Category: Blogtober 2026

A customer asked me this recently, and I thought it was a very good question. Can a bar of soap tucked in with your jumpers keep the moths away? Well, while I’d love to tell you that my soap can keep you clean AND act as security detail for your knitwear, I certainly wouldn’t trust it with your favourite cardigan.

I AM an advocate for popping a bar of lovely smelling soap into your drawers – it keeps the bars dry and away from sunlight, and has the added bonus of making your clothes smell lovely. But no, I wouldn’t rely on soap for moth protection.

Surely lavender soap can help keep moths at bay?

Lavender has a long history of being tucked into drawers and wardrobes. English Heritage are experts in keeping old fabrics safe, and according to them, dried lavender sachets can help repel adult clothes moths (although the effect is temporary and they don’t affect larvae already in clothing).

But a lavender sachet and a bar of lavender soap aren’t the same thing, and I couldn’t find any reliable evidence that scented bar of soap probably could release enough of the right compounds to protect your woollens.

So, lovely scent? Certainly. A great reason to pop a bar in a drawer. Guaranteed cardigan bodyguard? Sadly, no.

Who’s actually eating your jumper?

Here’s the slightly unpleasant bit: it’s the clothes moth larvae that eat the fibres, rather than the adult moths. The adults lay eggs, and the resulting larvae help themselves to your woollens. Which means that even something that discourages adults won’t necessarily stop an existing problem. Tiny squatters with expensive tastes!

A few practical habits are more useful than giving your soap an extra job on the side:

What does helps protect woollens?

• Put clothes away clean and completely dry. Food marks and perspiration make fabrics more appealing to clothes moth larvae. Follow the garment’s care instructions.
• Vacuum drawers and wardrobes, including corners and crevices where fluff collects.
• Use well-sealed bags or airtight boxes for longer-term storage, starting with clean, pest-free clothes.
• Check occasionally, especially inside folds and seams, for holes, larvae or silky webbing.

If you find signs of moths, deal with the affected clothes and clean the storage area. Adding a nice smell won’t solve it. Clothes moth pheromone traps can help you spot activity, but they aren’t a complete treatment.

And the soap?

If you enjoy keeping a bar in your drawer for the scent, go ahead. Use a dry bar and keep it in a breathable paper wrapper or sachet, away from direct contact with your clothes.

Just don’t put it in charge of moth prevention, it hasn’t done the training 😉

Vicki x

Day 14 of Blogtober, and time to address a common misconception…

It’s a question I’ve heard more than once, and I can understand why people brought up on liquid soap and shower gels might think bars of soap are old-fashioned.  For some, bar soap conjures up memories of a slightly grubby bar sitting in a puddle beside Auntie Nora’s bathroom sink, while modern bathrooms are filled with sleek, beautifully designed plastic bottles of liquid handwash and gels.

However, I think solid soap is one of the most modern choices you can make for your bathroom. Yes, I realise that that is exactly what you might expect me to say, as someone who makes soap for a living. But consider this…

Are plastic bottles really progress?

Somewhere along the way, we seem to have decided that putting soap into a plastic bottle made it better.  More modern, more sophisticated, more convenient.  (and even I can grudgingly admit that soap in pump bottles might perhaps be quite convenient).

But think about what we’re actually doing. We’re buying a bottle, using the contents, and then, in most cases, disposing of the packaging and buying another one.

And another.

And another.

All for a product that does essentially the same job as a bar of soap.

Less packaging, less waste

One of the biggest advantages of solid soap is that it doesn’t need a plastic bottle.  A bar can be packaged in a simple paper wrapper or cardboard box, avoiding the need for another plastic container and pump mechanism.

And while recycling is important, avoiding unnecessary packaging in the first place is even better.

Then there’s the water.

Liquid handwash and shower gel generally contain a substantial amount of water as part of their formulation. Solid soap contains very little, which means you’re not buying and transporting quite so much water along with your cleaning product.

In fact, research comparing different handwashing methods has found that bar soap can have a lower environmental impact than liquid soap in several important categories, including greenhouse gas emissions.

Of course, no product is completely without environmental impact, and ingredients, manufacturing, packaging and how we use a product all matter.  But when it comes to reducing single-use plastic in the bathroom, solid soap is a clear winner.

