Behind the Bar — How I Pour & Cure Small Batch Soaps

The Art of a Slower Process

There’s something special about slowing down enough to make something with your hands. Every bar that leaves Brushwood Corners starts with patience — a rhythm that follows the natural pace of the ingredients themselves.

From the moment the tallow melts to the final slice of cured soap, the process reminds me that craftsmanship isn’t about speed; it’s about intention.

“Every bar begins as a blend of simplicity, patience, and purpose.”

 From Pot to Pour — The Making of a Bar

Each small batch begins on my kitchen counter, surrounded by stainless bowls and the faint scent of warm oils. I start by gently melting tallow and coconut oil, then blend in olive oil and castor oil — the same base that forms every Brushwood Corners bar.

Once the oils reach the perfect temperature, I slowly add in fresh goat’s milk mixed with lye, watching the transformation begin. This is where chemistry meets care — the point where ingredients turn from liquid to life.

“Soap-making is equal parts science and soul.”

If you’re curious about why I use these specific ingredients, stay tuned for Why I Use Tallow and Goat’s Milk — it breaks down how each one helps your skin stay soft, balanced, and healthy.

The Pour

Once the soap batter thickens to what makers call “trace,” I pour it slowly into wooden molds lined with silicone molds. Sometimes, I swirl in clays or essential oils — but often, I leave the batch pure and natural.

Every pour is unique. No two batches come out exactly alike — and that’s part of the beauty.

“The imperfect edges are what make each bar feel alive."

The Cure

After 24 hours in the fridge and 24 hours in the mold out of the fridge, the loaves are sliced, then placed on open-air racks to cure — a natural drying process that lasts 4–6 weeks. During this time, the bars harden, the lather improves, and the scent (if any) mellows into something beautifully subtle.

Curing isn’t just waiting — it’s when the soap becomes what it was meant to be: mild, long-lasting, and gentle on the skin.

Small Batch, Big Difference

Unlike factory-made soap, every handcrafted bar from Brushwood Corners is poured, cut, and stamped by hand. This small-batch process means I can control every detail — from the texture to the moisture level — ensuring the bar that reaches you is as close to perfect as possible.

“Handmade means every bar carries a little bit of the maker’s heart.”

It’s slower, yes — but that’s what makes it special. When you hold a bar of soap from Brushwood Corners, you’re holding hours of careful work and weeks of quiet curing.

A Note from Me

When I first began making soap, I thought it would just be about creating something natural for my own family. But as each batch found its way into new homes, I realized it was also about creating connection.

Every pour and cure reminds me that beauty grows in the waiting — that simple, slow things still have a place in today’s world.

Follow along in this Blog as I keep opening the curtain behind Brushwood Corners — one bar, one story, one purpose at a time.

“In a world that rushes, there’s peace in creating something that takes time.”

— KariAnne, Brushwood Corners

Gathered on the counter, the simple beginnings of something beautiful. Oils, Milk Clay and Care coming together, one small batch at a time.