About this Product
This handcrafted soap combines the best of both worlds with a luxurious blend of traditional tallow and luxurious vegan oils, offering a creamy, balanced lather. Unscented and free of artificial additives, it's ideal for sensitive skin or anyone seeking a pure, natural experience. The soap’s visual appeal is elevated by a dramatic design, created with mineral-rich Brazilian clays. With its harmonious combination of tallow, plant-based oils, and clay, this soap provides an indulgent, gentle cleanse while maintaining a minimalist and eco-conscious approach to bathing.
***Please see other listings for full sized bars of this soap
CCE Handmade
Meet the Maker
Hello and welcome! I am a married mom of four grown children who have scattered around the world. As a science and art enthusiast who once loved to bake, after my husband's diabetes diagnosis, I turned to other creative outlets like sewing, quilting, crochet, and DIY projects. I stumbled upon a soap-making video quite by accident (I call it a God-wink) that sparked my curiosity. Soap making is an amazing craft which blends chemistry with artistry.
However, I really wanted to make a product that had only natural ingredients. I took a therapeutic aromatherapy certification course over 20 years ago and knew how to mix essential oils safely so that part was easy (I pay strict attention to proper usage rates). After experimenting with multiple different oils and butters to see (not just read about) what they do in the process of making soap but also in the performance after curing, I settled on a few that I dearly love. But what about lye? Lye is absolutely necessary to make soap. Soap is not a beauty bar or a body wash. It is a cleanser first and foremost. It can have different properties based on added ingredients, of course, but cannot be soap without lye. This is where the chemistry comes in. After oils and butters are mixed with hydrated lye, they go through a process called saponification. This is what makes soap and uses all the lye in the reaction. There are no dangerous, unnatural or caustic substances in my finished soaps. Of course, please purchase responsibly and read the labels to verify that you do not have an allergy or sensitivity to any of the ingredients or their relatives/cross-allergens.
After extensive research, taking a class, and testing countless batches on willing friends and family (despite having another full time career), CCE Handmade, LLC was launched in early 2024. I participate in a few local craft fairs and artisan shows and make one exclusive soap for a local hair salon. Other sales have been by word of mouth. Friends and family who live out of state, though, really wanted a way to support my company by being able to order online. After searching for what I think will prove to be a great fit for my business, loving the fact that GoImagine gives back to children's' charities, I am so excited to have an online store. And as an advocate for women's health, 10% of my profits will go to ovarian cancer research.
How it’s Made
Listing is for a single bar of UNSCENTED handcrafted and handmade cold process natural vegan oil soap.
Ingredients that go into the pot: Olive oil, beef tallow, water, coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, mango seed butter, palm kernel oil, avocado oil, castor oil, citric acid, purple Brazilian clay, black Brazilian clay, alkanet root.
Weight: approximately 6.2oz, 176gm. Why "approximately?" This is a handmade product and as such, there will be some variations in each bar. I weigh the entire batch and use the lowest weight bar as the documented weight. The soaps are weighed after they are completely cured (6 weeks at a minimum), but might have further evaporation of water the longer they sit.
Shop Policies
SHIPPING: Free shipping over $50. $5 flat rate shipping under $50.
Processing Time: Orders are shipped on the Wednesday or Saturday following order placement. If you order on Wednesday through Friday, your order will ship Saturday. If you order on Saturday through Tuesday, the order will ship Wednesday (of course, if there is a government holiday, please plan accordingly). Please reach out if you have any questions about shipping/processing time.
Return Policy: Shop does NOT accept returns on any personal care product. Refunds are at the discretion of the shop owner.
Care Instructions: If you have never used handmade soap, you are in for a real treat. However, there are some things you should know to make sure you can enjoy your soap for as long as possible.
Store unused soap in a dry, cool well ventilated location out of sunlight. Natural soap will sweat and melt in high heat/humidity. Natural colors will fade (and sometimes change into other colors) over time. Essential oils will also fade over time. Ironically, often natural soap improves in consistency and character over time.
When a bar is in use, keep it on a well draining soap dish between uses. The more exposure it has to water and friction, the faster it will dissolve. If left sitting in pools of water, it will get soggy.
Using a washcloth, bath glove or loofa to load the soap before washing can also help to extend the life of the bar as it will not be submerged in the water.
