Thanks to the glycerine and first cold-pressed oils it contains, our BIO Sensitive Karité superfatted soap helps protect the skin's hydrolipidic film, for body, face and hands. A multi-purpose soap for soft, protected skin!

What is cold saponification?

Quite simply, saponification is a chemical reaction obtained by mixing a fatty substance (oils and butters of vegetable or animal origin) with a strong base (potash or caustic soda). 

Cold saponification is a traditional process used to produce superfatted soaps rich in vegetable glycerine. It givesthe soap its softness and its moisturizing and nourishing properties. A manufacturing method that gives pride of place to craftsmanship and respect for nature: everything we love about Yodi! 

To make cold-saponified soap, you need to mix a fatty substance with an alkaline agent, while retaining an excess of oil. The unsaponified oil makes the soap super-greasy, giving it great nourishing and softening properties. As cold process soap contains no impurities, rinsing is not recommended, so the soap's natural glycerine remains in the product. 

Do you know what glycerine ? It's a moisturizing and humectant active ingredient. It can attract and then retain several times its weight in water: it's like a tiny sponge! It forms an occlusive film on the epidermis, limiting moisture loss during washing and durably improving skin elasticity.

It is also a protective and emollient agent. It smoothes the skin, makes it more elastic, and even protects it from external aggression, since it stimulates the skin's natural defenses (against UV rays, pollution, wind, cold...).

It also tends to normalize skin desquamation. By moisturizing the skin, it limits the formation of dandruff and leaves the superficial layers of the epidermis intact. A great ally for dry, moisture-deprived skin!

Depending on the different manufacturing methods, glycerine can be :  

• Be in the soap. This is the case with our Sensitive Shea Butter soap, which contains natural glycerine from the saponification reaction.
• Be removed from the soap, notably during successive rinses of the soap paste during hot saponification. This is the case with Marseille soap, for example.
• Be added to the soap : some soaps contain added glycerine of vegetable or animal origin, or even worse, petroleum-based or synthetic! 

Cold saponification stages 

Saponification is a fairly slow reaction at room temperature. Saponification is accelerated by stirring the mixture for several minutes, without heating it. In this manufacturing method, fatty substances are generally in excess, producing soaps known as "surgras". The soda completely disappears at the end of the saponification reaction, and the glycerine remains in the finished product.

So let's put it simply: 

Fats (vegetable oils or butters) + strong base (soda or potash) = soap + glycerine

The mixture is then poured into a mold and left to rest for 24 to 48 hours. This is the "gel" phase, during which the soap naturally generates heat. 

The soap is then removed from the mold, cut, stamped and dried for 4 weeks on wooden racks. During this drying phase, also known as "curing", the water evaporates and the saponification process is completed. This ensures that no lye remains in the soap, making it non-corrosive. 

Cold saponification remains a method of soap production that is difficult to industrialize, all the more so as it requires very high quality raw materials. The choice of materials and the science of dosage are therefore essential! 

And what about hot saponification?

There's another major soap-making process: hot saponification. This involves heating fats and soda. This technique is used to make savon de Marseille, savon d'Alep, or to prepare the small soap balls used to make industrial soaps. 

Unlike cold saponification, the soda is added in excess to ensure that all the oil phase in the preparation is transformed into soap. 

The soap paste is heated to over 120°C for many hours. Once the soap's cooking phase is complete, the potash or excess soda is released. It is also during this stage that glycerine is eliminated... Unfortunately for our skin! This is one of the reasons why cold saponification is said to be better than hot saponification. 

After being poured and cooled, the soap is cut and dabbed after 24 hours and can be used straight away.

The main difference between cold and hot saponification is that hot saponification causes soap ingredients to lose all their beneficial properties. Cold saponification, on the other hand, preserves all their benefits.

With hot saponification, there is a high level of rejection and water consumption. Glycerine is almost completely eliminated, which can cause stretching and drying of the skin... Everything we don't want! 

This method is widely used in the manufacture of industrial cosmetics. It's a particularly energy-intensive manufacturing method, with a significant environmental and ecological impact. What's more, the soaps produced can be very harsh on the skin!

What are the advantages of cold saponification?

At Yodi, we love everything that's good for our skin and good for our bodies! So we say yes, yes, yes to cold-saponified soaps! And here's why:  

1. First of all, cold-saponified soap contains glycerine which helps to moisturize the skin. In particular, it helps avoid unpleasant feelings of dryness or "tight" skin after use. The oily surface of the finished soap respects the skin's natural hydrolipidic film. Cold-saponified soaps are particularly recommended for dry, sensitive skin.
2. The fact that vegetable oils are not "heated" to too high a temperature means that they retain all their properties. Cold-saponified soaps are therefore care products in their own right, containing nourishing, soothing and exfoliating active ingredients.... That's why it's so important to choose high-quality, natural and, if possible, organic raw materials!
3. Made from natural plant oils and butters, cold-saponified soaprequires no added preservatives (and that's what we love about Yodi!), because it keeps perfectly well over time. No synthetic fragrances are used in its manufacture, as it naturally smells of the vegetable oils used.
4. Theenvironmental impact of cold-saponified soaps is virtually nil. In fact, thanks to cold saponification, the energy impact of soap production is greatly reduced (less electricity and water).
5. Last but not least... Cold-saponified soap is economical, because unlike liquid soap, you can better control the quantity used during application. Thanks to your solid soap: no superfluous packaging or dubious products!

Choosing a cold-saponified soap means choosing a natural, artisanal cosmetics product that favors quality and is more respectful of both people and the environment.

Our Sensitive Karité superfatted soap

For our latest product, our Sensitive Karité organic superfatted soap, we have opted for cold saponification. 

We wanted to offer you an organic, natural, vegan soap made in France to gently cleanse and nourish your skin. Thanks to cold saponification, we've been able to preserve all the virtues of vegetable oils and shea butter. 

organic grape seed oil is obtained by cold pressing and is certified organic. Naturally rich in polyphenols and vitamin E, it has antioxidant properties. Organic coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which has a strong affinity with the skin and an antibacterial action. Finally, organic rapeseed oil contains omega-3, omega-6 and vitamin E, giving it nourishing and antioxidant properties.

Made with 100% natural ingredients, our superfatted soap helps protect the hydrolipidic film of even sensitive skin. It contains no fragrances, allergens or essential oils. Hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested, it is suitable for babies, pregnant women and the whole family!