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We make our soap ourselves, by hand, using the traditional cold-process method. We combine oils and fats with sodium hydroxide (lye), which begins a chemical reaction called saponification and transforms those ingredients into soap.

Our standard bar soaps are currently made in batches of approximately 50 bars at a time. Each batch is mixed, poured, cut, cured, inspected, boxed and labeled by our family here on our property in Eastern Kentucky.

We don't purchase premade bars and put our label on them. Soapmaking is the heart of what we do, and we've been doing it for more than 20 years.

Lye is necessary to make real soap. Without lye, you cannot turn oils and fats into soap.

During soapmaking, sodium hydroxide reacts with the oils through a process called saponification. When properly formulated and made, the lye is consumed in that reaction and does not remain as free lye in the finished bar.

So yes, lye is used to make our soap—but a properly made and fully cured bar isn't a chunk of oil with caustic lye mixed into it. The ingredients have undergone a chemical reaction and become soap.

Because they're actually handmade!

Small variations in color, texture, swirl, shape and appearance are normal from batch to batch. Temperature, natural ingredients, botanicals and even fragrance can affect the finished appearance.

We think that's part of what makes handmade soap handmade.

This is probably one of the longest answers in our FAQ, but it's also one of the questions we're asked most often.

We make fragrance-oil soaps, essential-oil-only soaps and completely unscented soaps because we believe our customers should have a choice.

You'll sometimes hear fragrance oils described simply as “synthetic” and essential oils as “natural,” followed by the assumption that natural automatically means safe and synthetic automatically means harmful. The reality is considerably more complicated.

Essential oils are concentrated mixtures of naturally occurring aromatic compounds. Some of those constituents can irritate or sensitize skin and some have established maximum usage levels. IFRA's fragrance-safety standards account for restricted constituents that occur naturally in essential oils as well. Safety depends on the particular substance, its concentration and how the finished product is used—not simply whether it came from a plant or was produced in a laboratory.

We use premium fragrance oils from established fragrance suppliers. Years ago, when we originally selected our fragrance suppliers, we were told their fragrances were plant-based. Today, those suppliers no longer make that claim in a way that allows us to independently verify it, and complete fragrance formulations are generally proprietary trade-secret information that suppliers do not disclose.

Because we can't see the complete proprietary formula, we don't think it would be honest for us to continue claiming that every fragrance we purchase is entirely plant-based or naturally derived.

What we can verify and control is where we purchase our fragrances, the documentation provided for them, what ingredients we specifically avoid, and—very importantly—how much fragrance we actually use.

We formulate quite conservatively.

Our finished fragranced bar soaps contain less than 2% fragrance, meaning the finished bars are at least 98% natural ingredients. We also normally use our fragrances at only around 50% or less of the applicable IFRA maximum usage rate for soap. In many cases, we're considerably below the maximum amount permitted.

In other words, an IFRA maximum isn't our target. We use the amount needed to produce a good, lasting scent without adding fragrance simply because we're allowed to use more.

The fragrance oils we purchase for our soaps are free from parabens and phthalates, and we formulate without SLS while avoiding petroleum and musk in our products.

So why use fragrance oils at all?

Because they allow us to create scents that simply aren't possible with essential oils alone. There is no strawberry essential oil, bourbon essential oil, apple-pie essential oil or fresh-linen essential oil growing somewhere waiting to be distilled. Fragrance also gives us a much broader and more consistent range of scents than essential oils alone could provide.

That doesn't mean fragrance is right for everybody.

If you prefer to avoid fragrance oils entirely, we offer more than 20 essential-oil-only and unscented options. We want our customers to be able to make that choice for themselves rather than pretending one category is universally “good” and the other universally “bad.”

We believe in choosing quality ingredients, using them responsibly and conservatively, and being straightforward with our customers about what we know—and what we don't.

Not automatically.

“Natural” describes an origin; it doesn't guarantee that a substance cannot irritate skin or cause an allergic reaction. Essential oils are highly concentrated mixtures of naturally occurring compounds, and some contain constituents with established usage restrictions.

Likewise, the word “synthetic” doesn't automatically mean dangerous. We evaluate ingredients based on the ingredient itself, its concentration and its intended use rather than assuming that natural always means safe or synthetic always means unsafe.

Absolutely.

We offer more than 20 essential-oil-only and unscented options. If avoiding fragrance oil is important to you, look for products identified as essential-oil-only or unscented in their descriptions and ingredient lists.

