Yes - We make it with Sodium Hydroxide!
We had a question this week from Rina asking how we can call our soap "Natural" when we use Sodium Hydroxide to make it.
What a great question ...so we thought we'd share the answer with you all.
The Origin of Natural Soap
Nature combining fire, water and earth's minerals
It is thought that the first soaps were created when rain flooded cold cooking fires. The rain soaked though the ashes turning the water into a strong alkali...(for the technically minded this would usually be a combination of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide)...which in turn converted any residual cooking fat in the ash into soap.
Voila - a very rough form of soap was created.
Cold Process Soap Making
At Moon Haven we make our skin nurturing Natural Cold Process Soap in a similar but more refined fashion.
Mixing Oils and Alkali
Just like the first soaps...cold process soap making involves mixing natural botanical oils and fats ( eg olive, coconut oil etc) with salt water derived sodium hydroxide (a strong alkali) and water to start a chemical reaction called "saponification."
Saponification turns Oil into Soap
Saponification turns the oils and fats into soap (also called a sodium salt of the oil it is derived from) , glycerin and heat!
The oils, fats, and other additives like essential oils and herbs used in this process are natural, coming directly from plants or animals. Sodium hydroxide itself is a strong alkali/ base and is crucial for soap making. It helps break the strong bonds of the oils (long chain fatty acids for the technical minded) so that it can recombine to make soap.
What is Sodium Hydroxide?
Sodium Hydroxide is derived from natural sources. Historically it was produced from the ashes of hardwood trees.
Today, it's mainly made through the electrolysis of salt water, a process that uses salt (a natural mineral) and water.
In the final soap product, the sodium hydroxide has been completely used up in the soap making process - it is the necessary catalyst that makes oils into soap.
Natural Cold Process Soap
For these reasons...and more ... Cold Process Soapmaking is considered the only 'natural' soap making process. It is accepted as "Natural" by the international organic certification organisations...and that is good enough for us!😀
This article was written by Moon Haven’s aromatherapist and founder Leonie Gully and as such represents her personal opinion on the given subject.
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Leonie Gully- Moon Haven's Aromatherapist
While any advice provided is general in nature, it is not intended to replace medical diagnosis or treatment. If you are at all concerned about your condition, it is important that you do consult your medical practitioner of choice for an individual consultation and treatment plan.
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Please note: Information in this article and on the moonhaven.com.au website represents the opinion of the author and as such is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.
Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
