A Look inside the Inglenook Soap Barn
Handmade soap is one of those products people love to use, but few truly understand how it's made -- or why it takes time. At Inglenook & Co., soap making is a thoughtful, hands-on process that simply cannot be rushed without compromising quality.
We thought February was the perfect time to take you behind the scenes in our Soap Barn and share how our soaps are made, why curing matters, and why we now offer our soaps online through scheduled Soap Drops.
Our Cold-Process Soap-Making Method
All of our soaps are made using the cold-process method, which means each batch is created from scratch using oils, lye, and carefully selected ingredients. Every batch is made by hand in the Inglenook Soap Barn and produces approximately 60 bars of soap per batch.
Once a batch is poured, it sets into large slabs. Rich then uses wire cutters to cut the slabs into loaves and carefully slices each loaf into individual bars. This hands-on approach allows us to maintain consistency while honoring the natural variations that occur in handmade soap.
No two batches are ever exactly the same -- and that's part of the beauty of handcrafted soap.
Why Our Soap Needs Time to Cure
One of the most important -- and least understood -- parts of soap making is the curing process.
We use a lye reduction in our formulation that allows our soaps to fully cure in three weeks. During this time, excess moisture evaporates, the bars harden, and the soap becomes gentler, longer-lasting and more enjoyable to use.
Every soap we make cures for the same amount of time. This curing period is not optional -- it's essential. Even with modern tools and experiences, soap cannot be rushed without sacrificing performance and quality.
A Recipe Designed for Comfort & Longevity
When I originally formulated our soap recipe, my goal was simple: to create a bar that feels wonderful in your hands and lasts longer in your shower.
Our soaps are made with a house blend of oils chosen for their skin-loving qualities and creamy lather, including:
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Palm Oil
Shea Butter
Castor Oil
Safflower Oil
Avocado Oil
Kaolin Clay
Oatmeal
Goat's Milk
Distilled Water
Sodium Hydroxide (lye)
Our soaps are paraben-free, phthalate-free, detergent-free, and for those who ask -- we do not use soy in our soaps.
We use both fragrance oils and essential oils, and our designs are largely natural and unintentional. Swirls happen organically as the soap is poured, which means each bar has its own personality.
Truly Family-Run, from Start to Finish
Soap making at Inglenook is truly a family effort.
* Rich prepares all lye waters, master batches approximately 240 pounds of base oils, cuts every bar of soap, washes dishes, and helps with labeling.
* Sarah lines all soap molds, blends ingredients, separates batter for coloring, pours and swirls the soap, and helps label bars.
* I manage production scheduling, measure fragrance and essential oils, create soap coloring, assist throughout the process and help with labeling.
Every bar is made, cut, cured, and labeled by our family -- right here in the Soap Barn.
Why We Offer Scheduled Soap Drops
One of the questions we hear most often is why our soaps aren't always available online.
The simple answer is capacity.
We are limited in how much soap we can realistically produce at one time. Rather than keeping large quantities of soap home in hopes of online sales, we prioritize bringing soap to in-person events where there is a greater opportunity to sell and serve customers face-to-face.
Soap drops allow us to do both.
By scheduling designated Soap Drop periods, we can:
* Plan production responsibly
* Ensure adequate curing time
* Offer meaningful quantities online
* Serve our online guests without overextending our family-run operation
Soap Drops do not impact our in-person soap inventory -- they are simply a way for us to thoughtfully serve our online community during specific windows.
A Grateful Thank You
We are deeply grateful for our faithful soap customers and appreciate your patience and understanding. Our hope is that Soap Drops allow you to stock up, plan ahead, and continue enjoying Inglenook soaps throughout the year.
Thank you for supporting handmade, family-run craftsmanship. It truly means more than we can say.
Look Ahead
Our next Soap Drop is scheduled for March 20-31, and we'll be sharing more details soon.
Don't bathe without us!
Amy
for Inglenook & Co.