FAQ
We like to keep things simple.
Here are answers to some of the questions we're most often asked about our handmade soap and natural skincare, made in small batches in Tarbert, Argyll using plant oils, natural butters and essential oils.
Questions about handmade soap
- What makes handmade soap different?
- Why is handmade soap a good choice for dry skin?
- How long does a bar last?
- How should I store my soap?
- Can I use handmade soap on my face?
- Why does my soap look slightly different?
- What is soda ash?
- Are your soaps vegan?
- Do your soaps contain palm oil?
- Why do you use essential oils?
What makes handmade soap different from commercial soap?
Our handmade soap is made in small batches in Tarbert, Argyll using plant oils, natural butters and essential oils.
Unlike many commercial soaps, our bars are made using the traditional cold process method and are properly cured before they're ready to use. This creates a hard, long-lasting bar that cleanses gently while helping to retain the natural glycerine created during soap making.
We keep our recipes simple, using ingredients because they have a purpose—not because they sound impressive.
Why is handmade soap better for dry skin?
Many people with dry skin choose handmade soap because it is made with nourishing plant oils and natural butters such as olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter.
Every person's skin is different, so we can't promise a particular result, but many of our customers tell us their skin feels more comfortable after switching from commercial soap.
If your skin tends to be dry, our Triple Butter Soap collection is often a good place to start.
How long does a bar of handmade soap last?
Every bar is cured for several weeks before it leaves our workshop. During this time, excess water slowly evaporates, creating a firmer, longer-lasting bar.
How long your soap lasts depends on how often it's used and how it's stored, but allowing it to dry between uses will help it last much longer.
A well-draining soap dish makes a noticeable difference.
How should I store handmade soap?
Keep unused bars somewhere cool and dry until you're ready to use them.
Once in use, allow your soap to dry between washes by storing it on a soap dish with good drainage rather than leaving it sitting in water.
This helps the bar stay firm and last longer.
Can I use your handmade soap on my face?
Many customers enjoy using our soaps as part of their daily routine, including on their face.
However, everyone's skin is different. If you have particularly sensitive skin or an existing skin condition, it's always sensible to test any new product on a small area first.
Why does my soap look slightly different from the photographs?
Every batch is made, poured, cut and wrapped by hand.
Natural ingredients can vary slightly from batch to batch, so colours, swirls and patterns may not be exactly the same every time.
That's one of the things we love about handmade soap—every bar is unique.
Why does my soap have a white powder on the surface?
Sometimes handmade soap develops a harmless white powder called soda ash during curing.
It's a natural part of the soap-making process and doesn't affect how the soap performs. The bar is perfectly safe to use.
Are your soaps vegan?
Yes. Our handmade soaps are made using plant oils and butters and do not contain animal-derived ingredients.
Are your soaps scented with essential oils?
Yes. We scent our soaps with carefully chosen essential oil blends rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Each blend is chosen to complement the soap while keeping our recipes simple and true to our approach of using ingredients because they have a purpose.
Do your soaps contain palm oil?
No. We do not use palm oil in our handmade soaps.
Instead, we build our recipes using ingredients such as olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter.
Questions about whipped hand and body butters
- What is a whipped hand and body butter?
- What's the difference between body butter and body lotion?
- How do I use a body butter?
- Will it feel greasy?
- When is the best time to apply body butter?
- Why doesn't your body butter contain water?
- Are your body butters scented with essential oils?
- How should I store my body butter?
What is a whipped hand and body butter?
Our whipped hand and body butters are made with shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and vitamin E, whipped into a smooth, light texture that's easy to apply.
Because they're water-free, every jar contains only butters, plant oils, vitamin E and essential oils. We keep the recipe simple, choosing each ingredient because it has a purpose.
What's the difference between body butter and body lotion?
The main difference is that our body butters don't contain water.
