Cedarwood essential oil is prized in skincare for its warm, grounding character and is traditionally used in formulations aimed at a calm, balanced feeling for the skin, particularly oilier or combination skin types. Its scent reads as woody, warm and a little like a cabin or a workshop, which tends to be the note people recognise first and smile at second. This is one of the most stable, easy going oils in my whole range, both to smell and to actually work with in soap. Where the scent comes from Cedarwood essential oil is steam distilled or extracted from the wood, bark or sometimes needles of various cedar and juniper family trees, depending on the specific variety. The result is a warm, dry, slightly sweet woodiness that has been used in perfumery and skincare for a very long time. Its traditional place in skincare Cedarwood has long been associated with balancing skin that runs oilier or more combination in nature, and it is a common base note in more grounding, less sweet formulations. Again, this reflects long traditional use rather than a medical claim, and it is one reason cedarwood tends to anchor rather than lead a scent blend. Why it is one of the easiest oils to work with Cedarwood is one of the most stable and reliable scents to carry through cold process soap making, holding its character through the cure far better than lighter florals or citrus notes. This makes it a genuinely good choice for anyone newer to essential oil soap making, since it rewards you reliably rather than fading unpredictably. Pairing cedarwood with other scents Cedarwood pairs particularly well with sweet orange, since the warmth of the wood note grounds the brightness of the citrus beautifully, a combination I lean on heavily through autumn and winter. It also plays well alongside lighter florals that need a little anchoring to hold through a cure. Frequently asked questions Is cedarwood essential oil good for oily skin? It carries a long traditional association with balancing oilier and combination skin, though individual results vary and it is not a medical treatment. Why does cedarwood soap hold its scent so well? Cedarwood is naturally one of the more stable essential oils through cold process saponification and curing, unlike lighter florals or citrus oils, which fade more readily. What scents pair well with cedarwood? Sweet orange is a particularly good pairing, since the citrus brightness balances the wood note's warmth, and it is one of my favourite combinations for autumn bars. Cedarwood is one of the anchor scents in my essential oil range, and pairing it with other notes is exactly the kind of thing I walk through properly in my workshops and online course.

Geranium rose essential oil is valued in skincare for its gentle, balancing character, and is traditionally associated with supporting normal, comfortable feeling skin rather than any single specific benefit. Its scent reads as floral without being sweet, closer to a garden after rain than a perfume counter, which is exactly why it tends to be the oil people reach for when they want something special but cannot quite name what they are after. This is one of the scents I get asked about most in my own range, usually by someone who assumed it would smell like a bouquet and were pleasantly surprised that it does not. Where the scent comes from Geranium rose essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the scented geranium plant, Pelargonium graveolens, not from roses at all, despite the name. Its rose adjacent quality comes from naturally occurring compounds shared with true rose, which is why it carries a soft, rosy edge without ever tipping into anything cloying. Its traditional place in skincare Geranium has a long traditional use in skincare, generally associated with a calm, balanced feeling on the skin, and is a common note in gentler, more considered formulations rather than heavy, overtly perfumed ones. I am not making medical claims here, simply describing the reputation the plant has carried in skincare for a long time. Why it behaves the way it does in cold process soap Geranium rose can fade somewhat through the curing process if used alone, so it often benefits from careful blending or a fixative to help it hold through six weeks of cure. This is part of what makes it a slightly more advanced scent to work with, and part of why I treat it as one of the more special entries in my range rather than an everyday default. Who tends to love this scent People drawn to geranium rose are often the ones who find straightforward floral scents too sweet, but still want something that feels considered and a little indulgent rather than plain. It sits comfortably between a fresh herbal note and a true floral, which is a narrower, more particular space than most scents occupy. Frequently asked questions Does geranium rose essential oil actually smell like roses? Not exactly. It carries a soft, rose adjacent quality alongside a green, leafy freshness, since it comes from a scented geranium leaf rather than the rose flower itself. Is geranium rose essential oil suitable for sensitive skin? As with any added fragrance, it can be a trigger for genuinely reactive skin, which is exactly why my fragrance free range exists as a separate line for that skin type. Why does geranium rose soap sometimes smell fainter than expected? This essential oil can fade somewhat during the cold process cure if not properly blended or fixed, which is a real technical consideration rather than a flaw in the plant itself. My geranium rose bar sits in the essential oil side of my range, and it is one I would encourage you to smell in person at a workshop before deciding if it is your scent, since description only takes it so far.

