Frequently Asked Questions
Where are your products made?
We make all our products in small batches at our soap studio, which is located in the town of Petaluma in Sonoma County, California.
Do you test your products on animals and do any of your products contain animal ingredients?
Our products are people-tested by us and our loyal friends! The only animal-derived ingredients we use are supplied by hard-working bees. We use beeswax in our Lip Balms and Hand Salves.
Do your products contain artificial colors or fragrances?
We do not use artificial colors, dyes or fragrances in any of our products. We use pure, unadulterated essential oils to provide our products with their natural aroma-therapeutic scent profiles. The colors that occur in our products come from natural botanicals and herbs.
I am allergic to wheat/gluten. Do your products contain wheat amino acids?
No, our products are 100% wheat amino acid free and will not affect people with wheat/gluten allergies or Celiac disease.
Are your products hypoallergenic?
We use pure, plant-based ingredients as the basis of all our products. Our ingredients are mild and no allergic or skin reactions have been reported. However, we recommend doing a patch test on your skin when using any new product.
Are your products non-comedogenic?
This term refers to ingredients – such as mineral oil, petrolatum and paraffin – that may clog pores. We do not use any of these ingredients in our products. Instead, we use plant-based oils, plant butters, and beeswax as moisturizers.
How does Soap Clean?
The skin produces oil called “sebum” which traps dirt. Since oil and water don’t mix, it needs soap. Soap cleans because it has the ability to mix with oil and water, making it possible to remove the dirt/sebum layer. Bar Soap is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms at one end and sodium at the other. The hydrogen/carbon side of the soap molecule attracts oils and rejects water. The sodium side of the soap molecule attracts water. As a person lathers with soap, the soap molecules move around latching onto the dirty sebum oils rinsing them away. The cleaning action of this mixture is due to the action of micelles, many tiny spheres coated on the outside with polar hydrophilic (water-loving) groups, encasing a lipophilic (fat-loving) pocket that can surround the grease particles, causing them to disperse in water. The structure of a micelle is a cell-like and formed by a group of soap units. Soap micelles, clusters of soap molecules in which the hydrocarbon chains are attracted to each other surround the dirt particle, which when surrounded by soap micelles breaks free and washes away in the water. The soil particle surrounded by soap micelles forms an emulsion in the washing water. An emulsion is a suspension of one liquid in another liquid. Soap is an emulsifying agent because it allows oil to be suspended in water.
What is Cold Process Soap and how is it different from the brands at the store?
Cold Process handmade soap differs from today’s common industrially made soap as it is often superfatted and the glycerin is left in which acts as a moisturizing agent. Superfatted soap works with the glycerin to serve as natural humectants to hydrate and soften skin. Additionally, the source of the vegetable oil is important to the properties of the final soap. We use premium olive and other selected oils as our raw material. Commercial soaps are made in large batches in a mechanized extrusion process where the glycerin is removed and fillers and synthetic detergents added. Commercial soap manufacturers have the ability to recover and purify glycerin which is then sold separately. Most use stock soap bases and add custom additives to differentiate them for the specific custom brands they manufacture.
Are your Soaps Vegan?
All of our products utilize only pure plant oils and butters combined with natural botanicals and pure essential oils.
What is the source of your vitamin E?
Soap Cauldron includes Vitamin E in our formulations as a natural preservative and is chosen over synthetic preservatives. As our products are anhydrous, it is the most natural ingredient possible. It is in the products at an amount no greater than 1%.
Our Natural Vitamin E is D - Alpha Tocopherol sourced from the USA and derived from edible vegetable oils, specifically sunflower to a mix of sunflower and safflower oils as supplies fluctuate. We choose not to use Vitamin E sourced from Soy. Our Vitamin E is certified GMO, wheat free and gluten free.
In addition, this product complies with current FCC and USP Vitamin E preparation "FOOD/SUPPLEMENT GRADE" monographs.
What is the shelf life of your products?
Approximately three years. Certain environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures and humidity, will affect the shelf life of our products. It is best to store Body Butters and Balms in a cool location. There is no need to refrigerate our products.
Do you ship outside the United States?
We only ship to the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, APO and US Virgin Islands.
I’m interested in carrying your products in my own shop. How can I learn more about wholesale opportunities?
Please email us at soapcauldron@sonic.net for complete details on becoming a retail partner.
I’m concerned about my privacy. Do you sell any personal information from your website?
We do not sell or offer your name or address to any other company or service, and your ordering information will be kept confidential. We respect our customers and as such do not sell their personal information. We are committed to your protecting your privacy as much as to protecting your health.
What if I’d like to return something I have purchased online?
It is important to us that you are completely satisfied with our products. If you have any problems or questions concerning your order or are dissatisfied for any reason with either the product or its condition upon arrival, please contact us immediately at (707) 888-5659 or soapcauldron@sonic.net. We will either replace it or refund your money.
Is your website secure?
Soap Cauldron uses industry standard efforts to safeguard the confidentiality of your personal information. Any contact information obtained for the purpose of this web site will be stored solely in a secure database. No one other than Soap Cauldron will have access to your information. Under no circumstances will your contact information be sold, published, or disclosed to any party or company. Soap Cauldron does not store Credit Card information on our servers.