From the workshop
Questions from the workshop
Straight answers about how the bars are made, what is in them, and how to live with one. If something is not here, just ask. We would rather tell you than let a label do the talking.
What is “real soap”?
Soap is what happens when oils and lye finish their work together. The lye is used up. What is left is soap plus glycerin, plus the extra oils we choose to leave in the bar. Most bottles labeled “body wash,” “beauty bar,” or “moisturizing cleanser” are not soap. They are detergent blends — synthetic surfactants with a long ingredient list. We make soap.
Hot process or cold process?
Both. Most of our bars are cold process: mixed, poured into molds, cut by hand and left to cure four to six weeks. Some are made by our Heritage process: we cook the soap in the pot until the lye has done its work, then stir in the oils we want left in the bar, like jojoba, sweet almond oil and cocoa butter. Each product page tells you which way that bar was made.
What does “unsaponified oils” mean?
It means free oils that never met the lye. In a hot-process kettle we can add them at the end and know they are still themselves: jojoba for slip and a skin-like feel, almond oil for softness, cocoa butter for a cushioned, lasting bar. That is why we cook our Heritage bars.
Do you use tallow? Is there a plant-only option?
Yes to both. Grass-fed tallow is in many of our bars because skin already knows those fatty acids, and it makes a hard, long-wearing bar. We also make a Plant Based line for anyone who’d rather skip tallow: olive oil, coconut and shea butter bars. Both are real soap. Both are disclosed on the label.
When will my soap ship?
Tuesday and Friday are our shipping days. We spend most of our time making the soap, but we set aside every Tuesday and Friday to package everything up and ship out all orders in the queue.
How much is shipping?
Standard shipping is $8.50 and takes about 2–5 days once it leaves us. Priority Mail is $16.50 and takes about 1–3 days. Spend $50 or more (after any discounts) and standard shipping is free, or upgrade to Priority for just $10.50. Pickup in Palm Coast, or at one of our markets, is always free.
Do you ship to Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico?
Yes, and to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses. Those orders go by Priority Mail only, because standard post there can take three weeks or more. You pay the same Priority prices as everyone else: $16.50, or $10.50 when your basket is $50 or more. We don’t ship to Guam, the other US territories or outside the US yet.
Why do some bars say “curing” or “preorder”?
A bar is not ready when it comes out of the mold. We cut by hand and let it sit 4–6 weeks so water leaves, the bar hardens, and the lather settles into what it should be. If a listing says it is curing, the batch is already made. You can reserve it. It ships or comes to market when the date on the listing says so.
How long does a bar last?
Used once a day and kept dry between showers, most of our bars last three to six weeks. Tallow bars usually outlast the softer ones. A draining dish is not optional. Sitting in a puddle will eat a handmade bar in days.
Is this gentle enough for sensitive skin?
Many of our regulars came to us because commercial wash left them tight or itchy. We use short, readable ingredient lists, keep the glycerin that soap naturally makes, and superfat with oils chosen for skin — not foam. We do not claim to treat any condition. If your skin is reactive, start with a mild bar, use lukewarm water, and stop if it does not agree with you. Ingredients are listed on every listing and at the table.
Do you use essential oils or fragrance?
It depends on the bar. Some are scented with essential oils, some with skin-safe fragrance oils in modest amounts, some are very quiet. The product page tells you which. If scent is a problem, ask us for the low-scent options. We would rather send you home with the right bar than a headache.
What is in the honey bars?
Honey or beeswax, plus the same honest oils we use everywhere else. Every bar with honey or beeswax carries Lizzy Bee’s name. That is not a marketing line. It is why those recipes exist.
Can I pick up in Palm Coast?
Yes. Free local pickup in Palm Coast is always available. When we are headed to a market, it is listed here, and you can pick up your order there too.
- Saturday · Flagler Beach Market · 8am–1pm
- Sunday · Palm Coast European Village · 9am–2pm
Why does handmade soap feel different?
It should. Detergent bars are designed to strip and foam hard. Real soap cleans and leaves a thin film of those leftover oils and glycerin. The first week on a new bar, give your skin a few days to remember what that feels like. Most people stop missing the squeak.
How should I store a bar I am not using yet?
Cool, dry, out of direct sun. Do not seal a fresh bar in plastic. It needs air. Once you start using it, keep it on a drained dish and let it dry between uses.
Still wondering? Write to info@ladybsoapco.com, or find us at the next market and bring the bar. We will talk.

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