Peppermint essential oil is valued in skincare for its bright, cooling, invigorating character, traditionally associated with a fresh, awake feeling on the skin, and it behaves predictably and reliably through cold process soap making, which is a large part of why it has earned such a firm place in my range. If my scented range had a genuine morning bar, this is it, and I say that as someone who reaches for it specifically on slower mornings. Where the scent comes from Peppermint essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the peppermint plant, a naturally occurring hybrid mint. Its characteristic sharpness and cooling sensation come from menthol, a compound the plant produces in significant concentration. Its traditional place in skincare Peppermint has long been used in skincare for its bright, cooling, refreshing character, often included in products intended to feel invigorating on the skin rather than for any specific treatment purpose. It is this cooling sensation, more than the scent alone, that people tend to describe when talking about how the bar feels in use. Why it is a genuinely reliable oil to work with Peppermint holds its scent well through cold process curing compared to more delicate florals or citrus oils, and it behaves predictably in the pot, without the fading or fixative concerns that come with lighter notes. This makes it a strong, low risk choice for anyone building confidence with essential oil soap making. Who peppermint suits best This is the scent I recommend to anyone who finds soft, floral bars a little too gentle for their morning routine, or who genuinely wants their shower to wake them up rather than simply clean them. It is not a subtle scent, and it is not trying to be. Frequently asked questions Does peppermint essential oil actually cool the skin? Yes, the sensation of coolness comes from menthol, a naturally occurring compound in peppermint, interacting with sensory receptors in the skin, rather than any actual drop in temperature. Is peppermint essential oil suitable for sensitive skin? As with any added scent, it can be more stimulating than sensitive skin wants, which is why my fragrance free range exists as a completely separate, unscented option. Does peppermint fade quickly in cold process soap? No, it is actually one of the more stable, reliable essential oils to work with through the cure, unlike citrus notes which fade far more readily. Peppermint sits in my essential oil range as the wake up call of the collection, and the full scent list is on my website alongside a simple guide to choosing between my two ranges.

Pink grapefruit essential oil is valued in skincare for its bright, energising character, traditionally associated with a fresh, invigorating feeling, and its scent sits somewhere between sweet and pleasantly bitter, reading as modern and clean in a way that feels distinct from softer, sweeter citrus notes like sweet orange. This is the scent I describe as opening a window, and it tends to attract a slightly different customer than my other citrus bar. Where the scent comes from Pink grapefruit essential oil is typically cold pressed from the peel of the pink grapefruit fruit, capturing its characteristic bright, zesty and gently bitter edge, a quality that comes through clearly compared to the softer sweetness of orange or the sharper zing of lemon. Its traditional place in skincare Pink grapefruit carries a long association with feeling energising and fresh, often used in products intended to feel invigorating rather than calming, similar in spirit to peppermint but through a citrus rather than minty character. Why it behaves like other citrus oils in the pot Like sweet orange and lemon, pink grapefruit essential oil fades relatively quickly through the cold process cure compared to more stable oils like cedarwood. This is simply a characteristic of citrus oils generally, tied to the volatile, lighter molecules that give them their bright top note in the first place, and it means careful blending or a slightly higher usage rate matters here too. Who tends to reach for this scent Pink grapefruit tends to suit someone who finds sweet orange a touch too sweet and straightforward, and wants something with a bit more edge and a slightly more modern character. It is a small but genuine difference, and one worth smelling in person if you can. Frequently asked questions Is pink grapefruit essential oil different from grapefruit essential oil? Pink grapefruit typically carries a slightly sweeter, rounder character than standard grapefruit, reflecting the specific variety of fruit it is pressed from. Does pink grapefruit fade in cold process soap like other citrus oils? Yes, it fades at a similar rate to other citrus essential oils through the cure, requiring careful blending or a slightly higher usage rate to hold its brightness. What skin type suits pink grapefruit soap best? It is broadly well tolerated on healthy, non reactive skin, though as with any added scent, my fragrance free range remains the better choice for genuinely sensitive skin. Pink grapefruit sits in my essential oil range as the brighter, slightly more modern cousin of sweet orange, and both are on my website for you to compare.