Old-fashioned doesn’t mean outdated

Here’s another thought. Just because something has been around for hundreds of years, does that mean it needs replacing?  We still use plates, books, bicycles and wooden spoons.  Nobody’s suggesting we need to reinvent the spoon simply because it’s been doing a perfectly good job for centuries.

Some things have stuck around because they work.  And traditional soap is one of them.  The technology might be old, but the reasons for choosing it can be thoroughly modern.

Reducing packaging. Being more thoughtful about what we buy. Choosing products that do their job without creating unnecessary waste. Those aren’t outdated ideas. Quite the opposite.

But what about the soggy soap?

Ah yes. The dreaded soggy soap. This is probably one of the biggest complaints I hear about using a bar, and the solution is wonderfully straightforward.  I know, I’m like a broken record but:

Give your soap somewhere to drain and dry between uses!

A decent draining soap dish or soap ladder makes a huge difference. Keep the bar out of standing water and away from the direct shower spray, and it’ll last much better.  And if you use a washcloth or loofah in the shower, you can work up a lovely lather without keeping the bar under running water.

I’m not suggesting everyone should throw away their liquid soap tomorrow – that would rather defeat the object of trying to reduce waste, wouldn’t it?   But when your current bottle runs out, perhaps consider whether you actually need to replace it with another bottle.   A lovely bar of soap could do exactly the same job 😉

It can smell gorgeous, feel lovely to use, look beautiful beside your sink and help you avoid another piece of disposable packaging.

(Oh, and if you already have a refillable dispenser that you love, that is a perfectly reasonable way to cut down on single-use packaging. PROVIDED  you take it to an eco-friendly refill store to, well… refill).

So is solid soap old-fashioned?

Well, the method of making it certainly has a long history.  But choosing a practical, effective product that helps reduce unnecessary plastic waste?  I’d call that pretty modern, actually.

And finally, when all’s said and done, if being old-fashioned means enjoying a gorgeous bar of handmade soap instead of buying yet another plastic bottle? Well, actually, I’m very happy to be old-fashioned.

Vicki x

Just imagine. You’ve finally finished the day’s to-do list (or at least shoved it under a cushion where it can’t glare at you), you’ve got a warm bath waiting, a proper bar of soap at the ready, and the scent drifting through the air makes your shoulders drop an inch.

Lovely, isn’t it?

But have you ever wondered why certain fragrances make you feel calmer, happier or more relaxed?

It’s not necessarily just your imagination. Our sense of smell is closely connected to parts of the brain involved in emotion and memory, which helps explain why a particular fragrance can instantly remind us of a person, a place or a happy moment.

And researchers have been investigating whether some scents might actually help us feel less stressed.

The results are interesting, although it’s worth remembering that aromatherapy isn’t a miracle cure, and what one person finds wonderfully relaxing might make somebody else wrinkle their nose in disgust.

So, here are five fragrances worth exploring when you fancy a little downtime.

1. Lavender: The classic calmer

If relaxation had a mascot, it would probably be lavender.

It’s one of the most widely studied fragrances in aromatherapy, and some research suggests that inhaling lavender essential oil may help reduce feelings of anxiety and promote relaxation.

There have even been studies involving patients awaiting medical procedures, where lavender aromatherapy has been associated with reduced anxiety.

Does that mean one sniff will instantly send you off to sleep? Sadly not. But if you enjoy lavender, incorporating the fragrance into your evening routine might help make bedtime feel a little more peaceful.

How to enjoy it

• A warm bath with a lavender-scented soap
• A few drops of lavender essential oil on your pillow before bed
• A little lavender skin cream as part of your evening routine

And if you’ve got time for all three, well, that sounds like a perfectly reasonable way to spend an evening.

2. Sweet orange: Sunshine for the soul

There’s something wonderfully cheerful about the smell of freshly peeled oranges.

Bright, juicy and uplifting, it’s the sort of fragrance that reminds me of sunshine, even when the weather outside is doing its usual North Wales thing.

Interestingly, researchers have investigated sweet orange essential oil in stressful situations, including dental appointments.

Some small studies have reported lower anxiety levels among people exposed to orange fragrance, although the results aren’t consistent enough to guarantee the same effect for everyone.

Still, if citrus fragrances make you feel cheerful, that’s reason enough to enjoy them.

How to enjoy it:

• Start the morning with a citrus-scented soap in the shower.
• Use a suitable citrus fragrance in a diffuser, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Choose a bright, fruity fragrance when you need a little pick-me-up.