Many lotions are made with a high percentage of water and therefore need preservatives to keep them stable. Our whipped body butters are water-free, so every scoop is made from butters and plant oils chosen for how they feel on the skin.
The texture is richer than a lotion, making it especially popular with people whose skin feels dry.
How do I use a body butter?
A little goes a long way.
Massage a small amount into clean skin, paying particular attention to dry areas such as hands, elbows, knees and feet.
The butter softens as it warms against your skin, making it easy to spread.
Will it feel greasy?
Our body butters are rich because they're made from natural butters and plant oils rather than water.
Apply a small amount and allow a few moments for it to absorb. Most people find a little is all they need.
When is the best time to apply body butter?
Many people like to apply body butter after a bath or shower while their skin is still slightly warm.
It can also be used whenever your skin feels dry and needs extra nourishment, especially during colder weather.
Why doesn't your body butter contain water?
Our recipe is completely water-free.
That means every jar contains only butters, plant oils, vitamin E and essential oils, without the need for the same type of preservatives used in water-based creams and lotions.
We prefer to keep our recipes as simple as possible while choosing ingredients because they have a purpose.
Are your body butters scented with essential oils?
Yes. We scent our body butters using carefully selected essential oil blends.
Each blend is chosen to complement the rich texture of the butter while creating a fresh, natural fragrance.
How should I store my body butter?
Store your body butter in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Because it's made with natural butters, it may soften during very warm weather. This won't affect its quality, but keeping it somewhere cool will help maintain its whipped texture.
Questions about body oils
- What is a body oil?
- What oils do you use in your body oils?
- Will body oil feel greasy?
- When is the best time to apply body oil?
- Are your body oils scented with essential oils?
- Can I use body oil every day?
- How should I store my body oil?
What is a body oil?
Our body oils are a lightweight blend of nourishing plant oils designed to soften and care for your skin.
They absorb well, leaving skin feeling comfortable and moisturised without a heavy or greasy finish.
What oils do you use in your body oils?
Each bottle contains grapeseed oil, thistle oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and vitamin E.
Every ingredient is chosen because it has a purpose, creating a balanced blend that's suitable for everyday use.
Will body oil feel greasy?
Our body oils are made with lightweight plant oils that absorb well when applied to slightly damp skin.
A small amount is usually all that's needed, leaving skin feeling soft and nourished rather than heavy.
When is the best time to apply body oil?
Many people like to apply body oil after a bath or shower while their skin is still slightly damp.
This helps the oil spread easily and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable.
Are your body oils scented with essential oils?
Yes. We scent our body oils using carefully selected essential oil blends rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Each blend is chosen to complement the lightweight oils while creating a fresh, natural fragrance.
Can I use body oil every day?
Yes. Our body oils are suitable for everyday use and can be applied whenever your skin needs a little extra nourishment.
Because only a small amount is needed, each bottle goes a long way.
How should I store my body oil?
Store your body oil in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and replace the cap after each use.
This helps keep the oil at its best until you're ready to use it again.
Questions about bath salts
- What are your bath salts made from?
- Do your bath salts contain essential oils?
- What are the benefits of sea salt baths?
- How much bath salt should I use?
- Can I use bath salts if I have sensitive skin?
- How should I store my bath salts?
- Do your bath salts contain artificial colours or fragrances?
What are your bath salts made from?
Our bath salts are made with natural sea salt and carefully chosen essential oil blends.
We keep the ingredients simple, creating relaxing baths without unnecessary fillers or synthetic fragrances.
Why do you use hand-harvested Loch Fyne seaweed in your bath salts?
We include hand-harvested Loch Fyne seaweed because it's part of where we live and make our products here in Argyll.
Combined with natural sea salt and essential oils, it creates a bath soak that reflects the west coast of Scotland and our approach to simple, thoughtfully chosen ingredients.
Do your bath salts contain essential oils?
Yes. We scent our bath salts using pure essential oil blends chosen to create a balanced, natural fragrance.
We don't use synthetic fragrance oils, so every blend stays true to our simple approach.
