The Hidden Cost of Cheap Soap: How Big Manufacturers Are Undermining True Handcrafted Soaps

In recent years, there has been a growing shift toward natural living — consumers are seeking cleaner skincare, sustainable choices, and transparency in beauty. At the forefront of this shift are handmade organic soaps manufactured in India — especially those made using the ancient technique of cold process soap making.

As a passionate cold processed soaps manufacturer (private label), I’ve invested my time, skill, and soul into crafting authentic, skin-loving soaps. But there’s a silent crisis brewing in the industry — and it’s slowly destroying the trust that once existed between consumers and artisan soapmakers.

When Price Becomes a Red Flag

It’s not uncommon for clients to switch suppliers. But when long-standing partners start choosing alternatives purely based on price, it’s worth investigating. I did — and what I found was disturbing.

The prices offered by some brands for so-called cold process soaps were lower than even the cost of my raw materials. That’s not just undercutting — it’s unsustainable and unethical.

So I ordered samples from these brands — many sold on marketplaces like Amazon India — claiming to offer handmade cold process soaps.

The packaging? Impressive.
The fragrance? Overpowering and synthetic.
The lather? Excessive — unlike traditional cold process bars.

Eventually, I sent samples for lab testing. The results revealed the truth: these weren’t cold process soaps at all. They were chemically-laden commercial bars, made from melted soap noodles and rebranded as handmade.

The Deceptive Practice Behind “Handmade”

These companies aren't using nourishing oils or allowing soap to cure for 4–6 weeks. Instead, they mass-produce bars with synthetic surfactants like CAPB, Propylene Glycol, and artificial fragrance — ingredients completely alien to true handcrafted soaps produced with the best nourishing oils like coconut, olive, and shea.

I examined one label from a ₹199 “natural soap” sold in retail. It claimed to include:

• Coconut Oil – 0.5%

• Olive Oil – 0.5%

• Shea Butter – 0.1%

• CAPB, BHT, Propylene Glycol…

It’s a far cry from the standards followed by handmade soap manufacturers in India like us. Real cold process soaps use generous amounts of oils and no synthetic fillers — offering genuine benefits for the skin, unlike detergent-based commercial bars.

Why This Hurts the Handmade Industry

Real artisan soapmakers — like those offering rectangular third party & private label cosmetics – handmade cold process soap — create every batch with care, using high-quality ingredients, essential oils, and eco-friendly practices. Our products are biodegradable, skin-friendly, and rich in natural glycerin.

Yet, we’re losing customers to factories producing synthetic soaps that are falsely marketed as natural and handmade. The result? A complete erosion of consumer trust and a collapse in the perceived value of true cold processed soap.

What Needs to Change

If we want to preserve the authenticity of this industry, we need to act:

1. Educate the Consumer

It’s time to inform people about what private label cold processed soap manufacturers & exporters in India actually do. From blog posts to behind-the-scenes videos, we must highlight the value and integrity behind our process.

2. Demand Transparent Labeling

Marketplaces like Amazon must enforce clear labeling. Products made from soap noodles or synthetic ingredients should not be allowed to claim they're “handmade” or “cold process”.

3. Support the Right Sellers

Consumers who care about clean beauty must support handmade soap manufacturers in India who are transparent and ethical. Choosing genuine artisan soaps supports an ecosystem rooted in sustainability, not shortcuts.

4. Build Community Over Competition

As ethical manufacturers, let’s collaborate and strengthen our presence. Together, we can elevate what it means to create handcrafted soaps produced with the best nourishing oils and build a reputation based on truth.

Final Thoughts: Let’s Return to Real Skincare

We are private label cold processed soap manufacturers & exporters in India, standing for real beauty, honest ingredients, and ancient methods. Our industry is at risk not because of lack of demand of Cold process soap manufacturers 

 but because of misleading practices by large manufacturers.

Let’s change that.

If you’re unsure whether your soap is truly handmade, connect with your local artisan. Ask what goes into each bar. Read the ingredients. Support brands that don’t just sell soap, but share a story of purity, purpose, and passion.