Frequently Asked Questions:

"Cold Process" soap is soap made by combining oils and alkaline salts, which causes a chemical reaction called saponification. It is considered "Cold Process" because no outside heat is added (i.e. crock pot, or stove top "hot process")  to aid in the reaction.  Specific oils and plant butters are chosen for their beneficial properties in the final product; along with essential oils and additives like colloidal oats, coconut milk, goats milk, honey, and clays.  Some oils, for example coconut oil which is very moisturizing before saponification, can create a more drying soap after saponifying.  To create a more "moisturizing" soap less alkaline salt is added than will saponify the oils, creating free floating oil in the final bar that can help add or lock in moisture to the skin. 

"Hot Process" soap is created in much the same way as "Cold Process" soap. It is considered "Hot Process" because outside heat is added (i.e. crock pot, or stove top)  to aid in the reaction.
-Just like "Cold Process", Specific oils and plant butters are chosen for their beneficial properties in the final product; along with essential oils and additives like colloidal oats, coconut milk, goats milk, honey, and clays. To create a more "moisturizing" soap less alkaline salt is added than will saponify the oils, creating free floating oil in the final bar that can help lock in moisture to the skin.
The "Hot Process" method renders soap that would be safe to use right away, although a few weeks of "curing" off the excess water is recommended for bar longevity.

Handmade soaps must be cured for weeks after making them for a few reasons:

In cold process soap, the saponification process continues for days after the initial reaction.  Excess water also needs to be evaporated off to create a longer lasting bar.

In hot process soap curing is needed to evaporate off any excess water used in the process of making the soap.

"Curing" soap creates a safer, longer lasting bar.  Cure time can very from soap to soap depending on the ingredients.

My soaps sit around a PH of 8-10 after cure.  Handmade soaps are slightly alkaline in nature because of saponification with alkaline salts.
-Due to this I do not recommend for use on face or private areas.  With that said, I personally use my Charcoal & Tea Tree soap on my face a few times a week and I do not have issues.  It's all personal preference but I don't recommend using them daily on sensitive areas. 

Curing handmade soap takes anywhere from
4-6 weeks up to a year for certain types of soap!  (mainly "castile" or olive oil soap)
During the cure, saponification of long chain fatty acids continues.  Excess water is also evaporated off, creating a longer lasting bar.  Handmade soap may be used before 4-6 weeks of curing has passed, but the soaps benefits will not be at full potential.  The longer a soap cures the more mild and harder of a bar it will become.

Simply put - YES!
You cannot create "natural" soap without some sort of alkaline salt for saponification, be it Sodium Hydroxide or Potassium Hydroxide etc. When made correctly, all of the alkaline salts in the finished soap have been used up and converted into soap, making it completely safe for washing.

An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing chemical compounds extracted from plants.  They have have no synthetic ingredients or preservatives. There are some varieties of essential oils that cannot be used in soap.  I use some essential oils that are not recommended for pregnancy or high blood pressure.  Please be aware before you buy.

A fragrance oil is a synthetic blend of aroma compounds, a blend of essential oil and synthetic compounds, or lab created "nature identical" compounds that are diluted with a carrier oil like propylene glycol, plant oils, or mineral oil.  To allergic or otherwise sensitive people, synthetic fragrances are often less desirable than plant-derived essential oils.  Synthetic fragrances have more variety than essential oils because they can "artificially mimic" scents like apple, pear, pineapple etc. that normally would not be able to be created into an essential oil.  All of my fragrance oils are phthalate free.
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Fragrance oils are also much more sustainable for the environment.  Creating essential oils take pounds and pounds of plant material to yield such small amounts of essential oil. 
That being said, personally, I prefer essential oils.

Some of them!
I do not use rendered animal fats in ANY of my products although I do sometimes use animal milk.  Some of my soaps also contain local raw honey.  If you are looking for a "vegan compatible" soap please read the ingredients.  I always list all of my additives because they vary from soap to soap.

The biggest difference between handmade and manufactured soaps are the ingredients! 
Most manufactured soaps are full of fillers, synthetic materials and harsh drying detergents.  Handmade soaps are generally made with plant oils/butters or rendered animal fats, and beneficial additives like clays and honey.  Handmade soaps will still get you just as clean, and they tend to be less stripping than manufactured soaps. 
Sometimes lather is also a big difference! We are so used to equating lots of bubbles with getting clean, while that is not always the case! For example, "castile soap" or 100% olive oil soap has very little lather, often creamy and lotion-like.  This soap will still clean you and whisk away dirt just as well as any other soap but it leaves your skin with more of its beneficial oils still in tact.
The last main difference I find relevent is shelf life!  Handmade soaps often do not have preservatives.  (There are natural ways to help prolong shelf life like adding rosemary oil or citric acid for example.) Generally handmade soaps have an 8-12 month shelf life (with the exception of olive oil soaps) and should be used within 3-6 months after purchase for best results. -On the other hand, manufactured soaps often have additives that extend shelf life for years.  Handmade soap may even spoil because of their organic ingredients, so always make sure to keep them stored in a cool dry area between uses or long periods of time.