When making my soap, I use natural ingredients gently warmed and then slowly mixed with an alkaline solution. The mixture is stirred until it thickens at which time essential oils, botanicals, and other natural ingredients are added.
Since no additional heat is applied once the oils and alkali (base) have been mixed, this method of soapmaking is called the Cold Process method.
Real soap is the result of a natural chemical process called saponification, in which an acid (the fats) and a base (sodium hydroxide--which is lye) are dissolved in water (or other liquid), are brought together to form a salt (soap). The naturally occurring glycerin that helps moisturize your skin, is a by-product of saponification.
I know you are asking, is there lye in my soap? The answer is NO! Real soap cannot be made without lye (sodium hydroxide), but when the lye is mixed with the fats and liquid during soap making, a soap making process called "saponification" occurs. At the end of saponification all of the lye has reacted with the oils to make soap, so there is NO lye left in a bar of Hedgerow Soap.
Try a bar, you'll love the difference!