Why do people enjoy bathing with sea salt?
Many people enjoy bathing with sea salt as part of a relaxing routine at the end of the day.
Combined with warm water and natural essential oils, our bath salts create a simple way to unwind and enjoy a peaceful soak.
How much bath salt should I use?
We recommend adding a generous handful of bath salts to warm running water.
Allow the salts to dissolve before stepping into the bath and soak for around 20 minutes if time allows.
Can I use bath salts if I have sensitive skin?
Our bath salts are made with simple ingredients and essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.
As everyone's skin is different, we recommend checking the ingredient list before use and avoiding any essential oils you know you're sensitive to.
How should I store my bath salts?
Keep your bath salts sealed and stored somewhere cool and dry.
Keeping moisture out of the pouch helps the salts stay fresh until you're ready to use them.
Do your bath salts contain artificial colours or fragrances?
No. We don't use artificial colours or synthetic fragrance oils in our bath salts.
We prefer simple ingredients and natural essential oil blends that let the product speak for themselves.
Questions about gift boxes
- What is included in your gift boxes?
- Can I send a gift box directly to someone?
- How are your gift boxes packaged?
- Are prices included in the parcel?
- Are your gift boxes plastic free?
What is included in your gift boxes?
Each gift box contains a carefully chosen selection of our handmade Scottish skincare products.
The contents vary depending on the gift box you choose, but every product is handmade in small batches here in Tarbert, Argyll.
Can I send a gift box directly to someone?
Yes. If you're sending a gift directly to the recipient, simply enter their delivery address at checkout.
Simply enter the recipient's delivery address at checkout and we'll send it directly to them.
How are your gift boxes packaged?
Every gift box is packed by hand in our workshop in Tarbert, Argyll.
We use recyclable packaging wherever we can to protect your order during delivery while reflecting our simple, sustainable approach.
Are prices included in the parcel?
No. We don't include pricing information inside parcels, making our gift boxes suitable for sending directly to friends or family.
Are your gift boxes plastic free?
We avoid plastic wherever we can and choose recyclable packaging materials wherever possible.
Our aim is to package every order in a way that's practical, simple and kinder to the environment.
You can find more information about our packaging on our About Us page
Questions about guest soaps
- What are guest soaps?
- What are your guest soaps made from?
- Who are guest soaps suitable for?
- Are your guest soaps individually wrapped?
- Do your guest soaps contain essential oils?
- How should I store guest soaps?
What are guest soaps?
Our guest soaps are smaller bars of our handmade Scottish soap, created for guest bathrooms, holiday cottages, welcome hampers and thoughtful gifts.
Like all our soaps, they're made in small batches here in Tarbert, Argyll using plant oils, natural butters and essential oils. Properly cured. Individually wrapped. Ready whenever guests arrive.
What are your guest soaps made from?
We make our guest soaps using the same carefully chosen plant oils, natural butters and essential oils as our full-sized soap bars.
Every recipe is made using the traditional cold process method and properly cured before each bar is wrapped by hand.
Who are guest soaps suitable for?
Our guest soaps are popular with holiday cottages, bed and breakfasts, guest houses and anyone who enjoys welcoming visitors with something a little more thoughtful than a standard hotel soap.
They're also a lovely addition to gift hampers, wedding favours and special occasions.
Are your guest soaps individually wrapped?
Yes. Every guest soap is individually wrapped to help keep it fresh until you're ready to use it.
Whether they're waiting in a guest bedroom, a holiday cottage or a gift hamper, they're ready whenever guests arrive.
Do your guest soaps contain essential oils?
Yes. We scent our guest soaps using carefully selected essential oil blends rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Each blend is chosen to complement the soap while keeping our recipes simple and ingredient-led.
How should I store guest soaps?
Store your guest soaps somewhere cool and dry until you're ready to use them.
Keeping them away from excess moisture will help them stay in excellent condition until they're needed.