Sweet orange essential oil is valued in skincare for its bright, cheerful character, traditionally associated with an uplifting, mood supporting feeling, and it is widely considered one of the most universally likeable citrus scents in aromatherapy and soap making, which is exactly the reputation it holds in my own range. If I had to pick one scent to hand a first time customer with no idea what they wanted, it would be this one, without hesitation. Where the scent comes from Sweet orange essential oil is typically cold pressed from the peel of the sweet orange fruit, a process that captures the bright, familiar, almost edible quality of fresh citrus peel far more directly than most distilled oils. Its traditional place in skincare Sweet orange has a long standing association with lifting mood and feeling uplifting to use, more through its scent psychology than any specific skincare mechanism. It tends to feature in blends aimed at feeling cheerful and comforting rather than clinical. Why it needs a little extra care in cold process soap This is the honest, technical part. Citrus essential oils, sweet orange included, fade faster than almost any other family of scent through the cold process cure. Getting a sweet orange bar to smell as good after six weeks as it did on the day it was poured takes either a higher usage rate, careful blending, or a fixative, and it is one of the trickier puzzles in my whole range to solve well. Why I keep making it anyway Despite the technical challenge, sweet orange remains one of the friendliest, most reliably liked scents I offer, and pairing it with something more stable like cedarwood, particularly through autumn and winter, gives it a fighting chance of holding its brightness through the full cure. Frequently asked questions Why does sweet orange soap sometimes smell faint after curing? Citrus essential oils, including sweet orange, fade faster than most other scent families during the cold process cure, which is a genuine technical challenge rather than a flaw in the finished bar. Is sweet orange essential oil good for all skin types? It is broadly well tolerated, though as with any added fragrance it can be unsuitable for very reactive skin, for which my fragrance free range is the better choice. What does sweet orange pair well with in soap? Cedarwood is my favourite pairing, since the wood note's stability helps ground and support the citrus brightness through the cure. Sweet orange is the friendliest bar in my range, and if you are new to essential oil soap, it is exactly where I would suggest starting.

Lemongrass essential oil is valued in skincare for its zesty, purifying character, traditionally associated with a fresh, clarifying feeling, and unlike most true citrus oils, it tends to hold its scent through the cold process cure considerably better, which makes it one of the more forgiving bright notes in my range to actually work with. It also happens to be the scent I reach for most on a grey October morning, since it cuts through flatness better than almost anything else I make. Where the scent comes from Lemongrass essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and stalks of the lemongrass plant, a tall tropical grass. Despite its citrus like scent, it is not a true citrus fruit oil, which is part of why it behaves differently in soap than lemon or orange do. Its traditional place in skincare Lemongrass carries a long traditional reputation for feeling clarifying and purifying, often included in fresher, brighter formulations aimed at an energised, clean feeling on the skin, in a similar family to how citrus and mint notes are generally used. Why it holds up better than true citrus oils Because lemongrass is a grass rather than a citrus fruit, its aromatic compounds behave somewhat differently through saponification and curing than true citrus oils like lemon or sweet orange. It generally fades less dramatically, which makes it a slightly more reliable choice if you want a genuinely zesty, bright scent without quite as much of the fading concern that comes with true citrus oils. A scent with a slightly exotic edge Lemongrass carries a touch more complexity than a straightforward citrus note, with a slightly green, almost tropical quality alongside its zest. It reads as a little more distinctive than sweet orange or pink grapefruit, which suits anyone looking for a bright scent that still feels a bit different. Frequently asked questions Is lemongrass essential oil the same as citrus essential oils like lemon? No. Lemongrass comes from a grass plant rather than a citrus fruit, which is part of why it behaves differently, and generally more reliably, in cold process soap than true citrus oils. Does lemongrass essential oil fade during soap curing? It fades less than true citrus oils like lemon or sweet orange, though like most bright, lighter scents it can still soften somewhat over a full cure. What does lemongrass smell like compared to lemon? Lemongrass carries a zesty, green, slightly tropical quality, distinct from the sharper, more straightforward brightness of true lemon. Lemongrass is one of the brighter, more distinctive scents in my essential oil range, and it is particularly popular through the autumn months when a little zest goes a long way.

