Soap making is a more than an a craft. In many ways, it's a science. Here's how we use science to make sure that you have a great shower every single time (Afterall, Virgil is a retired chemical engineer!).

Saponification is the chemical reaction that occurs when fats or oils (fatty acids) come into contact with lye (a base.) Saponification literally means "soap making" from the root word, "sapo", which is Latin for soap. The by-products of the saponification reaction are glycerin and soap.

Oils and fats have what is called a “saponification value”, which is the amount of lye needed to completely neutralize them into soap or glycerin with no lye left over. Each oil has a different value. The higher the saponification value, the better it is for your skin. That means that the type of base you use is very important to your soap.
 
The basic ingredient of Virgil's Fine Soaps is 100% high grade vegetable glycerine that we enrich with Aloe and Vitamin E. This means good things for your skin. The vegetable base attracts moisture to your skin without overpowering fragrances that irritate allergies or other existing health conditions. Our soaps never have and never will use animal ingredients because it's just not good for sensitive skin!
 
This means that Virgil's Fine Soaps are:
• Non drying; will not leave skin dry or itchy.
• Rinses off easily; leaves no sticky film on your skin or your tub.
• No pore-clogging animal ingredients.
• Hypo-allergenic and dermatologist recommended.
• Biodegradable; from making it to using it, our soaps don’t harm the environment.
• Attractive, semi-transparent style

Now you know more about what we put into every bar!