We hoped you'd ask! The major difference between our handmade from scratch bars and commercial bars is the glycerin content. Glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap making process called saponification. Commercial manufacturers remove it because it "gums" up the milling machines and because it is a valuable commodity that can be sold to the cosmetic and other industries. Real handmade soap makers do not remove the glycerin. Glycerin is a "humectant" which is a category of substances that attracts moisture. What this means to you is that soap with glycerin moisturizes your skin. Soap without glycerin dries it out. Glycerin creates the lovely, silky feel that people typically associate with bars made from scratch.

Olive oil offers a wealth of constituents that work together to enhance inner health and outward beauty, yielding exceptional results that are immediately visible.

Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, which possesses superior health and emollient benefits.

Olive oil offers small amounts of vitamin E, a key antioxidant for the skin.

Olive oil is rich in polyphenols: the same class of antioxidant compounds that make grapes, tea, red wine, and berries so healthful. Olive Oil also contains significant amounts of hydroxytyrosol (a rare, super-antioxidant, highly anti-inflammatory polyphenol that produces large benefits even in small concentrations:

♦ Hydroxytyrosol slows the aging process in the skin by stabilizing the cell plasma membrane.

♦ Hydroxytyrosol prevents the oxidation of keratin,the fibrous protein material of the skin, hair and nails

♦ Hydroxytyrosol makes the skin supple, hair soft, shiny and lustrous, and prevents nails from peeling and breaking.

Dry skin, eczema and psoriasis suffers can benefit from the moisturizing effects that olive oil has.

Which one should I try first?

Good question -- it's hard to buy scents over the internet. I can suggest that you pick a soap that reflects the natural scents you enjoy. That may be florals, citrus or outdoor / woodsy scents. All my scent formulas are smooth and never pungent, you are pretty safe with any choice given your preference for the 3 categories above. My best selling varieties are Lavender Mist (lavender EO),Ten Years Gone (rosewood EO) and Sandalwood Stream (sandalwood EO). Buy a few and what you might not prefer you can always give as a gift!

Will I like your soap?

We hope you'll take a chance and find out for yourself. A bar of Mountain Castille is about the same price as a fancy cup of coffee and it lasts a whole lot longer! Of course, we love our sudsy creations and it's all we use at home but we think it's mighty impressive that we get letters and e-mails from customers across the country after they've tried them. They tell us that they love the way their skin feels, the scents, the gentleness and/or how long the bar lasts. Our customers like supporting a cottage industry and appreciate a commercial / chemical free alternative in natural skin care.