Why is handcrafted soap so expensive?

Most of us in the handcrafted soap business have been asked why our soaps are so expensive. There isn’t a simple answer. 

Ingredients

As a small business I do my best to order raw material in bulk.  In fact, I always check with other Long Island soap maker friends before ordering anything. The more we order together, the less money we spend on shipping.  And some companies give a discount if we order in bulk. But, the raw materials are still pretty expensive.  Shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, lye and essential oils are expensive to begin with, and have all gone up in price recently.  Packaging is also expensive, but let’s not get into that.

It’s made my me

So it’s just me making your soap. I’m a company of one. I get help from my husband, he’s my shipping-technology dude, and at my SOAPen House my sisters help, but that’s it. I still need to pay sales tax, hire an accountant, trademark lawyer and website manager, pay the electric, heating, cell phone, insurance, credit card fees, write product descriptions, take pictures, source ingredients on back order, and I could go on but I won’t.

Handcrafted soap is better for your skin

OK, this is my personal opinion here. I have no scientific proof and I’m not making claims.  My husband’s skin is so sensitive that he can’t use store bought soap.  And I get migraines from fragrance oils so using store bought soap is out for me. I can’t even walk down the soap aisle in the grocery store.

I use essential oils for Alegna Soap® fragrances, and all soap makers I know superfat their soaps. We do this so our soaps feel great to wash with. I  know my skin feels better after using a handcrafted soap. I think yours will too.

 

Yours in Gratitude,

Angela