.

And sometimes that means something as simple as replacing one plastic bottle with a bar of soap.

A Simpler Bathroom

You don't need a completely plastic-free bathroom to make a difference.

Start with one thing.

Maybe that's your hand soap. Maybe it's your body soap. Maybe it's simply getting rid of the collection of half-empty bottles you've been moving around for the last six months.

Small changes count.

At Mojave North Star Co., our handmade bar soaps are one simple way to cut a plastic bottle out of your bathroom routine.

Less clutter. Less packaging. Just a good bar of soap.

https://etsy.me/4yJhOE4

 

Simple Bathroom Organization With Less Plastic

Our bathrooms have a funny way of collecting bottles.

Shampoo. Conditioner. Body wash. Face wash. Hand soap. Shaving cream. Something that promises to make your hair shinier. Something else that apparently makes your skin happier.

Before you know it, the shower looks like a small retail display.

And while I'm not suggesting you throw everything in your bathroom into the trash, there are some pretty easy ways to simplify things—and cut down on the amount of plastic sitting around at the same time.

Start With What You Actually Use

The easiest place to start is probably the most obvious:

Look at what you have.

How many bottles are sitting in your shower right now?

How many are actually being used?

If you have three half-used bottles of basically the same thing, finishing those before buying another one is an easy win.

You don't have to completely overhaul your bathroom. Just stop adding to the pile.

Give Bar Soap a Chance

One of the simplest ways to reduce plastic packaging in the bathroom is to replace a bottled product with a bar where it makes sense.

Bar soap doesn't need a plastic bottle.

It doesn't need a pump.

It doesn't need a complicated package with seventeen words on the label telling you how "refreshing" it is.

It's just a bar of soap.

And when you're finished with it, there's no empty plastic bottle left behind.

Keep Your Soap Dry

If you're going to switch to bar soap, there's one thing worth getting right:

Let it dry.

A draining soap dish or soap saver keeps your bar from sitting in water and helps it last longer.

This also keeps the bathroom counter looking cleaner. A bar sitting in a puddle of soap isn't exactly an upgrade to your bathroom organization plan.

A little drainage goes a long way.

Simplify the Counter

Bathroom counters seem to attract clutter.

If something doesn't get used every day, consider putting it away.

A small basket, drawer, or cabinet can make a surprisingly big difference.

Keep the things you actually use regularly within reach and move everything else out of the way.

You don't need an Instagram-perfect bathroom.

You just need one where you can find your toothbrush.

Reuse What You Already Have

Reducing plastic doesn't mean replacing everything you own with expensive "eco-friendly" versions.

In fact, buying a bunch of new stuff to replace perfectly usable stuff isn't necessarily helpful.

Use what you already have.

Reuse containers when they're appropriate.

Finish the products you've already purchased.

Then, when something needs replacing, look for an option that creates less waste.

That's a much more practical approach.

Look at the Little Things

There are plenty of small changes that can add up over time.

Depending on what you use, you might consider:

• Bar soap instead of bottled body wash

• A refillable container instead of buying another disposable bottle

• A reusable razor instead of disposable cartridges

• Reusable washcloths instead of disposable wipes

• A simple soap dish instead of a plastic bottle with a pump

You don't have to do all of these.

Pick the ones that actually make sense for you.

Less Plastic Doesn't Have to Mean More Complicated

I think that's the biggest thing.

Sometimes "sustainable" gets presented as a lifestyle that requires buying a whole new set of products.

I'm not particularly interested in that.

I'd rather make small changes that actually stick.

Use what you have. Buy less. Choose products that don't need unnecessary packaging when practical. Take care of the things you own so they last.

That's a pretty good place to start.

And sometimes that means something as simple as replacing one plastic bottle with a bar of soap.

A Simpler Bathroom

You don't need a completely plastic-free bathroom to make a difference.

Start with one thing.

Maybe that's your hand soap. Maybe it's your body soap. Maybe it's simply getting rid of the collection of half-empty bottles you've been moving around for the last six months.

Small changes count.

At Mojave North Star Co., our handmade bar soaps are one simple way to cut a plastic bottle out of your bathroom routine.

Less clutter. Less packaging. Just a good bar of soap.

[Shop Mojave North Star Co.]

Choosing a Soap Dish

 

A soap dish probably isn't something you spend a lot of time thinking about.

You buy one, put your soap on it, and that's the end of the story.

Except there's a small problem: some soap dishes are terrible at being soap dishes.

If your bar is sitting in a puddle of water every time you use it, it's going to get soft. And once the bottom of your bar turns into a mushy mess, you're basically watching your soap slowly disappear down the drain.

The good news is that you don't need anything fancy to prevent that.

The Most Important Thing: Drainage

Here's the big secret to a good soap dish:

Don't let your soap sit in water.

That's really the whole game.

Look for a dish that lets water drain away from the bar. Holes, slots, raised ridges, slats—there are plenty of ways to accomplish it.

The design doesn't matter nearly as much as the result.

Your soap should be able to drain, breathe, and dry out.

Bamboo Soap Dishes

I have a soft spot for bamboo soap dishes.

They look good, they're simple, and they fit nicely with the whole "let's use fewer plastic bottles" idea behind bar soap.

But don't buy a bamboo dish just because it's bamboo.

Look at how it's built.

