What is soap?
The Babylonians were making soap around 2800 B.C. The first tangible proofs of soap making are found in the history of ancient Rome. Pliny, the Roman historian, described soap being made from goat's tallow and "causticised" wood ashes. He also wrote of common salt being added to make the soap hard. The ruins at Pompeii revealed a soap factory complete with finished bars.

Soap is the oldest cleanser around; created by a chemical reaction between oils or fats, water and sodium hydroxide. Although sodium hydroxide is used to make soap there is no sodium hydroxide left after the saponification process (the chemical reaction that makes soap) is complete. There is no such thing as a bar of soap made without the use of sodium hydroxide. Different kinds of soap are made using a variety of different oils. Plant &/or animal oils can be used in the soap making process, however Bathgrrrl only uses vegetable oils & fats or beeswax. Each oil or fat has its own properties and benefits.

Most of the soap available in the shops today is not really soap at all, but a detergent. Detergents are a petroleum-based product with sodium tallowate (saponified beef fat). Companies use beef tallow for commercial soap because it processes quickly, produces a hard bar of soap, is inexpensive and plentiful. Have you ever noticed how commercial detergent soap leaves your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight? Alkali, the most common irritant in commercial soap is often the culprit. The other culprit is more a matter of what isn’t included in commercial soap; glycerine, a clear liquid that absorbs moisture, acting as a natural skin softener or emollient. Glycerine is a valuable & natural by-product of the soap-making process. Most commercial soap manufacturers extract the glycerine to sell as an ingredient to be used in higher priced products like lotions and skin creams.

Evidence abounds of the healing properties of a handmade bar of soap. Those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, as well as people that have sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic often find immediate relief by switching to handmade soap. Compared to store bought soap, handmade soap is very mild. They are often made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in conventional bar soap.

What makes Bathgrrrl soaps different?
Bathgrrrl soaps and products are locally made in a kitchen in Loughton, Essex by one woman committed to high quality skin care products not only for sale but for use on her friends and loved ones. All of the products are made in small batches to ensure the highest quality and care. We opt for fair trade and organic ingredients when they’re available. Instead of focusing on fancy packaging or marketing pretence, we focus our creative energy and money on the ingredients and the products themselves.

We work tirelessly on getting the recipes just right, although we always welcome feedback or suggestions. One of our best selling soaps was due to a customer request. We also believe an educated customer is a satisfied customer and will answer any questions regarding our products, ingredients and manufacturing processes.

Our entire line is not available on our website yet, however feel free to email us at bathgrrrl@yahoo.com if you find that you have run out before the next farmer’s market or are looking for the ideal gift for someone who could use a bit of pampering. We can also create custom gift baskets for all occasions with a variety of scents, ingredients and products.

We hope you enjoy our products as much as we enjoy making them and hope to see you again soon.