If you've spent any time reading soap labels, you've probably seen "cold process" on some and wondered what it actually means — and whether "cold pressed" is the same thing. It isn't, and the distinction is worth knowing before your next purchase.
Cold Process vs. Cold Pressed: Not the Same Thing
"Cold pressed" describes how an OIL is extracted — olive oil, coconut oil, and other base oils are pressed from their source without added heat, which preserves more of their natural vitamins and fatty acids compared to heat-extracted oils. "Cold process," on the other hand, describes how the SOAP itself is made. They're related but distinct terms, and it's easy to see why they get mixed up.
How Cold Process Soap Is Actually Made
Cold process soap making is a traditional method where oils and butters are combined with lye (sodium hydroxide) at low temperatures, triggering a chemical reaction called saponification — the process that turns fats and lye into soap, water, and naturally occurring glycerin. Unlike hot-process or melt-and-pour methods, no external heat is added to speed things along. The mixture is poured into molds and then cured for four to six weeks, during which excess water evaporates and the bar hardens into its final form.
Why the Slow Method Matters
- Ingredient integrity. Because no additional heat is applied, the natural properties of oils, butters, and any added ingredients like oats or clay are better preserved than in methods that involve high heat.
- Natural glycerin stays in the bar. Saponification naturally produces glycerin, a humectant that helps skin retain moisture. Some mass-market soap manufacturers remove glycerin to sell separately, leaving a bar that can feel more drying. Traditional cold process soap keeps it in.
- A harder, longer-lasting bar. The multi-week cure time allows water to evaporate slowly, resulting in a firmer bar that lasts longer in the shower than a quickly-produced alternative.
- Full control over ingredients. Because the process is slow and hands-on, small-batch soap makers can carefully balance oils, skip synthetic additives, and add real ingredients — like oats, clay, or essential oils — that hold up to the process.
What This Means for the Bar in Your Shower
Every bar we make is cold processed the traditional way, cured for weeks before it ever reaches you. That's why a bar with oats or honey in it actually delivers those ingredients to your skin, rather than losing them to heat along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cold process soap better than melt-and-pour soap?
Cold process allows for more control over ingredients and produces a harder, longer-lasting bar, though melt-and-pour has its own place for quick, simple projects. For a bar meant to last and deliver real ingredient benefit, cold process is the traditional choice.
Why does cold process soap need to cure for weeks?
Curing allows excess water in the bar to evaporate slowly, which hardens the bar and makes it last longer once you start using it.
Does cold process soap still contain lye?
All true soap requires lye during the making process — without it, saponification (the chemical reaction that turns oil into soap) can't happen. However, a properly made and cured bar contains no active lye by the time it reaches you; it's been fully converted into soap.
Is cold process soap natural?
The method itself doesn't guarantee natural ingredients — that depends on what oils, scents, and additives the maker chooses. Ask what's actually in the bar, not just how it was made.
Try It Yourself
Every bar in our shop is handmade using the traditional cold process method, cured for weeks, never rushed. Browse our full collection to feel the difference.