Viewing the process as a whole, ignoring the extraneous dye and stamps; it’s a pretty simple to make usable:
- Mix fat with sodium hydroxide.
- Solidify soap into shape suitable for compaction (in this case, ribbons).
- Repeatedly compact shaped soap into desired shape.
How efficient and usable would the soap be if it was just sold as cut ribbions, instead of bars?
We make our own soap. It is comforting to know what is in it and what we are applying, daily, to the largest organ of our bodies (skin).
The upfront cost to start is cheap and the process is relatively easy. We save money and produce enough to trade with neighbors for vegetables or to give as gifts.
To control production costs you should not use essential oils. They are the reason folks at farmers markets have to charge $8 a bar. A bar should be under $1 using all organic materials.
Avoid using palm oils, please, rainforests are being destroyed to harvest that product. Instead harden bars by using castille methods and long cure times