Soap is formed when an alkali is mixed with fats (in our case, four organic vegetable oils: extra virgin olive, hempseed, coconut and soybean), heated and kept under pressure. Oils are saponified by mixing them with an alkaline ingredient. This creates a chemical reaction that changes the oils and the alkali into soap. At Pangea, we use the traditional method of using lye as our alkaline. There is no other raw material that can be used to make soap. Although lye may sound frightening at first, it is sodium hydroxide (NAOH), which is created when electrical current is run through salt water. Our vegetable fats are mixed with the lye alkaline, some heat is applied, and the saponification dance begins. The alkali we use is a completely natural substance and used in its entirety when making soap, i.e. none is left in the final product. The end result is fantastic soap!
We will NEVER use detergents in our products as a substitute for soap because they are harmful for you and the environment. Our traditional method also retains the glycerine from the oils that are used to make the soap. Many companies will remove the glycerine and sell it as a by-product, yet we feel that the glycerine is a beneficial component to our soap, as it is a superb humectant (attracts moisture to the skin from the air).
Additionally, we do not use synthetics such as fragrances, surfactants, or moisturizing agents, which make our soaps extremely biocompatible and beneficial for all skin-types, biodegradable and toxin-free.