Have you ever wondered why a handmade bar of soap from Cnor Skincare feels so different from one you would get from the store? It's not just the amazing colours, textures, or natural scents; it's the magic of a time-honoured technique combined with a deep understanding of nature's chemistry—the cold process method.

CNOR combines Ayurveda, science, and art to create true soap, transforming basic, natural ingredients into opulent, skin-beneficial bars. Let's take you behind the scenes and share the beautiful science that makes our soap truly special.

What is soap, and how is it made?

Soap making relies on a wonderful chemical reaction called saponification.

Fats/Oils + Lye (Sodium Hydroxide dissolved in Liquid) → Soap + Glycerin

We carefully select a nourishing blend of plant-based oils and butters—each chosen for its unique skin benefits. These oils are composed of fatty acids. When we introduce these fatty acids to an alkali solution (lye dissolved in purified water), the saponification reaction begins. The lye breaks down the oils (triglycerides) into their component fatty acid salts (which are basically soap) and glycerin.

Understanding Lye

Lye (sodium hydroxide for bar soap) is essential for saponification. Without it, oils would just remain oils—and not transform into soap. While lye itself is caustic, the unique formulation of Cnor Handmade soaps ensures that no active lye remains in the final, properly cured bar of Cnor soap. The chemical reaction completely consumes and transforms it, leaving behind only gentle soap, skin moisturising oils, butters, and glycerin.

Cnor Cold process Soaps– Superfatted Handcrafted Luxury

Superfatting involves incorporating additional oils or fats into a cold process soap recipe, surpassing the minimum required for a full reaction with lye (sodium hydroxide). This extra oil doesn’t convert into soap; it stays in the soap to nourish and moisturise your skin. It’s like adding moisturiser right to your cleansing bar!

In soapmaking, oil + lye = soap + glycerin (saponification). But Cnor Luxury Handcrafted soaps are "superfat,", meaning we intentionally use less lye than needed to convert all the oils to soap. So some oils remain unsaponified.

This leftover oil = skin-loving goodness. It makes your soap:

• More moisturizing
• Less harsh (especially on sensitive/dry skin)
• Creates Creamier lather

Rooted in Ayurveda, Formulated with Science

At Cnor, we don’t just sprinkle herbs for the sake of it. Every Cnor soap formulation is well researched to incorporate the benefits of traditional Ayurvedic powerhouse skincare practices, like applying ubtan and milk baths and making them using traditional cold process techniques. This slow-curing method preserves the potency of our ingredients.

Cnor soaps with infused botanicals allow you to incorporate skincare into your daily bathing routine, saving time and effort. It simplifies the skincare routine, eliminating the need for separate cleansing and moisturising products and ensuring overall body care: Whereas a face pack is only for the face, Cnor soap is for the entire body.

Essential oils in Cnor soaps (and not synthetic fragrances) aren’t just about the scent—they're botanical extracts with real skin benefits. When used correctly in cold-process soap, they don’t just smell good—they work with your skin.

Whereas, artificial fragrances are lab-made. Though they smell strong and sweet, they bring zero skin benefits and often contain allergens or irritants (especially for sensitive skin). They’re like perfume for your soap—with no purpose beyond the smell.

At C’nor, we choose essential oils because they align with our Ayurvedic roots and give your skin something real—not just a scent show. It’s skincare with aromatherapy.

Why "Cold Process Soaps"?

The term "cold process" means no external heat is applied to oil, butter and lye solution to force the saponification reaction. We mix the oils and lye solution at relatively low temperatures. While the reaction itself naturally generates some warmth (it's exothermic!), we let it proceed at its own gentle pace.

Why is this important?

• Preserves Oil Quality: High heat can damage the delicate, beneficial properties of the natural oils and butters we carefully select. Cold processing helps retain their inherent goodness.
• Allows the addition of liquid botanical extracts (orange, aloe vera, neem, mint, etc.), milk, curd, and honey to the soaps without burning the skin-nourishing elements of these additives, making each CNOR bar unique.

Reaching "Trace": The Point of No Return

As the oils and lye solution are blended, they begin to emulsify. We look for a stage called "trace", where the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency. This tells us that saponification is well underway and the ingredients are permanently combined, ready to be poured into moulds.

The Magic of Curing: More Than Just Drying

Once poured and set, the soap isn't ready just yet! It enters the crucial curing phase, typically lasting 4-6 weeks. This isn't just about drying out; it's vital for two reasons:

Completing Saponification: Any remaining micro-traces of lye finish reacting, ensuring the final bar is perfectly safe and gentle.

Water Evaporation: Excess water evaporates slowly. This creates a harder, longer-lasting bar of soap that lathers beautifully and doesn't dissolve too quickly in your shower. A well-cured bar is a hallmark of quality handmade soap.

Nature's Gift: Retained Glycerin

Here’s a key difference between CNOR cold process soap and many commercial bars: glycerin. As mentioned, glycerin is a natural byproduct of saponification. It's a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture from the air to your skin, helping it stay hydrated and soft long after you wash.

In industrial soap production, this valuable glycerin is often extracted and sold separately (to be added to lotions and other products). In our handmade cold process soap, all that naturally occurring glycerin remains right where it belongs – in your soap bar, ready to pamper your skin.

Extra Nourishment: The Secret of Superfatting

At CNOR Skincare, we often practice "superfatting". This means we formulate our recipes with a slight excess of oils and butters beyond what the lye can chemically convert into soap. These extra, unsaponified oils remain freely available in the final bar, providing an additional layer of conditioning, moisture, and gentleness. It’s like building a moisturiser right into your cleansing bar!

Experience the CNOR Difference: Science Meets Nature

So, when you hold a bar of Cnor Skincare handcrafted luxury soap, you're holding more than just a cleanser. You're holding the result of careful science, quality natural ingredients, patient craftsmanship, and a process designed to be inherently gentle and nourishing for your skin.

• Truly Natural: No SLS, SLES, parabens, or harsh synthetic chemicals.
• Glycerin-Rich: Naturally moisturising thanks to retained glycerin.
• Conditioning: Often superfatted for extra skin-loving care.
• Gentle: Perfect even for sensitive skin types.
• Artisanal Quality: Crafted with care in small batches.

Ready to elevate your daily cleanse from a routine chore to a self-care ritual? It's time to cherish your skin with ingredients chosen by nature and transformed by the beautiful science of cold process soapmaking. Nurture yourself daily with the gentle, moisturising luxury of Cnor Skincare handcrafted luxury soap.