I’ve bought them from craft shows and gift shops. My sister’s neighbor in Arizona makes soap from the resin of the pinon pine. I’ve been gifted it from my sister and also have bought it from the woman who sells it online. It’s pretty expensive so I don’t get it often. She also makes a sandalwood soap. Both of the soaps smell amazing. The pinon soap is supposed to be very good for your skin and helps with skin irritations.
Whenever we clean out our burn urn I am tempted to save the ashes and make soap. Then I remember how long it takes and I move on.
Here is one reason for the large bars. This video is a fascinating look at a traditional Turkish soap factory where they pour the hot soap mixture right onto the floor! After it cools they cut it up and stack it using soap plows.
Gotta say, though, I am impressed at the OP’s determination and perseverance in starting with a full-sized brick and just wearing it down! I don’t wanna even lift something that size first thing in the morning, much less risk dropping it on my toe in the shower. Ow ow ow.
I honestly didn’t know there was another option.
wasnt that the reason for the infamous soap on a rope? were the bars were so big and heavy and you were supposed to hang the soap over the shower head and rub it on when you used it
Also, I’ve seen "all-natural deodorant bars " that looked like homemade soap …supposedly there’s not that much difference between them
Yes! I got some in either Eureka or Arcata last time I was up that way, and one of bars lasted literally years.
FWIW, I prefer larger ones because they last longer and therefore there is less wastage when I have to discard the too-small-to-use end.
Second this. I’ve been using this really great goat milk soap for the past couple of years and it comes in 3.5 ounce palm-size bars or 9 ounce bars, which are too big for me, so I kept dropping the big bar. I tried cutting one in half with a serrated knife and that worked but took a long time. So I googled and ten seconds in the microwave lying flat and ten more seconds on end and I sliced through it quickly and easily with a board scraper.
Cool! Will try this