FAQ
We get lots of questions, and hopefully this page will be a one-stop-shop to answer the most common ones for you. If you have questions that aren’t answered on this page, shoot us a message at capricasoapery@gmail.com, or use the ‘Contact’ link!
HOW CAN I BUY YOUR SOAP?
This is my favorite question! Thank you! Instead of a consistently stocked store, soap sales are done with a scheduled release date. This means all the soaps in a collection will be available for sale at a set day and time. These are announced on my Instagram account, Facebook page, and on the front page of the website. If a past date, or no date is shown, it usually means a release has recently happened and a new one has not been scheduled yet. Typically my releases are every other month, but this varies based on my schedule and availability.
If the soap shop is empty, it is not because I have stopped making soap! An empty shop means that all the soap from the previous release has been sold, and a new release has not happened yet. It is common for soap releases to sell out very quickly, so if there’s something you’ve seen that you have your heart set on, please make sure to set an alarm and be on-time for the release. It also helps to have already created and logged into a site account, and to have your payment method ready or be logged into PayPal.
I typically send mailing list newsletters a week before, the day before, and a few minutes before the release as reminders, to help folks be able to get what they want!
I also take limited commissions for soap by the loaf (usually 4.5lb or 12-14 bars) or for wholesale orders. If you are interested in custom loaf, bars, or wholesale, please first check the shop to see if any are available. If there is no custom loaf listing, send me an email at capricasoapery@gmail.com and I will help you come up with a design, fragrance, and prepare you a quote. I also can do custom soaps for wedding favors, baby showers, bed and breakfast/Airbnb, or other custom gift needs.
HOW DOES RELEASE DAY WORK?
Release days always scheduled and announced in advance. The date and time will always be listed on my Instagram, Facebook, and the front page of the website. The soap inventory will not be visible in the shop ahead of time, so if you are interested in what will be available at a given release, I really encourage you to click Subscribe up top, and sign up for the newsletter. I send a newsletter the week, day, and a few minutes before a release goes live.
At the release time, the page will automatically update and soap will become visible in the shop and available for purchase. I do not do any pre-sales or hold bars for anyone - all sales are done through the website at the release time. Unfortunately, Squarespace does not provide cart protection, so if there’s something you really have your heart set on, I recommend purchasing that first and coming back for a second pass for anything else you may want. I will combine and refund shipping costs if you place multiple orders, so no worries about paying shipping costs twice.
THE SOAP I WANT IS SOLD OUT, WILL YOU EVER MAKE IT AGAIN?
The short answer to this is - maybe! While it’s rare for me to repeat an exact design, I often will do new soaps that are inspired by old ones, or sometimes will revisit a theme if it’s very popular. Often times, there will be new soaps with the same fragrances, especially if I know they are popular ones, though the design may be different.
What is hand made soap?
Soap is made from a combination of water, lye (sodium hydroxide), and oils. When these ingredients are combined, a chemical reaction takes place called saponification. During the saponification reaction, the triglycerides (fats and oils) react with the lye producing glycerol and soap. When hand made soap is properly prepared, mixed, and cured there is no lye remaining in the soap after saponification.
why should I use hand made soap instead of commercial soap?
Generally speaking, hand made soap does not include any additives, synthetic preservatives, or other chemicals unnecessary to the saponification reaction. Commercial soap typically isn’t “soap” at all, and instead is made from synthetic detergents. These detergents are popular as they form suds easily when mixed with water, however they may strip the natural oils from your skin as they clean, leaving your skin feeling dry and tight after use. All of the additives found in commercial soap may cause your skin to become dry, irritated, or otherwise damaged. Hand made soap is crafted from primarily natural products and fats, and does not include any detergents, phthalates, or parabens. It is 100% biodegradable, and many ingredients are often organic.
Today, there are very few true soaps available on the commercial market. As soap is such an important part of everyone’s daily routine, choosing soap that is hand made reduces the amount of synthetics and chemicals you are exposed to. Choosing soap from Caprica Soapery also helps reduce waste and reduce the chemicals we release into the environment. I pride myself on being hand-made, detergent-free, animal friendly, and having a low carbon footprint.
Can I use hand made soap if i have sensitive skin?
Hand made soap is typically very gentle on the skin, and does not include any detergents or synthetic ingredients like those found in commercial soap. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that you will not have irritation or a skin reaction to hand made soap, and encourage you to test it in a small area of your skin if you are prone to skin reactions. I also offer a fragrance-free and colorant/additive-free line, which is recommended for those with more sensitive skin.
How big are your soap bars?
