Using Natural Extracts and Clay in Cold Process vs. Hot Process Soap

Regarding the use of natural extracts and clay in soap:

As the staff previously mentioned, clay can be used in both Cold Process and Hot Process soap without issues related to pH.

However, most natural extracts cannot withstand the high alkaline conditions of soap. Whether you are making soap using the Cold Process or Hot Process method, the environment during saponification is highly alkaline. This high pH causes the active compounds in most natural extracts to degrade and lose their efficacy for the skin.

Although in Hot Process soap, extracts might be added towards the end after the soap has thickened, which could slightly reduce exposure to the initial strong lye solution, the final pH of the finished soap remains alkaline. This can still lead to the degradation of extracts over time.

Therefore, generally speaking, most natural extracts are not suitable for use in soaps made through the saponification process (both Cold Process and Hot Process).

If you wish to use natural extracts, it is recommended to consider other types of cleansing products with a more suitable pH, such as liquid soaps where the pH can be adjusted, or syndet bars (synthetic detergent bars) which are not true soaps.