Moments of Peace

NIC
Sep 2, 2020
4 min read

I recently came across a post on a Facebook group that immediately caught my attention. Handcrafted soap in all shapes and sizes, each unique in its own way. I decided to contact Lynette du Toit to hear her story and get some insight into the process of handcrafted soap.

I am fascinated by people, their stories and how they came to where they are now so I sent her a message on Facebook and she agreed to collaborate with me to do a post on her Moments of Peace brand. I got so excited and had to place an order of soap to try myself!

I asked her some questions to which she responded as follows:

How and when did you start making the handcrafted soap?

I started making soap about a year ago. I bought coconut soap at a flea market and when it was finished, I couldn’t find it anymore. The feeling of coconut oil on my skin was so wonderful, I just had to have it. I then started to research the process of soap making and needless to say, I am now addicted to soapmaking!

What is your inspiration for the soaps? I particularly find the beer soap and cupcakes intriguing!

At first my inspiration was to create a soap that is of high quality as I use it on my own skin and face. You will not believe the stuff they put in “soap”! When I got the hang of soapmaking, after many many failures, I tried my hand at some of the beautiful soaps that you can find on Youtube. My inspiration for the beer soap was Fathersday. We were in lockdown so I was looking for something special for my husband and all the men in my life. The cupcakes look so delicious that you can eat them, and since I am a devoted sweet tooth, I was hooked! For the rest, I love colours and anything delicious. Anything that makes me feel happy and joyful when the world is a mess.

Her husband commented tongue in cheek: She is like a little girl having a new doll every day! It changed her life for the better!

Could you give me some insight into the process of making the soaps?

The process of soapmaking is in a way simple. It is when oil or fat is mixed with alkaline salt. The history of soap making is actually interesting. Did you know the Babylonians made soap around 2800 B.C? And Romans made soap from urine! When the Roman Empire fell, so did bathing, hence the dark middle ages with all the plagues! (Click here for more on the history of soapmaking) Today you can make different kinds of soaps. Each oil or butter gives a different quality. Coconut is very cleansing and makes a nice consistent bar of soap, whereas olive oil is more moisturising and gives a softer bar of soap. The trick is to find a blend of different oils and butters that suit your needs. In conclusion, soap making is very personal. To work with lye is dangerous, thus you need to take precautions to not burn your skin or blind yourself. I use the cold process method which means that you have to wait about six weeks for the chemical process to be completed before you can use the soap. So, soapmaking has taught me patience!

Did you attend any courses in soap making?

I did not attend any courses. I just did a lot of research and watched thousands of videos and tutorials. And I learned through my numerous mistakes.

Is the soap making a fulltime occupation or just a hobby?

Soapmaking started as a need, grown into a hobby and I hope that it will become a fulltime occupation since I am a stay at home mom with my two boys all grown up now.

Do you have any assistance when you are busy with the soap making process?

In a way I have assistance, my family is very supporting! Especially my husband that keeps on paying for everything. And my son on university that will hug me and dry my tears when the soap is a disaster.

How would you describe the feeling when you are busy with the soapmaking process?

In the beginning I was a nervous wreck. Soapmaking is not cheap, especially when you use quality oils and essential oils. The tutorials on Youtube looked deceivingly easy but after a year I am more confident. At least I don’t sit and cry in the garden anymore. But I like to try new things all the time so you stay a little bit on edge. The feeling of satisfaction when a batch turns out a success is just exhilarating and makes it all worthwhile. Like I said, you get addicted!

The soaps are all unique and beautiful! Do you have a personal favourite and why?

I think the cupcakes are a favourite, but each and every soap I make, starts as a dream, so they are all special to me.

Is there a favourite among your customers?

The beer soap was a big hit, as well as the aloe vera gel ones. The soap with activated charcoal is also a favourite among teenagers. I think the cupcakes will be too (still waiting the six weeks).

Do you have any big plans for the Moments of Peace brand in the future?

I really hope to grow my soapmaking hobby into a business. It will be amazing to be able to enjoy my passion and at the same time deliver a unique product that is top quality!

I had a blast chatting with Lynette and gaining some insight into the process of soap making! The quality of the soap can be assured as she uses it herself. I’ve tried the beer and citrus sand soap myself and it felt amazing on my skin! The hops in the beer, in the beer soap, have many amino acids that reduces the inflammation and irritation on the skin. It also contains Vitamin B that keeps the skin moist. So every soap has its unique qualities.

Next time you don’t know what to give someone as a gift, contact Lynette and get them some of these unique, beautiful and good quality soaps! And in the process get yourself some as well. Below is a few documents with further information as well as Lynette’s contact info.

Contact info:

Lynette du Toit

Cell no: 082 899 4113

Email: lynettedut@gmail.com

Documents:

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