Formulating Your Ideal Bar

When you pick up a handmade bar of soap, you’re holding more than just a cleanser — you’re holding a carefully balanced formula. At Bar Soap Co., every bar begins with one simple question: how will each oil contribute to the final experience of the soap?

Soapmaking is both art and chemistry. Each oil brings a unique fatty acid profile to the blend, and those fatty acids directly influence how a bar feels, performs, and lasts.

Why Fatty Acids Matter

Oils are not interchangeable. Even when two oils feel similar in liquid form, their fatty acid chains behave very differently once saponified. Some fatty acids contribute to hardness and longevity, others support creaminess and conditioning, and still others enhance cleansing and lather structure.

A thoughtfully formulated bar considers how these fatty acids work together — not in isolation, but as a system.

Building Balance Through Multiple Oils

At Bar Soap Co., every soap contains no fewer than four carefully selected oils. This intentional layering allows each bar to achieve balance:

• Oils that support hardness and longevity, helping the bar hold its shape and last through many uses.

• Oils that contribute conditioning and a smooth feel, creating a comfortable cleanse without feeling stripped. I love cocoa butter for this!

• Oils that enhance lather quality, producing bubbles that feel rich rather and creamy than harsh and stripping.

By blending multiple oils, the finished soap benefits from the strengths of each — creating a bar that performs consistently from the first use to the very last sliver.

Long-Lasting, Moisture-Rich by Design

A well-formulated soap isn’t about excess. It’s about proportion. Too much of any single oil can throw off the balance, leading to a bar that dissolves quickly, feels brittle, or lacks character.

Using multiple oils in intentional ratios allows for soaps that are:

• Long-lasting in the shower and at the sink

• Moisture-rich without feeling heavy or waxy

• Well-rounded in both function and feel

This approach ensures every bar reflects the care and attention that goes into its formulation.

Crafting Soap with Purpose

Formulating the perfect bar is never accidental. It’s a process of understanding ingredients, respecting their individual qualities, and blending them with purpose. That philosophy guides every batch that I make here at Bar Soap Co.

From the oils chosen to the final cured bar, each soap is designed to deliver a thoughtful, personal and luxurious experience. I want you to feel the time and energy spent in crafting each recipe, each design, each bar.