I can’t promise it’ll make a Monday morning feel like a holiday in the Mediterranean, but it’s worth a try.

3. Rose: A little floral comfort

Rose is one of those fragrances that people seem to have very strong feelings about. Some adore its rich, romantic floral scent. Others associate it with old-fashioned perfumes or their grandmother’s dressing table.

Personally, I think a good rose fragrance can be absolutely gorgeous.

Rose essential oil has also been studied for its possible effects on stress and anxiety. Some small studies have produced encouraging results, although more research is needed before we can draw firm conclusions.

For me, rose is a lovely example of how fragrance can be comforting simply because of the memories and associations we attach to it.

How to enjoy it:

• Treat yourself to a rose-scented bath.
• Use a rose-scented soap for a slow, leisurely wash.
• Enjoy a rose-scented room spray designed for use around the home.

And if rose reminds you of somebody special, that little trip down memory lane might be the nicest part of all.

4. Sandalwood: The grounding one

Unlike bright citrus or sweet floral fragrances, sandalwood has a warm, woody scent that many people find comforting. It’s rich, smooth and earthy, making it a popular choice for perfumes, soaps and home fragrances.

There has been some research into sandalwood and its effects on mood and alertness, but the evidence for its ability to reduce stress is still quite limited.

That doesn’t mean it can’t be part of a relaxing routine, of course. Sometimes it’s simply about choosing a fragrance that makes you feel comfortable and settled.

How to enjoy it:

• Choose a sandalwood-scented soap for your evening shower.
• Enjoy a suitable woody home fragrance while reading.
• Pair the scent with a little quiet time, away from your phone and the never-ending to-do list.

Especially useful if your brain is doing that thing where it has approximately 27 tabs open, and at least three of them are playing music.

5. Bergamot: Calm meets uplifting

If you’re an Earl Grey tea drinker, you’ll already be familiar with bergamot. It’s a citrus fruit with a distinctive fragrance that’s fresh, slightly floral and a little more sophisticated than straightforward orange or lemon.

Bergamot essential oil has been investigated in several small aromatherapy studies, some of which have reported improvements in mood or feelings of stress. Again, the evidence is promising rather than conclusive, but it’s an interesting fragrance to explore.

What I particularly like about bergamot is that it combines beautifully with other scents, including lavender, woody fragrances and other citrus notes.

How to enjoy it:

• Choose a bergamot-scented soap for a refreshing shower.
• Enjoy a cup of Earl Grey while taking five minutes to yourself.
• Use a suitably formulated bergamot home fragrance while reading or relaxing.

And if you do opt for the Earl Grey, I’d strongly recommend a biscuit to go with it. Entirely for scientific purposes, obviously.

A little science, a lot of comfort

So, can fragrance genuinely help us relax? Possibly, yes.

Research into aromatherapy has produced some encouraging findings, particularly for lavender, and there is evidence that certain aromas may influence how people experience stress and anxiety.

But studies vary in quality, and the results don’t mean that every lavender soap, rose bath or bergamot candle will produce a measurable physiological effect.

There’s also the very personal side of fragrance to consider. A scent that reminds you of a lovely holiday, your childhood home or somebody you love might make you smile before you’ve even consciously worked out why. That’s one of the things I find so fascinating about our sense of smell.

Of course, you don’t need scientific research to give yourself permission to enjoy a relaxing bath or a lovely-smelling shower. Taking a little time for yourself is worthwhile in its own right.

Try this tonight

Here’s a suggestion for a little evening relaxation that doesn’t involve booking a spa day, spending a fortune or leaving the house.

Run yourself a comfortably warm bath.

Add a little of your favourite Foaming Bath Sprinkles, following the instructions on the packaging. Put your phone somewhere you can’t absent-mindedly reach for it. Lower yourself into the water, get comfortable and spend some time simply enjoying the warmth and fragrance.

No emails. No laundry. No mentally writing tomorrow’s shopping list. Just ten or fifteen minutes when nobody needs anything from you.

And if you’re not a bath person, a lovely-smelling shower followed by a fabulous smelling body cream and a few minutes with a book or a panad can be just as enjoyable.

The important thing isn’t creating the perfect relaxation routine. It’s finding small moments of pleasure that fit into your actual life. Because while fragrance can’t make your problems disappear, it can certainly make an ordinary moment feel a little more special.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Vicki x

Last year, a woman came up to my stall at one of the Christmas markets and asked:

“Are all these soaps natural, yeah?” 

