I like to be clean. I like to make stuff. I like farmer’s markets. Therefore, I make soap to sell at the farmer’s market. I really enjoy soap-making as it allows a creative outlet, a fun and practical hobby, and it provides a tiny amount of income for my family. There are oodles of commercial soaps on the market, many of which are cheaper than mine, so why would someone want to buy homemade soap?
Supporting a local artisan or family owned company, rather than a big corporation
The fun of purchasing uniquely handcrafted soap colors and labels
Being able to talk to the person who made your soap and ask questions
The ability to request special and custom orders
Little to no packaging! Ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Knowing what ingredients are in your soap
This last factor is probably the biggest. So many of us are becoming more aware of all the chemicals used in our households. More and more evidence exists that link these everyday chemical products to allergies, hormonal imbalances, and even cancers. I for one, don’t want to expose my family to anymore carcinogenic chemicals than necessary, so I don’t use them in my soaps.
How do Home-Farm soaps compare to commercial soaps?
Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Soap:
Active Ingredients: Triclocarban (0.30%). Purpose: Antibacterial. Inactive Ingredients: Soap (Sodium Cocoate [Contains One or More of these Ingredients], Sodium Palm Kernelate [Contains One or More of these Ingredients], Sodium Palmate [Contains One or More of these Ingredients], Sodium Tallowate [Contains One or More of these Ingredients]), Water, Talc, Coconut Acid (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), Palm Acid (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), Tallow Acid (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), Palm Kernel Acid (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), PEG 6 Methyl Ether, Fragrance, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Pentasodium Pentetate (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), Tetrasodium Etidronate (Contains One or More of these Ingredients), Titanium Dioxide.
Ingredients list found here: Wegman’s. Environmental Working Group Score: 3
Irish Spring Original Bar Soap:
Soap (sodium tallowate, sodium cocate and/or sodium palm kernelate), Water, Hydrogenated Tallow Acid (skin conditioner), Coconut Acid, Glycerin (skin conditioner), Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Pentasodium Pentetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, D&C Green No.8, FD&C Green No.3
Ingredients list found at the Irish Spring Website. Environmental Working Group Score: 3
Dove White Beauty Bar:
Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmitate, Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Water, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
Ingredients found here. Environmental Working Group Score: 4
Zum Bar:
Saponified 100% food grade olive, coconut, palm, and castor oils, in a goat’s milk base, with pure essential oils and mineral pigments.
Ingredients from their website. Environmental Working Group Score: 1
Home-Farm Soaps:
Saponified naturally refined coconut oil (usually organic), and extra virgin olive oils, locally processed beef tallow, Oklahoma rain water, pure essential oils (often organic) and natural powdered herbal pigments. Some soaps also use oatmeal, cocoa, or chopped dried herbs, which are typically organic.
A Note About Fragrances:
Many home-based soap-makers use fragrance oils in combination with, or instead of essential oils to boost the smell-good power of their soaps. I do not use fragrance oils in any of my soaps, ever. There are ongoing studies linking continued use of fragranced body products and certain illnesses including cancer. Health Impact News also states what I speculated about using fragrances and addiction. The longer a person uses a fragrance, the more they need to use to achieve the desired effect.¹ One of my biggest peeves is when I am eating at a restaurant and a server has on so much cologne or perfume, that it overpowers the smell of the food! Needless to say, my soaps are lightly fragranced.
Where can I use Home-Farm Soaps? Are they only for hands?
Because they contain minimal ingredients and only essential oils, you can use these soaps on your entire body! I prefer the round Lemongrass bars for mine and my family’s hair. All soaps can be used on men, women, children, toes, genitals, hair, eyes (just kidding. No soap on the planet will be gentle enough to use in one’s eyes!) the dog, the cat, the dishes, or even chopped up in the laundry.
How to get your own Home-Farm Soaps: 
You can find me and my soaps at the Lawton Farmer’s Market on the first Saturday of every month during the market season. You’ll also find some excellent local wines, free-range eggs, local beef, and a plethora of vegetables at this spunky little market.
To see what soaps I’m working on currently, head to the Home Farm Soaps Facebook Page.
References:
²The Environmental Working Group is a cosmetics database which tests the potential hazards and toxicity of modern skin-care products. They rate products as follows:
1-2: Low Hazard
3-6: Moderate Hazard
7-10: High Hazard
5 thoughts on “About Home Farm Soaps”
Alison–Your soaps sound fantastic! I look forward to some purchases while we are in Oklahoma. Hilary loves natural soaps, too, so I will get some for her family. Looking forward to July.
Thank you. I’ll keep some soaps aside for you and Hilary.
I worked at the Oregon Soap Co. For a short stint and they had some pretty neat recipes, a lot were customers order products for other companies. Oatmeal was always a favorite, and coffee bean or cinnamon. Another used a special clay that worked well as a scrub, the valuable clay can be sourced by anyone if you know where to look. Witch hazel was good for shaving and probably helps dogs get rid of fleas. Sulfur was also good for dogs with skin issues if I remember correctly. Nice work, homemade soap lasts much longer too!
Lavender and Lemongrass seem to be the favorites here. I like the oatmeal. I was thinking of Cheyenne among other doggies I know when I made the dog soap. It has Rosemary, Lemongrass, Cedarwood, and Neem. My Azaylia is so soft after her bath and I’m pretty sure she has less ticks. I’ll be washing the Great Pyrenees later this week. Bathing him is a somewhat daunting task.