These are common questions and concerns, answered! If you have further questions, feel free to message us at malamasoaps@gmail.com
I BUY SO MUCH CAN I GET A DISCOUNT?
Yes on marked items only at the market. Don't forget to bring your loyalty card to get a stamp for every $15 spent. Otherwise, there is free shipping on online orders over $40 to US addresses (Subject to change without notice).
WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR SUPPLIES?
From the great inter-web and locally.
CAN I HAVE YOUR RECIPE?
No. There’s an infinite number of recipes that can be formulated and made. I’m sure you’ll create a great one after many trial and errors, finding the right percentage of ingredients to use and mastering the right temperatures and conditions. It’s fun!
ARE THESE 100% MADE LOCAL WITH 100% LOCAL INGREDIENTS?
These are made locally, on the island of Oahu, local ingredients are used where possible. This will be true for nearly all soap makers in Hawai’i. Unless you’re creating lye from wood ashes and making all the oils on island, the only thing that can be done is making it locally. The island doesn’t have a lot of resources.
WILL THESE SOAPS MELT?
No, they will not. They will get warm, that’s about it. I make cold processed soap, the ones that melt are melt & pour soaps. Those you should definitely keep out of the sun.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO STORE THE SOAP?
It’s best kept out of direct sunlight and stored in a dry, cool place.
WHAT’S THE SHELF LIFE?
If kept under the right conditions (see above) then it should last FOREVAAA.
I SAW YOUR VIDEO, YOU JUST MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SOAP. HOW COME THEY AREN’T AVAILABLE?
Handmade soap takes at a MINIMUM 4-6 weeks to cure. That time is for the water to evaporate so that the bar of soap lasts as long as possible. This also makes a milder and harder bar of soap. Sometimes it’s hard to gauge how much of a certain soap will be sold. I make estimations and make several batches, but at any moment someone can buy 20 bars at one time. As prepared as I try to be, sometimes I can’t avoid being sold out. The reverse is true for some soap too, we’ll make a highly requested soap it won’t sell for months. So we’re chancin’ ‘um everytime.
I AM CAREFUL WHAT I USE ON MY BODY. DO YOU USE LYE IN YOUR SOAPS? IF SO I DON’T WANT IT.
Then use water. Best of luck looking for true soap made without lye, it is absolutely necessary in the soapmaking process and never remains in the end product. I won’t argue, though. Have a nice day.
THE BOTANICALS ON MY SOAP HAVE MOLDED, IS THE SOAP UNUSABLE?
Botanical decorations can go moldy if not kept in the right conditions, but it doesn’t affect the soap. Simply throw the botanical pieces away, or it (mold/botanical) will come off with use.
I BOUGHT ORGANIC SOAP ONE TIME AND IT MELTED. WILL IT MELT IN THE SHOWER?
No matter where you buy your soap, if left in a puddle of water or not allowed to dry, it will melt away. We sell nylon or ramie soap nets as well as soap dishes if you don’t have one.
Soap “melting” is not an indicator of an organic soap. The soap’s texture is almost completely up to the recipe of the soap. Same ingredients at different usage rates produce a different bar of soap. Whatever the recipe, keeping it dry or having drainage after each use prolongs its life.
THE COLOR OF MY SOAP CHANGED. IS IT STILL SAFE TO USE?
Yes. Sometimes mica powders can “morph” into a different color, and soaps colored with food will eventually fade or change colors. It’s normal, and the soap is still usable.
HOW COME I CAN’T FIND A SCENT IN EVERY PRODUCT?
Sometimes fragrances that are safe for skin are not safe for use in hair or lips, where our skin is even more sensitive. That is why some of your favorite scents can’t be found in everything. All products using fragrance oils are skin safe and used at max, or little less than max, skin usage rate.
Another reason is, the fragrance oil itself doesn’t behave well in the formulations (scent fades way too quickly, changes color, solidifies too fast, etc) so it is only used in certain products.
WHAT DOES “VEGAN” MEAN, THESE ARE SOAPS RIGHT? CAN WE EAT THIS?
I make soap, looks good but probably doesn’t taste good. It just means that no animal products were used in making the product. Beeswax is considered an animal product. There are only a handful of non-vegan soaps at Malama Soaps.
MY FRIEND SAID YOUR SOAP MADE HER SKIN BETTER, WILL I GET THE SAME RESULT?
Not sure. Everyone’s skin is different. We try our best to have something for everyone. We have Sampler Sets so that you can try a variety for a decent price. The main thing is also ingredients. All the ingredients are listed, so take note of them if you are sensitive to certain ingredients.
If you haven’t tried handmade soap and have sensitive skin, try an unscented bar of soap from the All Natural collection, then branch out to ones scented with essential oils and finally fragranced soaps. For the most part we try to stay away from common allergens, and have our soaps tested my persons with eczema, psoriasis and sensitive skin. They’ve all been receptive to both collection of soaps, but you must find one that best fits your skin.
HOW COME IN THIS SOAP ITS LISTED AS “PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL” AND THIS BAR SAYS “FRAGRANCE?”
Essential oils and fragrance oils are different. The former is all natural and from plants, but fragrance oils are synthetic lab made fragrance that is a trade secret.
That is why you may be ok with one brand’s “floral” but not another’s. We do not know what is in the "fragrance" oil. If you prefer to 100% know, stick to the all natural collection, where every single ingredient is listed.
All fragranced soap at Malama Soaps is made with skin safe fragrances for cosmetic use, not tested on animals, phthalate-free, and used at its recommended safe usage rates.