Skruben Blog

Mar 20, 2011

Beeswax

More in-depth information about the ingredients that I use...this time, beeswax! Beeswax is a golden yellow wax produced in the beehive of honey bees (genus Apis). It’s made up mostly of the esters of fatty acids and is chemically very...

Mar 13, 2011

Shea Butter

Shea butter is an ivory colored natural fat that comes from the nut of the African Shea or Karite Tree (butyrospermum parkii). It’s high in un-saponifiables and is richly moisturizing. It’s also believed to have anti-inflammatory, humectant and emollient properties. The...

Nov 22, 2010

Tallow

When I first started making soap a number of years ago, all my bars contained a large percentage of tallow, which is rendered beef fat. It is an extremely hard, white substance that is so pure that it can be stored...

Feb 28, 2010

How are handcrafted soaps different from commercial soaps?

How are handcrafted soaps different from commercial soaps? The chemical process used to make soap is dictated by nature, but the ingredients and process used by large scale commercial soapmakers is very different from handcrafted (small scale) soapmaking. The...

Feb 27, 2010

What is Soap?

What is soap? Soap is simply the product that comes from mixing a mild acid (fats and oils) and a base (sodium hydroxide, also called lye) together. When combined, those two ingredients produce a basic salt (soap) and glycerin. This...