Soap FAQ ~ Mystic Water Soap

Soap FAQ

How to Choose a Soap

I suggest using a few different kinds and deciding for yourself which is right for you. There are samplers for trying various facial soaps, bath soap or men's soap. I have them divided into categories here (some of them fall into more than one category) so you can find a particular ingredient or scent more easily. There is also an alphabetical list for those who know the name of the soap they are looking for and want to do their shopping quickly.

Please note: I use natural colorants - clays, oxides, ultramarines, and herbs to color my soap. Some of the darker colored soaps, especially those containing red clay, activated charcoal, or large amounts of vanilla may stain your wash cloth. This includes, but may not be limited to, Marrakesh, Sandalwood, Black Goat, Dragon's Lair, Ethiopian Coffee, and Frankincense & Myrrh. If this is a concern, please contact me by email before placing your order.

What size are your soaps?

My soap bars are cut by hand in a chunky 4.5 oz block shape, a comfortable size to hold in one hand while you apply it to a washcloth or nylon bath puff. If you want a smaller bar you can easily cut it in half or thirds. My customers will tell you that they are surprisingly long-lasting.

Are your soaps vegan?

Most of my soaps are vegan or vegetarian. There are a few that are not because they contain either goat milk, honey, or silk. I always list all ingredients on the product label.

Is your soap glycerin soap?

Mystic Water Soap is made the old-fashioned way using superior ingredients like olive and other vegetable oils, shea butter, goat or coconut milk, honey, herbs, plant essential oils and quality fragrances. And yes, it does contain glycerin, because whenever you make soap, glycerin is produced as a natural by-product of the chemical reaction between oils and lye. What most people call glycerin soap is actually a prepared detergent or soap base clarified with alcohol and sugar. That kind of soap is also known as "melt & pour" soap because the artisan can melt it, scent it, and pour it into molds. Some of it can mimic traditional soap and it can be very artistic. I use melt & pour only for making my transparent Goldfish, Frog and Turtle children's soaps and luffa hand soaps.

I’ve heard that lye is bad for you. Is there lye in your soap?

Without lye, oils cannot become soap and glycerin is just a sticky liquid. All real soap is made with lye. The two types of lye that are commonly used are sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Hard soaps are made with sodium hydroxide, while liquid soaps are made with potassium hydroxide. Cream soaps and soft soaps are made with a combination of both. Even melt and pour “glycerin soaps” are made with lye at their origin. But there is no lye left over in the finished soap: the oil and lye have been completely transformed into pure soap and moisturizing glycerin.

What is the difference between essential oil and fragrance oil?

Essential oils are derived from plant sources and are concentrated extracts that are usually steam distilled or pressed from some part of the plant: leaves, flowers, peels, roots, etc. Synthetic fragrance oils are created in laboratories to mimic natural oils, but also to create scents that cannot be extracted from plants: violet, melon, strawberry and others (not to mention bubble gum!) are always fragrances and not natural essential oils. When I use essential oils they will be listed on the label by their Latin botanical name and common name, if it is a synthetic it will say "fragrance".

Is your soap organic?

No, if I used exclusively organic oils I would not be able to price my products competitively. I use organic herbs, shea butter, goat milk and other selected organic ingredients for particular products. But all of my soaps are made with food-grade oils and are genuine made-from-scratch cold process soaps.

Mystic Water Soap™
4716 Riverdale Rd.
Riverdale Park, MD 20737
Tel: 240-828-5833
Email: [email protected]
This site for men: https://www.mystic4men.com
General website: https://www.mysticwatersoap.com

None of my products are intended for the treatment of any medical condition. Please read labels carefully to avoid any known allergens and discontinue use immediately if any irritation occurs.