Frequently Asked Questions
All Natural Liquid Soaps Made Using a Traditional French Recipe
WHAT DOES FRENCH MILLED MEAN?
French milled soap is soap that is triple milled it is refined three times, which makes the natural
vegetable oils more concentrated, resulting in a long lasting bar that does not disintegrate as
quickly as some other soaps. Sometimes this is referred to as hard milled. This is the traditional
soap making method which been in use for centuries.
WHAT IS GLYCERIN, AND WHY DO I WANT IT IN MY SOAP?
Glycerin is a natural humectant- it attracts moisture in the environment to its surface. Vegetable
glycerin is a natural by-product of the soap making process, when the oils used in the production
are vegetable based. South of France soaps are made with only the purest vegetable ingredients
olive, palm and coconut oil. Because glycerin is a valuable commodity to the health and beauty
industry as an additive in lotions and cosmetics, many soap manufacturers sell the glycerin that
results from their soap making process to other companies. South of France retains this important
ingredient, and adds it back into the soap. The resulting bars are excellent for dry skin, as the glycerin
content helps hold moisture in the outer layers of the skin.
WHAT IS SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE? WHAT IS SODIUM TALLOWATE?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate and its close relative, Sodium Laurel Sulfate are inexpensive synthetic
foaming agents and de-greasers, widely used in commercial soap production. SLS is the accepted
standard used to purposely irritate skin in clinical testing, so that researchers can measure the rate
at which skin heals. SLS can be linked to eye irritation, rashes on the skin and scalp, and other
allergic reactions. South of France soaps do not contain either Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium
Laurel Sulfate these soaps produce plenty of foam naturally and are gentle to the skin.
Sodium Tallowate or Tallow is animal fat, and is found in many commercially made soap products.
It is inexpensive and plentiful, and has been known to clog pores. South of France takes pride in
the fact that our bar and liquid soaps do not contain any animal by-products, and are cruelty-free --
never tested on animals.
WHAT IS SHEA BUTTER?
Shea Butter is derived from the nut within the fruit of the Karite Tree, which is found in South Africa.
Shea Butter has a high concentration of Vitamin E, and is a natural moisturizer. It nourishes,
rejuvenates, hydrates, conditions the skin and promotes cellular growth. It has no known allergenic
properties, and is useful in relieving dry skin and dermatitis. All seven varieties of French milled
8.8 oz bars of South of France soap contain Shea Butter, as does the Shea Butter liquid vegetable
soap. We add enough Shea Butter to our new Shea Butter bar and liquid soap to provide optimal
levels of moisturization.
WHY IS THE LAVENDER SOAP GREEN AND NOT PURPLE?
We produce our soap using natural fragrance and essential oils to obtain the vibrant and recognizable
Lavender scent. Neither the fragrance nor the oil carry the familiar purple color associated with
the lavender flower. We use natural mineral pigments and clays to give color to South of France
soaps, but without using artificial colors an additives, it is not possible to obtain a purple hue. Our
Lavender bar soap is a natural Spring green color, and our Lavender liquid is a very pale green.
HOW ARE THE RICH COLORS AND FRAGRANCES OBTAINED NATURALLY?
South of France pure and gentle soaps are richly colored using all natural ingredients
mineral clays, pigments and plant extracts. These simple ingredients provide the vibrant colors naturally.
Additionally, all South of France soaps derive their luscious fragrances from naturally occurring
essential oils and fragrances. Many commercially produced soaps use synthetic, petroleum based
colorants and fragrances.
ARE SOUTH OF FRANCE SOAPS MADE IN FRANCE?
All our soaps originate in France, where they are carefully formulated using classic French soap-making
techniques and recipes. The hard milled soaps are now made in the United States according
to the original French recipe in order to meet production demand. South of France liquid soaps are
manufactured in France and imported to the US.
ARE SOUTH OF FRANCE SOAPS HYPO-ALLERGENIC?
South of France soaps are made with pure, natural ingredients. Shea Butter is a naturally occurring
moisturizer that has been found to contain no known allergenic properties.
South of France soaps are free from synthetic ingredients such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium
Laurel Sulfate, both of which are known skin, eye and scalp irritants.
WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF THE SOAP?
South of France soap has a shelf life of at least 4 years, if not longer.