Why Homemade Soaps Are More Expensive

Smooth California Signature Soaps

If you've ever browsed handmade natural soaps and wondered why they cost more than commercial bars at the store? There are many reasons why.

In 2025, handmade soap typically cost anywhere between $7 and $12.00 per bar. That price may seem higher compared to commercial soaps but there is a BIG difference.

Handmade soaps are made with quality oils, butters, clays and pure essential oils. At Smooth California, we carefully choose ingredients like olive oils, coconut oil, ostrich butter, and botanicals because they're nourishing for the skin and free from harsh chemicals. Many commercial soaps use cheep fillers, detergents, and synthetic fragrances that can dry out your skin. With Smooth California Handmade Soap you're paying for clean, skin-loving ingredients.

Commercial soaps use cheap detergents and fillers, mass-produced by machines, and often remove natural glycerin for other products. In contrast, handmade soaps retain glycerin, use more expensive specialty oils and botanicals, and incorporate value-added features like unique scents, exfoliants, and handcrafted packaging, contributing to a higher price. 

Unique Scents and Colors

Handmade soaps aren't jus functional, they're a treat for our senses. Her at Smooth California, we only use pure essential oils to create the most natural and amazing scents. ABSOLUTELY NO SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE OILS. We use natural colorants that your skin will love. Alkanet root for purple, annatto for yellow, rose clay for pink and alfalfa powder for green. The result is beautifully swirled, vibrant soaps that are true works of art. Made with only the most natural ingredients, Smooth California Soaps are not only visually stuning but healthy, nourishing, and toxin free.

Is Lye safe?

Handmade soaps are made with lye and this worries many people as they don’t want to put lye on their skin. We understand, so let us explain a little further… You can’t make soap without lye. When a bar of handmade soap is completely cured, there is no lye left. The process called saponification turns lye and oils into soap. If the soap is made properly, the lye is used up during the saponification process.

How to help the soap last longer

If it seems like handmade soaps have a shorter “life” than commercial soaps, the reason is because handmade soaps contain glycerin which makes the soap “melt” faster. To extend the life of your soap, store all handmade soaps in a well-draining soap dish out of the shower stream. Doing so will help maximize the life of the soap. It also helps to cut the handmade soap in half before first use.

A smaller soap is easier to hold in your hand especially for little hands like children’s. Another fun fact for children would be to have a “new” soap with a “new” scent more often when the soap bar is cut into smaller bars. It could be another great idea to make a bath more fun for the children.

Handmade soap is great for sensitive skin

For people with sensitive skin you may wonder if handmade soaps will work for you? Yes, they will as handmade soaps are free of detergent and other harmful chemicals. Our soaps are made from 100% natural oils. We also make unscented soaps for those that may be allergic to fragrances and scents.

What is the white powder on the soap?

Occasionally you will see white power on top of the handmade soaps. This is called Soda ash and its harmless. It can form within the first 24 hours of the loaf of soap being cut into bars. And it will rinse off after the first use.

Yes, handmade soaps cost more than commercial soaps but when you look at the qality of ingredients, ethical production and skin benefits, the price is more like an investment in your health and well being.