Antika Nueva

FAQ

1. How is it made?

In my kitchen, in a glass bowl, with a drinks mixer. We usually make a 60 oz. batch at a time.

2. What is it made of?

Basic three ingredients: lye, water, and oil/fat. Usually there is some mix of solid fat and liquid fat, including olive oil, grapeseed oil, soybean oil, and shea butter. We tend to superfat the soap (make it more skin-friendly) by making shea butter the moisturizer component. We use fragrance oils and essential oils to scent it, and occasionally honey or dried herbs.

3. Why "Just F@#%!! Soap"?

Not that I hang out on soap sites all that much, but the adorably twee descriptions on some soaps make my teeth itch. Also, soapmaking was supposedly going to be another silly hobby of mine. The husband wandered out to see what was happening in the kitchen (the possibility of a lye explosion drew him) and got so fascinated that now my role is largely to stand back, make admiring noises, and hand him things in the making of the soap. The only time I get to make it on my own is when I sneak in a batch when he's not watching. When I kiddingly asked him what we should call it, he responded with...well...

4. Why don't you have lines that you always have?

Give us a break. We do this for fun. If you request a scent, we can probably do it, but right now it's all about the kitchen chemistry, experimentation, and what smells good to us, which are clean, non-sweet, non-fruity smells. Our usual scent range leans heavily to rosemary, frankincense, birch, fir, and similar non-flowery scents. If something proves very popular, we may remake it at some point.

5. Is it animal tested?

No, the cats won't stand for it. However, our first few batches have been tested on friends, family, and the husband, all of whom are highly allergic to the world people with dry skin. It's working wonderfully for them. (And for me. I have horrible dry skin, and I tend to not itch when using it.)

6. What are the benefits of a handmade soap?

Better moisturization, more appealing smell, generally lasts much longer.

7. Why are your soaps so ugly looking?

Think manly and homemade. Get over it. If appearances are everything to you, then you are shallow and silly. Besides, we mold the stuff in tupperware, for the love of pete.

8. Why should I buy your soap?

Because it smells good, it has a funny label, it works well, and you don't itch when you use it. And it's cheap.

9. Your labels emphasize the manly aspects of this soap. Is it just for men?

Of course not. The labels are mostly pandering to my husband's male ego, which is slightly dinged by the idea of being a male soapmaker. However, I suspect we still won't make very many flowery scents, just because we don't like them.

10. What kinds of payment do you accept?

Mastercard, Visa, Discover, Amex, Paypal, money order, cash…. Although you mail cash at your own risk.

11. How much is shipping?

Shipping is the actual shipping cost plus about fifty cents to cover my envelopes. If you buy a shitload of soap, the weight will affect it. Generally, about $4 per pound.