Why do you use lard in your soaps?

Traditionally, all soaps were made using lard. Fat was a byproduct of pork, and fat was treasured just as much as the meat from the hog was. We raise all of our heritage pigs on pasture, and our pigs are actually improving the land. It is important to us that none of the animal is wasted, and while we also sustain ourselves from the meat that is harvested from our ethically raised animals, I needed a way to use the fat up as well. I learned how to render down the fat, and then turned it into lard.  I use that lard for baking, but I have discovered a love for lard-based soaps. This lard is directly from our land, and our pigs are actually locking in carbon in the earth. So our lard is more sustainable than having oils shipped to me from all around the globe. I do use a few other oils in my main recipe, but essentially I try to stick to lard based recipes as that is what I find to be the best earth friendly choice for us. There are many vegan soap companies out there, and you should definitely check them out of animal products aren't your thing! No hard feelings.

Where do you source your milk from?

All of my milk based soaps are also special because all the milk sourced is from my own mini milk cow. I needed a way to use up milk, and milk soap bars are absolutely luxurious! My own family is reliant on our milk cow, and once I discovered the soap properties from utilizing her milk in my bars, I couldn't stop! I feel good about this because our milk cows live a wonderful life. Currently, I share the milk with Dixie's calf, and we have struck an incredible balance. I am delighted I am able to share with all of my customers in this way.

How long does it take soap to cure?

This is not an easy question to answer, because each formula and environmental circumstances are so unique. My bars take about 4-6 weeks to cure, and usually the longer a bar of soap cures, the better. There are even some Castile soaps that take two years to cure completely! So if you are thinking about ordering a custom loaf, please understand the amount of time it will take and be patient. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I can talk soap all day.

Isn't lye dangerous?

Yes! It absolutely is! But, I take proper precautions for myself, and once a bar of soap is cured, all of the lye isn't lye anymore. That means that the lye and the fats create a chemical reaction that turns them into soap, and there is no more lye in the bar of soap, it reacts with the oils and turns into soap. In fact, you cannot get a true bar of soap without lye! Soap is an incredibly fun science experiment that requires precise measuring!

Why are your soaps named after stars?

As a curious person, I have always wanted to know more about everything surrounding us. I thought why not put information on a package of soap that I adore. We find that people really enjoy small and interesting facts throughout their day, and on top of that, these make wonderful gifts for that person who is hard to shop for. I really enjoy seeking out star names and why stars are named what they are, and I really hope they bring you as much joy as they bring me.

Do you use palm oil?

No, all of our recipes are palm oil free. We really stay away from monoculture crops and are focused on providing soap that is more sustainable. Palm oil is known for deforestation, and by utilizing lard, we are focusing more on fats and oils that are more local to our customers.

Do you take wholesale orders?

Yes! Please email me at ravenandstarsoap@gmail.com and we can discuss what you would like. My minimum wholesale order for soap is 30 bars.