OUR SOAP All soaps in the Decadent Diva range: Are tested on humans, never on animals Contain only vegetable-based ingredients - 100% animal free Contain no preservatives Are non-drying Are completely hand-made, hand-textured, and hand-cut Typically weigh 100-110 grams Are "superfatted", ensuring they have excellent moisturising properties, while being gentle to sensitive skin Come individually gift-wrapped in a funky style

Although we're proud to say that most ingredients in Decadent Diva soaps are found on the supermarket shelf, we are also proud to say that our soaps have little in common with those you will find in the supermarket. Our soaps are naturally hydrating, never drying, and won't see you reach for the moisturiser after use.

Our products are made in Australia, and Decadent Diva is Australian-owned.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: So what's the Decadent Diva story ?

A: Two vegetarians, tired of searching high and low for animal-free soap products, were finally pushed over the edge by a bad customer experience at a market one day. So we started making our own. Friends and family soon demanded a regular supply, so taking the plunge with e-commerce was the next logical step.

Q: Buying soap over the Internet ? I can't smell it, I can't touch it !

A: We apologise for the Internet's inability to reproduce smell and feel (yet!), but can assure you everyone who's used our soap absolutely loves it! Our hand-made soaps have been a smash hit in markets and salons across Melbourne and Sydney, and the Internet allows us bring you the product for the lowest price possible.

Q: In your ingredients you list Lye (Caustic Soda) - isn't Caustic Soda harmful ?

A: Yes, Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is corrosive and poisonous. It will burn skin and eat some metals, but it's only dangerous to us while we're making your soap!

Without dragging you back into Chemistry class: a simplified explanation of the "Cold Process" for soap-making is that an alkali/base (Lye) is combined with an acid (fatty acids from the vegetable oils), and water. The resulting "saponification" reaction creates a salt (soap). After sufficient curing time, what you're left with is fatty acids (good for skin) and glycerine (good for skin) but no Sodium Hydroxide. Our soaps are deliberately "superfatted" to ensure no traces of Lye remain in the final product.

Q: Do you use Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) ?

A: No. Our philosophy is if you wouldn't eat it, you shouldn't put it on your skin! Our soap is free of these and many other synthetic nasties you'll find in commercial soap. Go to the bathroom, check the packaging on that commercial soap, and make sure your friend the Chemistry PhD is nearby to decipher the ingredients.

Q: Why is glycerine (glycerol) important ?

A: Glycerine is a natural humectant, so it promotes the retention of water in your skin, and a natural emollient. Commercial soap vendors often extract the glycerine at the end of their process (as it's more valuable as a byproduct) - at Decadent Diva we leave it in.

Q: Do you put preservatives in your soap ?

A: No - so we recommend you use the soap within 6 months. Our packaging is marked with a "Best Before" date, which is not a hard and fast "Use By" date, but just a general recommendation.

Q: Can I use your soap on my hair ?

A: Everyone who's tried it reports our soap makes an excellent replacement for shampoo. Our soap won't strip the oil from your hair like commercial shampoo will, so you won't need to use a conditioner.

Q: Do you charge G.S.T. ?

A: No. We're little.

Q: Do you accept custom-orders with other ingredients?

A: We do! For a minimum order of 25 bars we can customise your soap with your favourite scents and colours. We can also custom design co-branded packaging so that our products promote your business as well as ours.

Q: I'm a hotel, salon or retail store operator - how do I order LOTS of soap ?

A: For great volume-discounts on bulk orders, or to become a Reseller - please use our Contact form. Our web site has a special Reseller area where you can get great deals on bulk orders.

Q: Why is every Internet FAQ author a wise-guy?

A: A diet of rusty nails from a young age.