How Our Organic Handmade Soaps Are Made

Our organic handmade artisan soaps are made in the National Trust village of Lacock in England, using a traditional recipe and only the very finest organic ingredients. We make in small bespoke batches to ensure the oils stay vibrant. Each organic soap is lovingly hand decorated using pretty flowers and botanicals

Quintessentially English is a family run business working to traditional recipes and methods. Our Artisan products are made in carefully calculated batches. This means that we can control our process with high quality, pure ingredients and an attention to detail that enables the hand finishing of every bar.

As a family-run business, Quintessentially English is committed to traditional methods and careful craftsmanship. Every batch is calculated and controlled to ensure the highest quality and allows us to hand-finish each soap with attention to detail that larger manufacturers cannot match.

 

Cold Processed Soap

Our soaps are made using the cold process method, a time-honoured technique that transforms oils into soap naturally:

• Mixing: Pure vegetable oils and fats are combined with lye and water.
• Saponification: The chemical reaction converts the oils into soap and glycerin, creating a thicker, more stable mixture.
• Trace Stage: When the mixture reaches a thickened “trace” stage, it is poured into molds.
• Curing: Soap then hardens on our wooden drying racks for up to four weeks, producing a long-lasting, creamy bar.

Although called “cold process,” the reaction between lye, water, and oils generates gentle heat. Constant stirring ensures the mixture binds properly and retains all the natural oils.

How Our Soap Cleans and Cares for Your Skin

 

Soap works by acting as a bridge between water and dirt, allowing water to lift and wash away impurities. Our handmade soaps retain the natural glycerin produced during saponification, which draws moisture to the skin, leaving it soft and nourished.

Unlike most commercial soaps, we never remove glycerin, and our soaps are:

• SLS and SLES free
• Paraben free
• Naturally coloured with clays and vegetable extracts

The result is a luxurious, creamy soap that is gentle on your skin and environmentally friendly, crafted with care in every bar.