My response was “Well, it depends what you mean by natural”, hoping that would open up a conversation about ingredients etc. But no, she gave me a disdainful look and walked away, mumbling something about only using natural stuff…

Here at The Soap Mine you won’t ever find me describing my bars as ‘natural’, which might seem a little odd for a business making soap from lovely oils and butters.  So why’s that then?

What does ‘natural’ actually mean?

Well, that’s the problem, really.  Ask ten people what they mean by natural skincare and you might get ten different answers.

• Does it mean every ingredient comes directly from a plant?
• Does it mean nothing has been manufactured or processed?
• Does it mean a product contains no synthetic ingredients?
• Or does it simply mean something that feels wholesome and environmentally friendly?

It’s a word that sounds reassuring, but without a clear explanation it doesn’t tell you very much about what’s actually inside a product, and there IS no industry-standard definition of the word.

Natural doesn’t automatically mean better

I know I bang on about this quite a lot, but it’s worth repeating.  Just because something comes from nature doesn’t automatically make it harmless, gentle or suitable for everyone’s skin.

Poison ivy is natural. So are stinging nettles.  Essential oils, lovely as they can be, contain naturally occurring fragrance compounds that some people are sensitive or even allergic to.  Equally, an ingredient made in a laboratory shouldn’t be something to be frightened of.  What actually matters is what the ingredient is, how it’s used and whether it’s suitable for the finished product.

Soap itself is the result of chemistry

Traditional soap is made through a chemical reaction between oils or fats and an alkali. I start with oils and butters such as olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter, then combine them with a carefully calculated sodium hydroxide solution. That sodium hydroxide has been created in a lab, and 99.9% of makers* of solid soap** in the land use it.

The resulting reaction, called saponification, transforms those ingredients into soap and glycerine.  Which means the finished soap is not simply a mixture of untouched plant oils in their ‘natural’ state

It’s a brand new product, created through chemistry.  And that’s an important distinction because rubbing olive oil and cocoa butter onto your hands wouldn’t have quite the same cleansing effect!

I’d rather tell you what’s actually in it

Some of my soaps are scented with essential oils, others with fragrance oils.  I use cosmetic-grade colourants, usually mica, to create the designs. My soaps are vegan-friendly and palm-free, and I formulate them using carefully chosen oils and butters.

These are specific things I can explain.  I’d much rather tell you exactly what I use and why, than rely on a broad description that could mean something different to every customer.

Oh and while we’re here, there’s no such thing as ‘chemical-free’ soap either.  Water is a chemical. Oxygen is a chemical. Everything around us is made of chemicals.

So when I describe my soap, I prefer to talk about the ingredients, how it’s made and what you can expect from it.  It might not sound quite as romantic as promising something completely natural and chemical-free. But it’s waaay more accurate.

And I’d rather give you accurate information than a lovely-sounding claim that doesn’t really mean anything.

Vicki x

*There is a tiny group of niche soapmaker who make their own lye from ashes, but it’s extremely difficult to get certification to sell the soaps made from it as it’s difficult to ensure uniformity of product. If a soapmaker is making their own lye, believe me, it will be their USP and you’ll know about it – they’ll be shouting it from the rooftops. In all my years making soap I’ve never found anyone certified to sell soap made with lye they’ve created themselves.

**Liquid soapmakers use potassium hydroxide rather than sodium hydroxide, but the point still stands – the potassium hydroxide is created in a lab.

Yes. For everyday washing at home, a bar of soap is a good, effective choice. You don’t need a pump bottle to get your hands clean. And yet “Is bar soap hygienic?” is one of those questions that keeps coming up.

I understand the thinking. Someone washes their dirty hands with a bar, puts it down, and the next person picks it up. Surely that means they’re passing their germs along? It sounds plausible. But it misses a rather important part of the process: the washing.

True soap is naturally alkaline

Traditional soap, made by combining oils and fats with an alkali, is naturally alkaline. That makes it a less welcoming environment for bacteria to grow in. And bar that can dry between uses also offers less moisture for microbial growth.

So the idea that a properly kept bar is simply a cosy home for germs misses some useful chemistry. Its alkalinity is part of the picture, alongside drying between uses and the washing and rinsing that happen when you use it. Alkaline doesn’t mean sterile, but there’s no need for soap to be sterile to help you get clean.

