Ingredients & benefits
Discover the heart of Savonnerie Manitou: our carefully selected natural ingredients. We believe in transparency and the power of nature to nurture your skin and protect our planet. Learn how each component contributes to a truly exceptional soap experience.
Our signature ingredients: nature's best
At Savonnerie Manitou, our ingredients stand out through a careful selection of high-quality, plant-based materials that prioritize both skin benefits and environmental responsibility. We focus on saponified oils, mineral clays, adaptogenic botanicals, and pure essential oils—avoiding synthetic additives, harsh detergents, or unnecessary fillers common in many commercial soaps.
Key ingredients and their special qualities:
Saponified oils (olive, coconut, shea/karité, and castor/ricin)
These form the nourishing base of our cold-process soaps. Olive oil delivers gentle cleansing with antioxidants and emollients that support skin softness and barrier function. Coconut oil creates a rich, bubbly lather while providing antimicrobial properties. Shea butter (karité) is deeply moisturizing and rich in vitamins A and E, helping soothe dryness and improve elasticity. Castor oil enhances creaminess and conditioning for a luxurious feel without stripping the skin. Together, they produce a balanced, saponified blend that cleanses effectively while nurturing your skin.
Soothing relief for sensitive skin
Manitou soaps are designed to feel gentle, nourishing, and non-stripping. Here’s how they help the skin feel better:
Deep moisturization instead of drying
The base formula uses a high percentage of olive oil and shea butter (with a 7% superfat). This means the soap cleanses while leaving a thin protective layer of nourishing oils on the skin. Many people with dry or eczema-prone skin notice their skin feels softer and less tight after use, rather than the tight, stripped feeling common with commercial soaps.
Support for the skin barrier
Shea butter and the residual oils from the superfat help reinforce the skin’s natural barrier. A stronger barrier means less moisture loss and reduced irritation over time.
Soothing and calming ingredients
The soaps are made with a careful selection of essential oils and natural additives. Harsh synthetic detergents, sulfates, and strong fragrances are avoided. Many of the blends lean toward calming notes (lavender, sandalwood, rose, ylang-ylang).
Benefits for the planet & ethics
Besides being good for the skin, Manitou soap ingredients also offer positive impacts for the planet and ethics:
Planet-friendly
Made from natural, plant-based, and biodegradable ingredients (olive oil, shea, coconut, essential oils, clays, and herbal infusions). They avoid synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harsh detergents, reducing chemical pollution in waterways.
Ethical
Plant-based formulas (mostly vegan-friendly, except recipes with honey), no animal testing, and support for more natural, transparent, and artisanal supply chains rather than large-scale synthetic chemical production.
In short, our soaps care for both skin and the planet through cleaner, more conscious ingredients.