Question 1

What's on a soap label?

Accepted Answer

In the UK, soap bar labels must comply with legal requirements. Here are some of the key elements typically found on soap bar labels:

- Product Name: The label should clearly indicate the name of the soap or the brand.

- Ingredients: A list of ingredients used in the soap, typically listed in descending order of concentration. This includes the active ingredients, any additives or fragrances and allergen information (if the soap contains any known allergens, such as specific ingredients that may cause allergies, they should be clearly indicated).

- Net Weight: The weight of the soap bar should be clearly stated.

- Batch/lot number: This identifies the specific batch or lot from which the soap was produced. It helps with traceability and quality control.

- Manufacturer or Supplier Information: The name and contact details of the manufacturer or supplier should be provided.

- Directions for Use: Instructions on how to properly use the soap, including any specific recommendations or warnings.

- Country of Origin: The country where the soap was manufactured or produced.

Question 2

The ingredient names look very strange, aren't these natural products?

Accepted Answer

During the saponification process, the combination of lye and fats result in the formation of soap molecules, which are technically salts. These soap molecules have names that reflect their composition and origin. For example, when olive oil reacts with lye, it transforms into sodium olivate, where "olivate" denotes the saponified form of olive oil. Similarly, other oils or fats undergo a similar transformation, such as coconut oil becoming sodium chocolate and shea butter becoming sodium shea butterate. These -ate endings indicate that the original fats or oils have undergone saponification and are now in the form of their respective soap salts. Any known allergens present in the final product are also specified.

On JüniperBe labels, we also include the names of the original botanical ingredients so you can easily recognize all of our ingredients.

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