Oat is valued in skincare for its gentle, soothing character, traditionally associated with calming and comforting sensitive or easily irritated skin, and it has a long standing reputation as one of the safest, most well tolerated botanical additions for reactive skin types, which is exactly why it anchors my entire fragrance free range. If lavender is the plant that started my whole story, oat is the ingredient that quietly holds my most important range together. Where oat's reputation comes from Oat has been used in skincare for a genuinely long time, valued for a gentle, soothing quality that has made it a staple ingredient in products aimed at sensitive, irritated or easily reactive skin. This reputation is built on long traditional use rather than a single modern discovery, which is part of why it feels like such a trustworthy, unshowy ingredient to build a range around. Why it suits sensitive skin so well Unlike an added scent, whether essential oil or synthetic fragrance, oat brings texture and a soothing quality without introducing a fragrance trigger of its own. This is the exact reasoning behind my Lavender and Oat bar, where the lavender element is entirely botanical rather than scented, keeping the whole bar genuinely fragrance free while still offering something gentle and textural. How oat is typically used in soap Ground or colloidal oat is usually incorporated directly into the soap batter, offering a light, gentle texture alongside its soothing reputation, rather than functioning as a strong exfoliant. It sits quietly in the bar rather than announcing itself the way a bold scent or a bright colour would. Why I built my fragrance free range around it My fragrance free range exists specifically for skin that reacts easily, and oat was the obvious anchor, gentle, textural, fragrance free by nature, and carrying a reputation for sensitive skin that goes back generations rather than a single modern trend. Frequently asked questions Is oat good for eczema prone or reactive skin? Oat carries a long traditional reputation for being gentle and soothing on sensitive skin, though anyone with a diagnosed condition should check with a dermatologist rather than relying on soap alone. Does oat in soap have a scent of its own? Oat itself is essentially fragrance free, which is exactly why it works so well in a genuinely unscented, sensitive skin formulation. What is the difference between oat and colloidal oat in skincare? Colloidal oat is oat that has been finely ground to disperse more smoothly through a product, generally offering a gentler feel than coarser ground oat. Oat sits at the heart of my Lavender and Oat bar and the rest of my fragrance free range, and the full range is on my website alongside a simple guide to help you choose between fragrance free and scented.

