Organic soap, superfatted, cold saponified... What are the differences?

Saponification is the chemical process of making solid soap. As an artisanal method, it can be performed either cold or hot. Saponification is the result of a chemical reaction between a basic ingredient such as caustic soda and oil.

The hot saponification process is adopted in the production of natural soap in large quantities. This is the method used to make Marseille soap or Aleppo soap. Despite its speed, this technique does not preserve the properties of the ingredients used in the soap making process.

Cold saponification, on the other hand, is a slower technique. The materials are processed at cold temperatures, that is, at a temperature below 30 °C, to preserve their properties.

Unlike industrial soaps, cold-process natural soaps contain vegetable glycerin. As a complete reaction, cold saponification only ends when one of the reactants, either the lye or the oil, is exhausted. To ensure there is no lye left in the soap, there must be an excess of oil. When all the lye is consumed, the saponification will stop. There will be unsaponified oil left in the resulting product. This is known as superfatted soap, which is appreciated for its nourishing and softening properties.

100% natural, superfatted soap is made from natural oils and/or vegetable butter. It is free from preservatives and synthetic fragrances. As this cleanser contains natural glycerine, it strengthens the hydrolipidic film and protects the skin from external aggressions thanks to its moisturising and emollient properties.

Cold process soaps are particularly recommended for the treatment of acne-prone skin. They have a gentle pH, which allows for the gentle cleansing of blemished skin without stripping it. This type of cleanser also offers the possibility of mitigating the effects of oily skin. It all depends on the ingredients that make them up. For example, super-fatted soaps made from jojoba oil have properties that regulate sebum production and nourish the skin. Cold process soaps can also be made up of several oils that have complementary properties to ensure the well-being of the skin.

Organic soap is also a product of the saponification process. However, it is distinguished by its constituent ingredients. Indeed, the oils added to the lye during cold saponification are extracted from plants sourced from organic farming.

Organic soap does not contain any chemical surfactants such as the foaming agent invented by the detergent industry, nor any mineral oils derived from petrochemicals, nor any anti-limescale agents. It is also a biodegradable cleanser that fits into the zero-waste concept. The strength of organic soap lies in its ability to neutralise the effects of skin dryness.

Cold saponification is a chemical process that yields a nourishing and hydrating organic superfatted soap for the skin. This type of soap is used particularly for daily use, but also for in-depth treatment of targeted issues. Everything depends on the ingredients that make it up.