Yes. The fragrance oils we purchase for use in our soaps are free from parabens and phthalates.

We also formulate our products without SLS and avoid petroleum and musk.

Yes. If you're sensitive to fragrance or simply prefer a very simple bar, we'd generally suggest starting with one of our unscented options.

Everyone's skin is different, however, and even natural ingredients can cause sensitivities. We recommend reading the complete ingredient list before purchasing if you have known allergies or sensitivities.

Yes. Our handmade soaps can be used by children, but they are not tear-free, so care should be taken to keep the soap and lather out of the eyes.

For babies and small children, we normally recommend choosing one of our unscented soaps and avoiding exfoliating varieties. Young children generally do not need added fragrance or exfoliation, and a simple, gentle bar is usually where we suggest starting.

As with any skincare product, every person’s skin is different. If your child has particularly sensitive skin or known allergies, we recommend reviewing the ingredient list before use and discontinuing use if irritation occurs.

No.

Many of our soaps are made entirely with plant oils, while some products contain grass-fed beef tallow. We clearly identify tallow in the product description and ingredient list when it is used.

If avoiding animal-derived ingredients is important to you, check the ingredient list on the individual product before purchasing.

Our traditional soap base is built primarily around coconut and olive oils. Our tallow soaps add grass-fed beef tallow to the formulation.

The different fats produce somewhat different characteristics in the finished bar, which is why we offer both. Neither is intended to replace the other—we have customers who strongly prefer our traditional bars and others who love the feel of tallow soap.

For most customers, a bar lasts at least four weeks, and often considerably longer.

How long an individual bar lasts depends on how often it's used, how many people are using it and, especially, whether it's allowed to dry between uses.

In fact, we've had customers jokingly “complain” that our bars last too long because they're ready to move on and try another scent before they've managed to use up the one in the shower.

The easiest way to get the most life out of your bar is to keep it out of standing water and allow it to dry between uses. A well-draining soap dish can make a substantial difference.

Between uses, keep your bar somewhere that allows water to drain away and air to circulate around it. Avoid leaving handmade soap sitting in a puddle of water.

Unused bars should be stored somewhere cool and dry with reasonable airflow.

And don't be afraid to let your soap age. Properly stored cold-process soap generally becomes harder as it continues to cure, which can help it last longer in use.

Yes.

Natural ingredients, essential oils, fragrance materials and botanicals can change somewhat as a handmade bar ages. Colors may lighten or darken and scent can gradually become softer over time.

Minor changes in appearance or fragrance are normal for handmade products.

Many of our customers do, but skin varies tremendously from person to person.

If you're trying one on your face for the first time—particularly if you have sensitive skin—we'd recommend beginning with a simple or unscented variety and seeing how your own skin responds.

No. Our Shampoo Bar has its own formulation and is made specifically for washing hair.

It contains a different combination of ingredients than our standard bar soaps, including grass-fed beef tallow.

Wet your hair thoroughly, work the bar into a lather and distribute the lather through your hair and scalp. Rinse thoroughly.

As with any change in hair-care products, different hair types and water conditions can produce different results.

Our products are handcrafted by our family on our property in Eastern Kentucky.

Indigo Sundries is a family business, and we manufacture our soap and personal-care products ourselves rather than outsourcing production to a private-label manufacturer.

We manufacture the products at the heart of Indigo Sundries ourselves, including our soaps and personal-care products.

We also offer a small number of accessories and merchandise—such as our branded soap dishes—that are made for us rather than manufactured by us. We don't pretend otherwise.

If it says we handcrafted it, we handcrafted it.

Yes. Many of our soaps and soap bundles can be purchased as subscriptions, allowing you to have your favorites delivered automatically while receiving the applicable subscription discount.

Yes. Our new website allows subscription customers to manage their subscriptions through their customer account, including changing their selections when needed.

That's one of the improvements we're especially excited about with the new site.

Orders under $60 ship for a flat $6.95.

Orders of $60 or more ship free within the areas covered by our standard shipping policy.

Yes. We work with wholesale customers interested in carrying Indigo Sundries products.

Contact us through the website with information about your business and what you're interested in carrying, and we'll be happy to discuss wholesale options.

Please contact us.

We're a small family business with real people packing and shipping your order. If something arrives damaged, something is missing, or we've made a mistake, let us know so we can look into it and help make it right.