Frequently asked question

HOW LONG WILL THE BARS LAST?

This is such a loaded question. I might ask, How many people are using it? Are you letting it dry in-between uses? Is it next to the sink or in the shower? How old is your soap?

Yes, age of your soap is an important factor to answer this question. Typically, I answer a month in the shower. Two months next to the sink. The older your soap, the longer it will last. This is because more moisture is evaporated out resulting in a harder more cured bar. Think of it this way, “Soap is like wine. The longer it sits, the better it gets.”

Naturally, the more people using your soap the less there will be. I had a lady come up to me at a craft fair one time and just rave about my Cranberry Cinnamon bar. I make these in the Fall and it was early Summer and she still hadn’t ran out. No that’s what I like to hear!
 

THERE IS SUCH CONTROVERSARY WITH PALM OIL, WHY DO YOU USE IT?

Palm oil is an excellent ingredient in soap. It adds hardness, which helps to have a longer lasting product. It also gives a nice bubbly lather. I use Palm oil primarily for these reasons.

It’s true Palm oil has been sourced unethically and unfortunately in some parts of the world it still is. Don’t worry! Before I purchase any palm oil I make sure the company is reputable. ALL my palm oil is 100% sustainably sourced. If you need the proof I will be more than happy to send you the information. Just contact me! :)
 

ARE YOUR SOAPS GLUTEN-FREE?

When I was first asked this question, I had my doubts that the interested party hadn’t understood they were at a soapmaker’s table. People do confuse me for a fudge salesman quite often. I simply explained the ingredients and let the customers make up their mind.

After they left, I quickly researched the answer. To answer the question, No. My soap is NOT gluten free. My household eats gluten. Cross Contamination is a real thing. If you or a loved one suffer from Celiac disease I will be truthfully honest with you, do not buy my soap.
 

ARE THESE NATURAL BARS OF SOAP

Since 2017 I have been a very strict Natural soaper. I would get so mad when others claimed “All-Natural” but they used Fragrance oils and synthetic colorants. That’s not All-Natural, my friend! At Mietchen Manor Soaps our Truly Naturals line is made with skin loving oils, only Essential oils to scent and natural colorants. They are All-Natural.

Recently, I started another line of products, SoapNerd, that uses Fragrance oils and skin-safe colorants. January 2019 was the first time I had ever even purchased a Fragrance oil or synthetic colorant. These bars are still made with natural skin loving oils, but have a wider range of scents and more vibrant colors. They are definitely less Natural than my Truly Naturals line but still have natural elements.

Both choices are excellent. I’ll let you choose what you prefer!
 

WHAT NATURAL ADDITIVES DO YOU PUT IN YOUR SOAP?

I love it when I get this question because I have spent so many hours creating Natural recipes. Each batch is different because each additive offers unique things. Here are a few…

Clay: Clay helps your soap slip on skin. Clay is a staple in shave soap because it allows the razor to gently slip across the skin’s surface. Clay also colors soap. Moroccan Clay will actually color the soap an orange color (see Mechanic’s Dream). Rose Clay, yep you guessed it, pinkish-red. Bentonite Clay or Indian Healing Clay is great in shave soap. Kaolin Clay is white and can help anchor scents. I could go on and on.

Spices: I love to soap with spices. Turmeric for example helps give soap a beautiful yellow-orange (see Lemongrass Spearmint). Pumice, Ground Clove or Coffee Grounds to name a few add the “roughage”.

Liquids: Every batch of soap needs to have a some form of liquid. I have used distilled water, fresh Goat’s milk, coconut milk, apple cider (see journal), aloe juice and even carrot juice. They all add different things to benefit skin.

Do you see the fun in it? The sky’s the limit but planning out a new recipe takes some planning.
 

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOU BUSINESS NAME?

This is an excellent question! Mietchen is our last name. It is pronounced Me-chin. Mietchen Manor was what my husband and I called our very small apartment after we were married. The name stuck and I love it!

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us.