If you're not convinced that handcrafted natural and organic soaps are really different from your conventional soaps... try these soaps and see for yourself!

Price: Rs. 100 for a 100 bar

Commercially available soaps contain two types of ingredients; functionally needed ingredients to cleanse, bind the soap together etc, or extra additives – for hardness, to increase shelf life, increase aroma, emphasize a colour etc. Usually, the extra additives are the ingredients that may attract us to use them (a bright blue– and perhaps allergenic – colour to attract children, or an amazing rose aroma that is completely chemically derived), but are actually harmful for us. Sometimes additives like artificial glycerin or stone ash are added to make soaps cost effective or increase the volume!

It’s always a joy to discover handcrafted soaps made of natural and organic ingredients beyond the realm of commercially manufactured soaps.

As is our practice, the samples were given to 3 different people to use & for feedback. After 20 days, we called the ladies who were given the samples and this review is a compilation the opinions of the eSvasa team and these ladies.

Company Details

Onkar Health Products make ‘natural & organic’ health & beauty products. Their soaps are made through the cold press method to retain the natural glycerin content.

The Soaps…

The eSvasa team received two types of soaps: Lavender and Panchgavya. The ingredients mentioned on the soap bars were vegetable oils (coconut/ sesame/ castor oils), essential oils & glycerin. The essential oils work as the preservative. I’m usually very happy to see a small ingredient list; the less extra additives, the better!

Look & Feel

The packaging was very basic and simple, and the soaps themselves were very rustic. No smooth edges, glossy exterior or polished feel… these soaps are typically the hand crafted and cut. So the edges were a bit sharp (smoothened out after using a couple of times!) and the aromas were muted.
Lavender soaps are usually a mauve shade with a strong typical smell, but this lavender was a deep purple and had a mild aroma. In fact, after a few uses, the aroma became quite faint.

The Panchgavya soap appeared the same, except it was a beige colour, and had an unusual, but pleasant aroma.

Usage

The soaps were creamy and light… not as frothy or foamy as commercial ones. They were definitely longer lasting! Mr Yogesh, the proprietor of Onkar Soaps suggested that to make the soap and aroma last longer, it should be kept up side-ways, but after a few uses, when the edges became rounded, that was not possible! But that was a small niggle in using the soaps…

While my only complaint with the lavender soap was that the mild aroma became so faint that after a couple of uses I couldn’t even make out that it was lavender anymore (and I’m a complete lavender addict), Mr. Yogesh explained that while commercial soaps which contain synthetic chemicals may release aromas for a longer period, but they could even be harmful for the skin.

The Panchgavya soap was more interesting… the components include ghee, milk, curd, and yep... wait for it…. Medically distilled bodily waste from the cow! As per ayurveda, all these components have very important benefits for skin. Essential oils of patchouli and basil are the preservatives in this soap. Apart from being good for skin in general, this is extremely beneficial for people with sensitive skin and those with skin ailments such as leucoderma, eczema, acne etc.

Pros & Cons

Positives:
1. The soaps a soft, creamy and foam less dues to natural components and less additives. They last well if used carefully.
2. They are an excellent choice for kids and people with sensitive skin or skin ailments.

Negatives:
1. If you’re not careful with the soaps and your soap dish doesn’t have good ‘drainage’ then these soaps can dissolve and melt superfast!
2. They are more expensive compared to regular or even organic soaps but the health advantages may overweigh the price for some people.

Verdict