Shea butter is valued in skincare for its rich, moisturising character, traditionally associated with softening and comforting dry or easily stressed skin, and it is one of the most widely trusted natural fats in cold process soap making, prized for the creamy, conditioning quality it brings to a finished bar. This is one of the quieter ingredients in my range, rarely the headline, but doing a huge amount of the work underneath every bar I make. Where shea butter comes from Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the shea tree, native to parts of West Africa, through a traditional process that has been refined over generations. It has a long, well established history as a skincare ingredient, valued for its rich texture and natural fat content. Its traditional place in skincare Shea butter carries a long standing reputation for softening and comforting dry skin, often used specifically for its rich, conditioning feel rather than any single active benefit. This traditional reputation for gentleness is part of why it appears across such a wide range of skincare products, from soap through to lotions and balms. Why it behaves so well in cold process soap Shea butter brings a creamy, conditioning quality to cold process soap, generally contributing to a gentler feeling bar with a more stable, longer lasting lather than recipes relying on harder oils alone. Soap makers often use it at a modest percentage of the total recipe specifically to bring this conditioning character without compromising the bar's overall firmness. Why it earns a place across both my ranges Unlike an added scent, shea butter is a base fat rather than a fragrance ingredient, so it sits comfortably in both my fragrance free range and my essential oil range without introducing any scent of its own. It is one of the ingredients doing quiet, consistent work across almost everything I make. Frequently asked questions Is shea butter good for dry skin? It carries a long traditional reputation for softening and moisturising dry skin, largely due to its rich natural fat content. Does shea butter have a scent of its own? Raw, unrefined shea butter can carry a faint, natural, slightly nutty smell, though refined shea butter used in many soap recipes is largely neutral. Why do soap makers use shea butter instead of only using oils? Shea butter brings a distinct creamy, conditioning quality and a different fat structure to a recipe compared with liquid oils, generally contributing to a gentler, more stable finished bar. Shea butter is one of the quiet, consistent ingredients across my whole range, and it is part of why my bars feel the way they do in the hand as much as on the skin.

Olive oil is one of the oldest and most trusted oils in soap making history, valued for producing a genuinely gentle, mild bar with a stable, if somewhat softer, lather, and it forms the backbone of traditional Castile style soap, a formulation that has been used and trusted for skin comfort for centuries. If shea butter is the quiet conditioning ingredient in my range, olive oil is the foundation almost everything else is built on top of. A very old ingredient in soap making Olive oil has been used in soap making for an extraordinarily long time, most famously in traditional Castile soap, a style originating in Spain and made almost entirely from olive oil. That history matters here, since a formulation trusted for gentleness across centuries carries a different kind of credibility than a modern, unproven ingredient. Why it produces such a mild bar Olive oil is naturally gentle on skin, and soap made with a high proportion of it tends to be mild and comfortable, particularly appealing for anyone with skin that reacts easily to harsher, more heavily detergent based bars. The tradeoff is a softer, sometimes slower forming bar and a gentler, less voluminous lather compared with recipes that lean more heavily on harder oils. How I use it across my range Olive oil sits at the foundation of my recipes across both my fragrance free and essential oil ranges, valued specifically for the mild, comfortable quality it brings to the finished bar. It pairs particularly naturally with the sensitive skin focus of my fragrance free range, where mildness matters more than almost any other single quality. Balancing olive oil with other oils and fats Because a very high olive oil bar can be softer and slower curing, many recipes, including my own, balance it with harder oils or fats like shea butter to achieve a firmer bar with a longer lasting lather, while still keeping olive oil's gentle character at the heart of the recipe. Frequently asked questions What is Castile soap? Castile soap is a traditional style of soap made almost entirely from olive oil, originating in Spain, historically valued for its mildness and simplicity. Is olive oil soap good for sensitive skin? Olive oil is naturally gentle and widely used in formulations aimed at sensitive or reactive skin, largely due to its long standing reputation for mildness. Why isn't all soap made purely from olive oil if it is so gentle? A soap made entirely from olive oil tends to be softer and slower to cure, with a less generous lather, so many soap makers, myself included, balance it with other oils and fats to achieve a firmer, longer lasting bar. Olive oil sits quietly beneath almost every bar I make, and understanding how to balance it properly with other oils is one of the first real recipe lessons in my online course.