If the soap sits flat against a solid piece of bamboo with nowhere for the water to go, you've really just bought a tiny wooden bathtub for your soap.

Look for one with slats or channels that let water escape.

And remember that the dish itself needs to dry out, too. Bamboo isn't magic. If it stays wet constantly, it's going to eventually show it.

Soap Savers

A soap saver is another simple solution.

Instead of replacing your entire soap dish, you can put a small draining insert underneath the bar. It keeps the soap elevated and gives the water somewhere to go.

They're particularly handy if you already like the soap dish you have.

No need to reinvent the bathroom.

Wall-Mounted Soap Holders

If you're short on counter space, getting the soap off the counter altogether can make a lot of sense.

A wall-mounted holder keeps the bar out of standing water and gives it plenty of opportunity to dry.

They're also nice for smaller bathrooms where every inch of counter space seems to disappear.

Just make sure the holder isn't sitting directly in the path of the shower.

There's no soap dish in the world that's going to save your bar if the showerhead is blasting it every morning.

What About Those Flat Soap Dishes?

They can work.

But I'd be a little picky.

A completely flat dish gives water nowhere to go if it gets trapped underneath the bar. That means the bottom of your soap can stay wet for hours.

If you like the look of a flat dish, look for one with raised ridges or grooves.

Even a little bit of separation between the soap and the surface can make a big difference.

Where You Put It Matters

The best soap dish in the world won't help if you put it in the wrong spot.

Try to keep your soap:

• Out of the direct shower spray

• Away from a faucet that splashes constantly

• Somewhere water can drain

• Somewhere air can get around it

And if your bathroom gets particularly humid, giving the bar some extra room to breathe is even more helpful.

So What Should You Buy?

Honestly?

Whatever you like—as long as it drains.

You don't need a $40 designer soap holder.

You don't need some complicated soap-storage contraption.

A simple bamboo dish with good drainage can work great. So can a basic plastic or ceramic dish with holes. A soap saver can work great, too.

The important part is keeping your bar from sitting in water.

A Bar of Soap Is Not a Houseplant

It doesn't need to live in a puddle.

Give it a place to drain, let it dry between uses, and you'll get considerably more use out of your bar.

That's good for your wallet, good for your soap, and—if you're trying to cut down on disposable bottles—good for the whole reason you bought a bar in the first place.

Mojave North Star makes handmade bar soap, and we think a good bar deserves a place to dry properly.

Keep the bar dry. Let it last.

https://etsy.me/4yJhOE4

 

How to Keep Your Bar Soap Dry Between Uses

 

A good bar of soap doesn't need much to do its job. But there is one thing it does need:

A chance to dry out between uses.

Leaving a bar of soap sitting in a puddle of water can turn even a good bar into a soft, mushy mess. Fortunately, keeping your soap dry is pretty simple.

1. Let the Water Drain Away

The biggest thing you can do is keep your soap out of standing water.

A soap dish with drainage holes, slots, or a raised surface lets water escape instead of collecting underneath the bar.

If your soap dish doesn't drain, consider replacing it with one that does. Your soap will thank you.

2. Keep the Bar Raised

A bar sitting directly on a wet surface stays wet longer.

A raised soap dish, soap rack, or soap saver creates space underneath the bar so air can circulate and excess water can drain away.

This is especially helpful immediately after a shower, when both the soap and the surrounding area are wet.

3. Don't Store Your Soap in the Shower Spray

It sounds obvious, but it's easy to overlook.

If your soap sits directly underneath the showerhead, it's getting rinsed every time someone takes a shower.

Try placing it somewhere that stays relatively dry while the shower is running. A corner shelf or wall-mounted soap holder can work well.

4. Give the Bar a Little Room

If you have multiple bars of soap, avoid stacking them together while they're wet.

Give each bar its own space whenever possible. This helps them dry more quickly and keeps the bars from sticking together.

5. Rinse Off Excess Soap

After using your bar, a quick rinse can remove loose soap and residue from the surface.

Then place it somewhere that allows it to drain and dry.

You don't need to scrub the bar or do anything complicated. Just don't leave it sitting in a pool of water.

6. Let Your Soap Dry Before Storing It

If you're putting a bar away for travel or storage, let it dry completely first.

Wrapping up a wet bar traps moisture around the soap and can leave you with a soft, sticky bar the next time you open your bag.

For travel, a container with some ventilation or drainage is much better than sealing a dripping-wet bar inside an airtight container.

Why Does Keeping Soap Dry Matter?

Handmade soap naturally contains glycerin, which is produced during the soap-making process. Glycerin is one of the things that gives handmade soap some of its characteristic feel, but it also attracts water.

That means handmade soap can soften when it's repeatedly exposed to water.

This isn't necessarily a problem with the soap. It's simply one of the reasons proper storage makes such a difference.

A well-draining soap dish can help your bar last noticeably longer.

The Simple Rule

You don't need anything complicated.

Use your soap. Rinse it if needed. Let it drain. Let it dry.

That's really it.

A little airflow and drainage can go a long way toward keeping your bar in good shape between uses.

And if you're using a handmade bar, taking care of it means you get to enjoy it a little longer.

Looking for a place to keep your bar?

Mojave North Star offers handmade bar soaps along with simple accessories designed to make everyday soap use easier.

https://etsy.me/4yJhOE4