Why Handmade Soap Costs More (And Why It’s Worth Every Cent)

You’ve seen it before: $1 body wash on the drugstore shelf next to an $8 bar of handmade soap.
It’s easy to think, “Soap is soap — right?”

Not even close.

At Stench Soap Co., we hear it all the time:
“Why does handmade soap cost more?”
Here’s the honest answer — and why that extra few bucks makes a world of difference for your skin, your health, and the planet.

1. The Ingredients Actually Matter

Most cheap soaps are made with:

  • Detergents instead of real soap

  • Tallow (animal fat byproduct)

  • Synthetic fragrance and dyes

  • Petroleum-derived fillers

That’s how they cut costs. But your skin pays for it — with dryness, irritation, or long-term damage.

Handmade cold process bars — like ours — are made with:

  • Olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter

  • Essential oils, not synthetic scents

  • Clays, salts, and real botanicals

  • Zero fillers, zero junk

You're not just paying for soap — you’re paying for what’s not in it.

2. Cold Process Takes Time

Big companies make soap in minutes.
We take 4 to 6 weeks. Why?

Because that’s how long cold process soap needs to cure — to harden, mellow, and become long-lasting. It’s real soap, the way it’s been made for generations.

More time. More care. A bar that actually lasts and works better for your skin.

3. Small Batch = Better Quality Control

Handmade soap is exactly that — made by hand.

That means:

  • Every batch is mixed, poured, and cut by a real person

  • Every ingredient is chosen for a reason

  • No mass production. No dilution.

When we make soap at Stench, we’re not guessing. We’re testing. We’re refining. We’re building a bar that’s made to perform, not just to sell.

4. Ethical and Sustainable by Design

Handmade soap isn't just better for your skin — it's better for the planet.

We use:

  • Sustainably sourced ingredients

  • Plastic-free packaging

  • No chemical runoff or synthetic preservatives

Cheap soap may save you $5 — but the environmental cost is a lot higher.

5. It Lasts Longer Than You Think

Here’s a secret: handmade soap outlasts liquid body wash.

Most commercial bars are soft or full of air. Our bars are dense, properly cured, and designed to last weeks, even with daily use. Keep it dry between washes and it’ll outperform that “value pack” easily.

So yeah — you pay a little more up front. But it goes further, and it works better.

Bottom Line: You Get What You Pay For

Handmade soap isn’t about luxury. It’s about integrity.

It’s about knowing what’s touching your skin, where it came from, and who made it.

At Stench, we’re not cutting corners to hit a price point. We’re making damn good soap — the right way — with ingredients you can trust and results you can feel.

That’s worth every cent.

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