Lemon essential oil is valued in skincare for its bright, cheerful character, traditionally associated with a fresh, clean feeling, and it is genuinely one of the trickiest essential oils to hold onto through cold process soap making, fading faster through the cure than almost any other scent I work with, which is exactly the kind of puzzle I find myself enjoying most. This is the scent people ask for constantly and the one I have to be most honest about the limitations of. Where the scent comes from Lemon essential oil is typically cold pressed from the peel of the lemon fruit, which is why its scent reads so immediately and unmistakably like fresh citrus zest rather than anything more processed or rounded. Its traditional place in skincare Lemon carries a long standing reputation for feeling clean, bright and cheerful, often included in formulations meant to feel refreshing and uplifting rather than for any specific treatment claim. The real challenge of working with lemon in cold process soap Lemon essential oil fades faster than nearly any other scent through cold process curing. The bright, volatile compounds that make it smell so immediately like fresh lemon zest are also the first to weaken over a six week cure. Solving this properly means either using it at a higher rate, pairing it carefully with a more stable oil, or accepting that the scent will soften considerably by the time the bar is ready. Why I still make it Despite the difficulty, lemon remains one of the most requested and best loved scents I offer, and part of the craft, and part of what I teach in my workshops and course, is learning to work with an oil's real behaviour rather than fighting it, whether that means clever blending or simply setting honest expectations. Frequently asked questions Why does lemon soap smell weaker than expected after curing? Lemon essential oil is one of the fastest fading scents through cold process curing, which is a genuine characteristic of the oil rather than a flaw in the making process. Can you make lemon scent last longer in cold process soap? Using it at a higher rate, pairing it with a more stable scent, or using a fixative can all help, though some fading over a full cure is largely unavoidable with true lemon essential oil. Is lemon essential oil safe for sensitive skin? As with any added scent, it can be unsuitable for genuinely reactive skin, which is why my fragrance free range exists as a separate, unscented alternative. Lemon is one of the more technically demanding scents in my range, and exactly the kind of chemistry puzzle I walk through properly with students in my online course.

Running out of an oil mid-planning is such a common beginner headache. The good news is, you can substitute oils in soap making – but not all swaps are created equal. In this guide, we’ll look at how different oils behave in cold process soap and when it’s safe to substitute one for another without ruining your batch. Here is a list of Oil Substitutions you can use in Soap Making Almond Oil, Sweet: use apricot kernel, sunflower, or rice bran instead Apricot Kernel Oil: use sweet almond, sunflower, or rice bran oil instead Argan Oil: use jojoba if available, or kukui, meadowfoam, avocado, sweet almond Avocado Oil: use hemp oil, or sunflower, sweet almond, apricot kernel Babassu Oil: replace with coconut oil, or palm kernel oil Canola Oil: use olive oil or rice bran, or sunflower oil if it’s 25% of the recipe or less Castor Oil: no oil is a direct substitute, but you can replace with any other liquid oil and add lather boosters such as honey, aloe, milk, sugar. Cocoa Butter: replace with kokum butter, lard, or tallow, or as a second choice: shea or mango butter Coconut Oil: Use babassu oil or palm kernel oil in equal amount. OR Add 5 to 10% castor oil to the recipe + 10% cocoa or kokum butter + the rest of the amount as sweet almond, rice bran, or olive oil. Grapeseed Oil: use kukui, jojoba, argan, meadowfoam, or hemp Hempseed Oil: replace with avocado, or sweet almond, apricot kernel, rice bran, sunflower Jojoba Oil: replace with argan, or meadowfoam, kukui, tamanu, apricot kernel, or sunflower Kokum Butter: replace with cocoa butter, lard, or tallow, or second choice: shea or mango butter Kukui Nut Oil: replace with jojoba, argan, rosehip, meadowfoam, apricot kernel, sweet almond, sunflower Lard/Tallow: Replace with cocoa or kokum butter up to 15 or 20% + 5% castor oil OR use a combination of 5% castor oil + 10 to 15% cocoa butter + 10 to 15% shea butter + 10 to 15% mango butter. Mango Butter: Replace with shea butter, or lard, tallow, cocoa or kokum butter Meadowfoam Oil: replace with argan, jojoba, kukui, sweet almond, apricot kernel, sunflower Neem Oil: replace with tamanu oil, or sea