Many people perceive handwashes, shower gels and liquid soap substitutes as liquid soap. In reality, many of these types of products are detergents rather than soap. Sythetic detergents such as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and cocamide DEA are used to provide cleansing and foaming action. Often, these foaming agents can strip the natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry. A variety of synthetic fragrances and preservatives are also added, which can play havoc with senstitive skin.

Just as bar soap is made from a vegetable oils or animal fats and a lye solution made from sodium hydroxide and water, liquid soaps are made in a similar manner. To obtain a liquid or gel soap, potassium hydroxide is used instead of sodium hydroxide.

True liquid soaps tend not to be as thick or foamy as their synthetic counterparts, but this doesn't affect their performance or cleaning ability in the slightest. They are also kinder to the environment because there are no synthetic chemicals or by-products that nature has to deal with.

Why don't Redgum make liquid soap?

It is more difficult to obtain a consistent result from batch to batch than with regular bar soap;

Liquid soap requires cooking and we don't use external heat to produce our soaps;

Each batch is even more time consuming and labour intensive than bar soap;

We don't want to package our products in plastic.

Where can I buy good quality liquid soap?

Please see the links below to manufacturers who make good quality liquid soap without synthetic detergents and other unnecessary additives. Their liquid soaps can also be used as a bath and shower gel.

Aqua Sapone for Australian customers. Soapmaker, Marina, has provided some of the information about liquid soap on this page.

http://www.soap.it/soap/liquid.html

Vermont Soapworks for North American customers.

http://www.vtsoap.com/castile.html