The soap helps wash germs away

Soap helps loosen dirt and oils, allowing them and microbes to be rinsed away, so finding bacteria on a used bar doesn’t mean those bacteria will remain on the next person’s hands after washing.

In a study published in Epidemiology & Infection, researchers deliberately added two types of bacteria to soap bars at levels far higher than those previously reported on used bars. After people washed with those bars, neither test bacterium was detected on their hands. That’s reassuring evidence for routine handwashing.

And what about the pump bottle?

We often assume liquid soap must be more hygienic because nobody touches the soap itself. But we do touch the pump. Usually with the very hands we’re about to wash. When did you last clean yours, the pump I mean, obvs! No judgement. There are quite enough things on the household jobs list already. 😂

A liquid soap dispenser isn’t automatically germ-free. Research into refillable liquid-soap dispensers has found bacterial contamination, including biofilms on and inside pump heads. That doesn’t mean you should worry about every bottle beside the sink. It does mean that “it comes out of a pump” is by no means a guarantee of better hygiene.

Soap dishes and dispensers both benefit from being kept clean.

A bar is easy to look after

You don’t need an elaborate routine.

Rinse off any visible dirt, keep your bar on a draining dish, and give it a chance to dry between uses. Clean the dish regularly too. Sensible care for something you use every day, and it helps the bar last longer as well.

The important bit is how you wash

Whether you prefer a bar or a bottle, a hurried dab of soap and a quick splash won’t make the most of either. The NHS recommends washing for around 20 seconds, covering all parts of your hands, then rinsing and drying thoroughly.

You could spend those seconds enjoying the scent and luscious lather of a lovely handmade bar.

So, can you use solid soap with confidence?

For ordinary washing at home, yes, absolutely! A well-kept bar, water and a thorough wash make a perfectly practical combination. If you’ve been avoiding solid soap purely because you thought it was unhygienic, please don’t let that be the thing that puts you off.

Choose a bar you enjoy using, give it somewhere to drain, and let it get on with the job.

Lovely soap. Clean hands. Fewer plastic bottles. Sounds like a good arrangement to me. 😉

Vicki x

Someone on Threads asked me a very reasonable question:

“If I only used a bar of soap for handwashing, say six times a day, how long would it last?”

My first thought was: how long is a piece of string? Which is spectacularly unhelpful, I know. But even with the number of washes supplied, there are a few more things I’d need to know before offering anything resembling an accurate answer.

How big is the bar?

A little guest soap and a full-sized bar aren’t starting with the same amount of soap. “One bar” is a bit like “one slice of cake”. There are slices, and then there are slices.

What’s the soap like?

Different recipes produce bars that behave very differently in water. The oils used, the formulation and how long the soap has cured can all affect how quickly it wears down. So even two bars of the exact same weight, but from different makers, won’t necessarily last the same length of time.

How much soap do you use each time?

Do you rub the bar just long enough to get soap onto your hands, put it down and carry on washing? Or does the bar stay in your hands for the whole performance? Both count as “one wash”, but they can use quite different amounts of soap. I’m not suggesting you shorten your handwashing. Just that once you’ve got enough soap, the bar can sit that bit out.

What’s your water like?

Hard water makes it harder to build a lather, which may mean you use more soap each time. Same bar, same number of washes, different water: potentially a different lifespan.

What happens between washes?

This is a big one. A bar on a draining dish, away from splashes, gets a chance to dry. A bar sitting in a puddle keeps softening even while nobody’s using it. You might only wash your hands six times a day, but your soap could be spending the other twenty-three-and-a-bit hours quietly turning to mush. Not the way it should be spending its free time.

How many people use the bar?

Six washes a day for you is one thing. Six washes for you, plus everyone else who wanders past the sink, is another. Soap does not keep a visitors’ book. The children may have been involved.

So what’s the answer?

I can’t reliably turn “six washes a day” into a particular number of days or weeks. And even if I had answers to all the questions above, It would be difficult to even hazard a guess, there are so many factors involved. So the simplest way to find out is to note when you start a bar and see how long it lasts in your household. That gives you a useful guide for the next similar bar, used in the same way.

In the meantime, give it a draining dish, keep it out of standing water, and put it down once you’ve got enough soap on your hands.

I can make the soap. I can’t supervise its living arrangements. 😉

Vicki x