Not all soaps are created the same — and the way a soap is made directly affects how it feels on your skin.
There are three main soap-making methods: melt & pour, hot process, and cold process. Each has its place, but at Fleurs Naturals, we intentionally choose the cold process method — and here’s why that matters for you.
Melt & Pour Soap
Melt & pour soap begins with a pre-made base that has already gone through saponification (the chemical reaction between oils and lye that creates true soap). The base is simply melted down and customized with color and fragrance.
While it’s convenient and great for beginners, melt & pour bases often contain synthetic detergents, added stabilizers, or ingredients designed to extend shelf life and increase clarity. Because the formula is already made, there’s limited control over the foundational ingredients.
One can easily purchase this pre-made base online or from a retailer, which may have unwanted additives that may affect your specific skin type. For those with sensitive or ingredient-conscious skin, that can matter.
Hot Process Soap
Hot process soap is cooked during production to speed up saponification. The soap is usable sooner, but the high heat can affect the final texture and limits intricate design. While it is still real soap, the cooking process can slightly alter the delicate qualities of certain oils.
Cold Process Soap — The Fleurs Naturals Standard
Cold process soap is made from scratch by blending plant-based oils with a lye solution and allowing the soap to naturally saponify over time. There is no pre-made base. No shortcuts. No synthetic fillers required.
This method creates true soap — formed from real oils that transform into a gentle, cleansing bar through a natural chemical reaction.
But here’s why that benefits you:
🌸 Ingredient transparency – You know exactly what touches your skin.
🌸 Naturally occurring glycerin – A humectant formed during saponification that helps attract moisture to the skin. Many commercial soaps remove glycerin; cold process keeps it in.
🌸 Balanced cleansing – Cleans without the tight, stripped feeling.
🌸 Longer-lasting bars – Properly cured soap is firmer and more durable in the shower.
🌸 Skin-loving oils remain intact – Olive oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil — chosen for their individual benefits and allowed to cure slowly for optimal performance.
At Fleurs Naturals, we use cold process because it allows us to create soap in its most authentic form — crafted from plant-based oils and pure essential oils, cured patiently, and designed to support a mindful bathing experience.
This is real soap made traditionally, intentionally, and with your skin in mind— and not just detergent inputted into a mold.
If you’re ready to experience plant-based soap the way it was meant to be, explore our collection and embrace the bloom here.