About Divinity Soaps

Soap Making

Soap comes from a chemical reaction between various oils and fats and caustic soda (lye or NaOH), called saponification. Commercial soap is usually produced from tallow and other fats plus a variety of synthetic compounds which are added to produce the desired lather, texture and hardness of the finished bar. The mixture is boiled at high temperatures with the caustic soda until the process of saponification takes place.  The soap is then grated (milled) and sent through a machine which compacts the soap very tightly to produce a hard bar. However, more additives are needed to give the soap the required amount of plasticity and to allow the soap to move through milling machinery.

When fats, oils and lye are mixed, the other product produced besides soap is glycerin. During the manufacture of commercial soaps, glycerin is produced and is either washed away with the other waste products, or it is separated out and sold on to the cosmetics, food or explosives industries. This is a shame because glycerin is a natural moisturiser for the skin. The removal of glycerin during the commercial making of soap is one of the reasons why commercial soaps can often be so drying to the skin.

In our cold-process soap making method the mixture of vegetable oils, sodium hydroxide, water, natural and organic nutrients and essential oils is stirred together. The only heat used is to gently melt the oils at the start of the process and the glycerin is stirred back into the soap as the saponification reaction takes place. This means that our handmade soaps retain all the glycerin, making superior quality and gentle bars of soap.

We use simple products in our soaps. Depending on the type of soap, our soaps contain a mixture of ingredients: pure spring water, cold pressed extra virgin olive, coconut and palm oils, other oils such as apricot kernel, avocado, jojoba, sweet almond, nutrients such as shea butter, beeswax and cocoa butter, essential oils for their scents and natural pigments for colour.  To add texture we sometimes add other ingredients, such as dried herbs, flowers, oatmeal, goat’s milk, seeds, nuts and honey.

We make the soap in small batches of about 40 bars and cut it by hand.  It then cures and hardens for several weeks before being sold.  We are our own testers with the help of family and friends.  If our friends and family like the soap then we hope others will, so we keep making them.  

Ingredients

At Divinity we choose to use only natural ingredients and organic wherever possible.  There is a vast array of products available for soap making, including synthetic fragrances, petroleum derivatives, artificial colors, and animal products.  Many of these products are understandably popular because they can make the process easier and considerably less expensive.  Thousands of laboratory scents have been developed that attempt to mimic natural fragrances.  However, we believe in the therapeutic properties of pure essential oils and strive to limit our exposure to chemicals.  

All our soaps begin with the same formula - cold pressed and extra virgin olive oil for moisturizing, palm oil for hardness, and coconut oil for rich lather.  Pure essential oils transform that recipe into an irresistible array of soaps that will delight your senses right to the end of the bar.  Natural botanicals add color and texture.  Although pure essential oils typically don't irritate those with allergies the way synthetic fragrances do, we always have scent-free varieties available for those who prefer them.  We can also customise a bar just for you!  

Results

The finest ingredients and exacting methods can only lead to great results.  You get a rich lathering, long lasting bar of soap that is mild enough to use from head to toe.  It moisturizes without leaving you oily.  Because its naturally-occurring glycerin is retained, it doesn't have the drying effect common to commercially produced soaps.  They lather superbly, even in cold or hard water.  The essential oils ensure that you'll be treated to the delightful fragrance right to the end of the bar.  Some varieties, such as Honey Oatmeal, Ginger Seaweed Scrub, Apricot Scrub, or Cinnamon Chai, are gentle exfoliants.

What are the benefits?

Our soaps are mild enough for the whole body and whole family.  They help to eliminate the irritation of dry skin common in our Canadian climate.  Customers have told us that it has improved their psoriasis or eczema.  Others have told us that it's the only soap that doesn't irritate their sensitive skin.  While these aren't scientific claims, we value feedback from satisfied customers and consider this a sign of success.

About Divinity

Philosophy

We strive to operate a socially and environmentally responsible business.  Through the use of natural and organic ingredients, through energy conservation and the use of renewable energy, by recycling and minimizing packaging and waste, and by supporting other businesses with similar beliefs.  We try to minimize our impact on our environment and set a positive example for everyone.  For example, our soap wrappers are made of recycled paper which is 30% post-consumer waste.

We donate 10% of all proceeds to local charities.

History

Like all good small soap companies, Divinity Body Care started in the kitchen.  We tried soap making as a hobby because we were looking for natural and organic skin care products that were gentle for sensitive skin and do not harm the environment.

We liked our early experiments, enjoying the process, the creative aspect of combining different ingredients and the investigation and research to incorporate elements from our yogic lifestyle.  From the very beginning the soaps were good quality and this was due to our own desire to create as natural a product as possible, to use high-quality ingredients from the start and to experiment with recipes and methods over and over again to make better and better soap.

We began selling at local yoga studios and conferences with great success, receiving encouraging feedback from our customers.  To make it more convenient for return customers, and to expand our customer base, we decided to launch this website.  We hope you find something you like.

Location

Our small home-based business is located in our cozy home in south eastern Ontario, Canada.  We are located near the Ottawa River which runs between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.  

The image in the header of this website and www.pranashanti.com reminds me of one of my favourite places to practice yoga, the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico, USA.