buckthorn, rosehip, argan, jojoba, meadowfoam Olive Oil: Use rice bran oil instead of olive oil, in equal amounts. OR Use canola oil to replace up to 35% of the olive oil + replace the rest of the olive oil amount with one or more liquid oils such as sunflower, sweet almond, rice bran, avocado, or apricot kernel. OR Use sunflower oil to replace 20 to 25% of the olive oil + replace the rest of the olive with up to 10 to 15% each of sweet almond, apricot kernel, rice bran, canola, hemp, or avocado oil. Palm Kernel Oil: use coconut oil or babassu oil instead Palm Oil: Use tallow or lard instead, in equal amounts. OR Use 15% cocoa or kokum butter + 5% castor oil + the rest of the amount as olive or rice bran oil. OR Use olive oil in its place + cure the soap for an additional month or two. (Lather will be reduced.) Rice Bran Oil: use olive instead, or canola, sunflower, sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado Rosehip Seed Oil: replace with argan, jojoba, sea buckthorn, tamanu, kukui, hemp, avocado, sweet almond, apricot kernel oil Sea Buckthorn Oil: use rosehip seed oil, tamanu, hemp, avocado, kukui instead Shea Butter: replace with mango butter, or lard, tallow, cocoa or kokum butter Sunflower Oil: replace with sweet almond, apricot kernel, avocado, hemp, rice bran, olive oil Tamanu Oil: replace with rosehip seed, sea buckthorn, neem, or argan, jojoba, meadowfoam, kukui, hemp, avocado Your next step If this post has you excited about making your own soaps, here’s where to go next: Download the free Soap Making Checklist – perfect to keep on your counter on soap day so you don’t forget anything when the lye comes out. Join the Botanical Soap Making Beginners Course (£149) – a calm, step-by-step online course that takes you from “I’m nervous” to “I made this!” with videos, recipes and printable guides 👉 Get the Free Checklist– 👉 Explore the Beginners Course

Lavender and rosemary from my own allotment feed directly into my soap range, either dried and used as gentle botanicals in my fragrance free bars, or, in the case of lavender, distilled into essential oil that scents the lavender bar in my essential oil range, with the whole path running from a specific bed I tend myself to a specific finished bar on my website. People are often surprised how literal this connection actually is, so here is the full path, start to finish. Where it starts, a specific bed on a specific plot Nothing here is metaphorical branding. My lavender and rosemary grow on my own allotment, tended by hand through an entire season before a single stem is cut. I know exactly what has and has not gone near either plant, because I am the one tending them. Harvest, timed on purpose Lavender gets cut as its lower flowers begin opening, mid morning once any dew has dried, since this is when its scent is at its most concentrated. Rosemary is more forgiving and can sometimes go from bed to soap pot within the same afternoon, particularly when I want that fresh, green, herbal note at its strongest. Drying, slow and unhurried Lavender destined for the fragrance free range gets bundled and hung to dry slowly in a dark, airy space over two to three weeks, which protects both its colour and its scent far better than any faster method would. Where each plant ends up Dried lavender becomes part of the gentle botanical element in my fragrance free range, sitting alongside oat with no added scent. Lavender essential oil, properly distilled, scents the lavender bar in my essential oil range instead. Rosemary lends its herbal, awake quality to the scented range, sometimes barely hours off the plant. Why this matters to me I left a corporate career to build something slower and more honest, and growing what eventually becomes soap is the clearest way I know to keep that promise. It is also, practically speaking, the reason my allotment and my soap pot sit so close together that some of what I make genuinely goes from bed to mould in one working day. Frequently asked questions Do you grow all your own ingredients? No, I grow lavender and rosemary myself, while other oils and ingredients are sourced carefully from suppliers, but everything I do grow feeds directly into specific bars. How is home grown lavender different from bought essential oil? The plant itself is not different, but knowing exactly how it was grown, harvested and dried, because I did it myself, is the part that matters most to me. Does home grown rosemary go straight into soap without drying? Sometimes, yes. Rosemary is forgiving enough that I occasionally use it within the same afternoon it was cut, depending on the bar I am making. The bars that come from this exact path, allotment bed to soap pot, are on my website, alongside the story of how the whole thing started.