FAQ's:
What ingredients are in your soap? I use only excellent quality plant oils and butters to make my vegan soaps. My current stock of oils includes coconut, castor, avocado, responsibly sourced and ethically obtained palm oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, mango seed butter, kokum butter and shea butter. I have used rice bran oil in the past and a few of my soaps do contain this as well (see listed ingredients). I have also started making soaps with beef tallow, purchased through cruelty free ethical sources. These are not yet offered for purchase. For colorants, I use clays, activated charcoal, spices (turmeric, cardamom, paprika), indigo powder, annatto seed, himalayan rhubarb, hibiscus tea, chai, madder root, spirulina powder, butterfly pea flower (which usually turns brown so this is a rare ingredient), cocoa powder, calamine clay, himalayan pink salt, sea salt and am still experimenting to find other colorants that are beautiful, skin loving and stable. All scents are a customized blend that I have curated myself. A couple have one or two oils in them, but most of them are scents you are not likely to find elsewhere.
Can you do a custom order? Yes! I love the challenge of a custom order. However, I do not use titanium dioxide, micas or fragrance oils so there are limits to what a completely natural soap can smell like or what colors it can be. For example, fruit scents (like apple, cherry, watermelon) are just not possible with essential oils. A very white soap would be difficult with oils that are not generally white. I have been working on teal for a year and not yet been successful, but I do love the challenge. If you have an idea and want to run it by me, I am totally open to that discussion! A custom order requires payment for an entire loaf (which would be 8, 17, or more bars depending on the size/shape of bars you are looking for). Custom orders will take a minimum of 8 weeks as I would need to develop the recipe, make the soap and allow it to cure.
How long do you cure your soap? None of my soaps are sold until they have been cured for at least 6 weeks. Ever.
Why is the weight on the label "approximated"? Every bar is handmade and hand cut and hand beveled. In that, there are variations. I weigh every bar in the loaf and use the lowest weight bar as the approximate weight. I weigh them at week 4-6. In time, however, the weight can decrease as more and more water is evaporated.
Why does the bar I received not look exactly like the one in the photo? Each bar is made with love and the idea that it is art. There are going to be differences in any bar that has a swirl or feather or other design. Some differences will be very subtle. Others will be more apparent. That is part of the charm and beauty. When possible, I will post photos of the entire batch so you can see the variations, but it is not possible to choose which bar is sent. In fact, I wrap them all at once when they are cured so even I do not know which one is sent. Call it intuitive picking. The single color bars are generally much more uniform. Also, I will never send you a bar that has a completely different color scheme than what is listed (for example, himalayan rhubarb sometimes fades and if that happens, that will be shown on the photo - but I cannot determine what might happen after purchased, if left for long periods of time not being used, if left in sunlight, if left in high humidity areas or warm temperatures).
Are your soaps allergen free? I do not claim to make anything without any allergens. If you have allergies, know that what is on the label is all that will be in that soap. However, all my soaps are made with the same equipment and so I would ask that you read the ingredient list and ask me if you have any questions regarding allergies prior to purchase. In no way do I ever want one of my soaps to cause harm and I will be completely honest with you.
Can I use these soaps on children? There are a couple soaps that I feel comfortable and confident in saying it can be used on people age 2 and over as long as they will not eat it or rub it in their eyes. The pH of natural soap is alkali (all natural soap has a high pH). This can sting eyes, open wounds and is not meant to be ingested. Please reach out if you have questions.
Can I use this soap on hair or genitals? I would NOT recommend using it on hair. Hair requires a lower pH so a syndet bar formulated specifically for hair is recommended. As for genitals, there is a lot of information out there. I use my soap everywhere except my hair (including my face) and do not have an issue. I have literally used every single soap I make on every single part of my body (even my hair......so, ya, I would not recommend that). I have not ever had an issue on skin. That being said, if you have sensitive skin, try it in a small area in sensitive areas to see how your skin reacts to it. You can also talk to your dermatologist or medical provider for their recommendations.
Is your soap good for treating any skin issues? I make no claims as to the qualities of my soaps except to say that they will get your clean and they smell nice. The rest, I will let you research the amazing ingredients and decide for yourself after you use them ;).
I make excellent soap and I truly hope that each and every person who makes the choice to try it feels the same. If not, I definitely want to hear about it. If there are other questions you have, please send me a message and I will address them personally.
