Thread: Glycerin-based soaps

I want to know what makes glycerin-based soaps so popular.

I like glycerin-based soap because:

1) They are inexpensive

2) They perform really well

3) They are everywhere and everybody uses them

4) They are made in a wider variety of scents

5) They are easier to lather and to work with

6) They are milder and gentler to the skin

7) All of the above

8) If I find one I like, I will use them

9) I will die before I use one

I don't particularly look for glycerin-based soaps, but I do know that when I add a drop of glycerine to my soaps and creams, the lather really pops. I'm not sure why adding it at the time of whipping it up seems to make more difference than whether it is actually included in the content of the soaps and creams. Anyone else have this experience and care to hypothesize?

Would you please define what you mean by "glycerine based soap", as far as I know, there is really no such thing, all soaps that I know of are fat based. Glycerine is produced during saponification, and additoinal glycerine can be added. There is also a reprocessing technique that involves melting soap in alcohol and adding glycerine to produce a clear soap with a high glycerine content. None of these are, however, glycerine based.

I don't really care one way or another. Actually, If I had a choice, I'd pick Tallow based soaps. I think they're superior, but they're are Glycerin based soaps I like and use, it depends on the soap, it's overall quality, availability, latherability, and then available scents. I think they're so popular because of sheer numbers. There a lot of Artisan Glycerin soap makers...not so many Tallow based ones.

+1 on the triple milled soaps.....

Market research Al ?

I mainly stick to tallow based soaps, but of the glycerin ones I like they are usually triple milled (i.e IK, PS, La Toja)

I must admit that I have never tried a tallow/triple milled soap, but I suppose this is because I have never felt the need to. I am a huge fan of the soaps offered by SRD and Mama Bear's, and am quite contented by them. They are relatively inexpensive, easily came by, and perform wonderfully. I am angling to try MWF sometime soon though........

I have not had good results with pour and melt "glycerin based" soaps in my scuttle. They dry up too quickly. They're fine on days when I don't use hot water in my scuttle.

Hi Al,
I assume you mean soaps that have a lot (20+% glycerin) as opposed to the tallow/lanolin/Shea Butter/etc ones that have less glycerin (but have glycerin). I do love the latter category (tallow-based) of soaps/cremes too as they provide for an amazingly moist quality of lather (that is if one is not allergic to tallow/lanolin). I have found that mixing these makes for the best of both worlds and I don't have to choose one .

Now, if you were to formulate one (if it can be done, that is) that has high glycerin and high tallow content, and thus merge the 2-worlds into one, I would jump at the opportunity to try it.

How about them lye based soaps?

I don't know why but I have the hardest time getting a good lather from glycerin soaps.