Science of Soul

Why Our Formulations Are Different

Great skincare doesn't happen by accident. Unlike the 'off-the-shelf' melt-and-pour bases or generic recipes many makers use, I spent years formulating our recipes from scratch. I wasn't just making soap; I was solving problems for the people I love.

I set myself four strict requirements that now govern every bar, truffle, and lotion we create:

• Longevity: Quality shouldn't be fleeting. I formulated our shower bars to last as long as a bottle of gel, and our "Velvet Cream" lotions to be a concentrated, waterless powerhouse that outlasts traditional pumps.

• Winter Skin Relief: My husband struggled with dry, flaky skin—a reaction to the harsh detergents in commercial washes. I knew I had to replace those "stripping" chemicals with protective lipids.

• Healing Hands: Working in healthcare, I saw colleagues suffering from dermatitis caused by constant scrubbing. My goal was to create a way to cleanse that leaves nourishing oils behind, rather than taking them away.

• The "Etta" Factor: My friend's daughter had eczema worsened by swimming. This was the birth of our Recovery Collection. I needed a formula with a higher "superfat" percentage to actively soothe and repair the skin barrier.

The "No" List: Why We Reject Industry Standards

To meet these goals, I had to reject the two most common "short-cut" ingredients: Animal Fat (Tallow) and Palm Oil.

• Why No Tallow? While it's a cheap way to make a hard bar, I believe skincare should be pure and plant-based. I couldn't reconcile "Soul" with using rendered animal fat on the body.

• Why No Palm Oil? This is personal. The primary area for Palm Oil expansion in Brazil, my home country, is the state of Pará in the Amazon. The industry creates a cycle of displacement—pushing ranchers deeper into the untouched jungle to slash and burn new land. As a Brazilian, that was a compromise I was never willing to make.

The Alchemy: Replacing the Irreplaceable

By excluding the "easy" hardeners like Tallow and Palm, I created a challenge: How do I create high-performance skincare using only premium plant chemistry?

I researched the fatty acid profiles of countless oils. I learned that while Coconut Oil creates big bubbles, in high concentrations it can be too aggressive, stripping the skin’s natural sebum. That’s why our formulations favour luxury butters (up to 56%) over cheap fillers.

The Breakthrough: I discovered that Cocoa, Shea, and Mango butters provide the same structural durability as Tallow, but instead of just sitting on the surface, they actively nourish your skin with vitamins and essential fatty acids. This philosophy carries through to our bar-to-milk lotions, where we use these same butters to create a "second skin" of moisture.

Our Specialised Formulations

1. The Luxury Collection Shower Bar

Best for: Daily indulgence & deep hydration. Our standard is what others call "extraordinary." By balancing Babassu Oil with a generous splash of Castor Oil, we changed the feel of the wash from "squeaky clean" to a velvety, hydrating lather.

• The Foundation: Shea & Cocoa Butters.

• The Nourishment: Sweet Almond & Babassu Oil.

2. The Recovery Collection Shower Bar

Best for: Sensitive, dry, mature or problem skin. Here, I took the science a step further. I selected Mango Butter for its unique ability to provide structural durability with a light, non-greasy finish.

• The Foundation: Mango, Cocoa, and Shea Butters.

• The Nourishment: Apricot Kernel Oil & Colloidal Oatmeal.

3. The Shaving Collection

Best for: A flawless, irritation-free shave. We re-engineered the traditional shave bar by focusing on razor glide and skin cushion. Infused with mineral-rich Bentonite Clay for effortless blade slip and creamy Coconut Milk for a dense, protective lather, it guards against razor burn while leaving the skin deeply conditioned.

• The Foundation: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Castor Oil.

• The Nourishment: Cocoa & Shea Butters, Babassu Oil, and Bentonite Clay.

4. Hydro-Activated Skincare Collection

Best for: Post-shower locked-in moisture. Our Velvet Cream bar-to-milk lotions and Botanical Bath Truffles take the same "butters-first" approach. We use plant-derived emulsifiers to turn these rich fats into a light, absorbable milk the moment they touch your wet skin or the bath water.

5. The Intensive Repair Balm Collection

Best for: Target treatment for severely dry, cracked, or weathered skin. These intensive balm formula are pure, concentrated nourishment designed to target and rescue compromised skin barriers. By pairing protective butters with dense, vitamin-rich oils, it seals in moisture and provides long-lasting, deep-tissue relief.

• The Foundation: Shea, Mango, and Cocoa Butters.

• The Nourishment: Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.

Performance Over Profit

I must admit, the one requirement I ignored was "low production cost." Our recipes rely on expensive, luxury ingredients rather than cheap industrial oils. But when you feel the difference—especially if you struggle with sensitive skin—I think you’ll agree it was worth it.

I poured my heart, my science, and my Brazilian roots into perfecting these recipes. I really hope you enjoy using them as much as I enjoyed creating them.