Each bar of soap is hand cut, so weight varies slightly between bars. A standard bar of our soap typically weighs between 4.5 and 5 ounces, although some may vary higher or lower. If a soap does not have a weight listed in the item description, it is somewhere in this range. Bars that are heavier or lighter than average will include a note about weight in the item description and will be priced accordingly. Each bar is also labelled with the weight. While your bar may exceed the label weight, it will never be less than the marked weight.
do you test your products on animals?
While my household cats may occasionally wander into the kitchen during a soap-making spree, my products are NEVER tested on animals. I have a fantastic support structure of family and friends who are more than willing to be my ‘guinea pigs’ and try out my soaps!
Do you use animal products in your soap?
I have two main recipes that I use for soap making, one of which contains animal products and the other which is vegan. The non-vegan soap may also contain sustainably harvested tussah silk cocoons, milk, yogurt, or honey. If you are interested in soap that is vegan, please look for the (V) in our product titles as that indicates that the soap is made with all vegan ingredients, and does not include any animal by-products such as honey or silk, either. All of my products are palm-free. Each soap also has it’s own unique page in the web store which contains a full list of ingredients. If you have questions about a recipe or ingredients please reach out through the “Contact” link at the top of the page.
How long will a bar of hand made soap last?
The life expectancy of your bar of soap will vary depending on how often you use it, and how it is stored. The typical life-span of a bar of hand made soap that has been cured is around 3-4 weeks or longer, assuming daily use! You can help extend the life of your bar of soap by ensuring that it is stored in a soap dish or other well-drained location where it is not sitting in standing water, allowing the bar to dry completely between uses, and using a wash cloth or shower puff to apply soap to your body instead of rubbing the bar of soap directly on your skin. The longer soap has been allowed to ‘cure’, meaning the older the bar of soap is, the longer it tends to last! Soap does not “go bad” or expire (arguably, it actually improves with age), so there’s no reason to throw away those old bars!
Do you allow refunds or exchanges?
Unfortunately, due to the nature of our products, I do not offer refunds, returns, or exchanges. If there is a problem with your order or you feel like a mistake was made, please reach out to me immediately and I will do my best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
when will i receive my shipment?
Domestic orders ship using US Priority Mail or First Class Mail. Orders are generally processed and mailed out within 1-5 business days. If multiple orders are placed, I will make efforts to combine orders to reduce shipping costs and you will be refunded any difference in cost.
You will be provided with a tracking number once your order ships. Please use the tracking number to check for updates as to when you can expect your package. Caprica Soapery is not responsible for packages that are missing, stolen, or otherwise misplaced by USPS. Please make sure your address is up to date and correct when completing your order. If you notice an error in your address or information after you have placed an order, please reach out to me either via email or by using the “Contact” link immediately.
can I buy your soap if i don’t live in the united states?
At present, shipping is only available to the US and Canada. Please note that Caprica Soapery is not responsible for any destruction, confiscation, or additional fees related to your order due to Customs. Special fees for Customs and/or importing products are not included in your order total. Please make sure that you are aware of your Customs rules, regulations, and any fees prior to placing your order. I do not allow for refunds once a product has left my inventory.
Is hand made soap considered a cosmetic product?
All soap produced by Caprica Soapery is not considered to be a cosmetic product. My soap is intended to be used to superficially cleanse the skin, however does not claim to be moisturizing, antibacterial, or to leave behind a residual fragrance on the body. While users of hand made soap may prefer how their skin feels after using it versus commercial soap, or may feel that they experience a benefit from using hand made soap, I do not make any claims that the product is intended for use other than as soap.
To determine whether or not soap is considered a cosmetic product by the Food and Drug Administration depends on a few factors, namely what it’s made of, what ingredients cause it to clean, and how it is intended to be used. Per the FDA’s definition (per 21 CFR 701.20):
To meet the definition of soap in FDA’s regulations, a product has to meet three conditions:
What it’s made of: To be regulated as “soap,” the product must be composed mainly of the “alkali salts of fatty acids,” that is, the material you get when you combine fats or oils with an alkali, such as lye.
What ingredients cause its cleaning action: To be regulated as “soap,” those “alkali salts of fatty acids” must be the only material that results in the product’s cleaning action. If the product contains synthetic detergents, it’s a cosmetic, not a soap. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.
How it's intended to be used: To be regulated as soap, it must be labeled and marketed only for use as soap. If it is intended for purposes such as moisturizing the skin, making the user smell nice, or deodorizing the user’s body, it’s a cosmetic. Or, if the product is intended to treat or prevent disease, such as by killing germs, or treating skin conditions, such as acne or eczema, it’s a drug. You still can use the word “soap” on the label.