Soap is made when fats and an alkali (Sodium Hydroxide/Lye) are mixed together. The chemical reaction between the two creates soap.

There are few 'true' soaps today, most commercially prepared soaps are actually not soap but detergent bars. Since these are based on synthetic substances to achieve lather and texture, they can be harsher, stripping the natural oils from the skin leaving it dry.

Commerical bars usually have the naturally occuring glycerin extracted and sold off, as pound for pound this is worth more than the soap. This is replaced with the cheaper fillers that can disrupt the skins gentle mantle.

Handmade soap retains all the natural glycerin. Glycerin is a natural moisturizer drawing moisture to the skin. It increases the lather and produces a milder soap that is far less drying.

Commercial soaps are less expensive precisely because they are made from less expensive, lower grade ingredients and are far less labor intensive as the majority of the process is undertaken extensively by machines.

Standard store bought soap recipes are comprised approximately 80% tallow (animal fat) and 20% coconut oil and added chemical sudsing agents. Handmade soap is made from an array of conditioning vegetables oils, which leads to a purer, richer, superior bar.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that "Some of these detergent products are actually marketed as "soap" but are not true soap in the common and legal definition of the word". Click here to view the full text of "Soap" and "All That Lathers Is Not Soap" from the FDA website.