Frequently Asked Questions

All soaps are handmade in small batches by Nicky, who also makes our Waves & Wonders Soap Rest, Scrubby and Wash Buddy's

We're proudly based in Kilmore County Down.

Place an order through our website, click the Shop icon at the top of the page.

Or you can find our handmade soaps at selected local stockist:

• The Crafty Crafters - Ards Shopping Centre Newtownards County Down
• The Crafters Lair - The Crafty Balloon Holywood County Down
• Kallos Holistic - Crossgar County Down

Yes, we love meeting customers in person! We attend various markets and craft fairs across County Down and beyond. These are some of the places you will find us in August 2025.

• 1st & 2nd with the Crafty Crafters Ards Shopping centre 10am - 4pm
• 3rd Newry Variety Market 11am - 3pm
• 9th Warrenpoint Loughside Festival
• 10th Frock around the Clock Vintage & Handmade end of summer Fair Belfast Castle 12 - 5pm
• 17th Killyleagh pop-up Festival Market 3 - 7pm
• 25th & 26th Lammas Fair Ballycastle

Yes! If you live locally (Kilmore County Down and surrounding areas), we're happy to deliver in person or you can pick up when possible (drop us a message to check) 

Yes, we post orders across the UK and Ireland.

• UK deliveries: Usually 3-5 working days after dispatch
• Ireland deliveries: Typically 4-6 working days after dispatch

Here's the list of the ingredients we use in our soap recipe and why they are good for the skin:

• Castor oil - Adds creamy, stable lather and helps retain moisture.
• Olive Oil - Gentle and deeply nourishing, ideal for sensitive skin.
• Coconut Oil - Cleanses effectively and creates a rich, bubbly lather.
• Shea Butter - Packed with vitamins, it soothes, softens, and protects the skin.
• Cocoa Butter - Deeply moisturising and helps create a firm, conditioning bar.
• Palm Oil (responsibly sourced RSPO) -  Is rich in Vitamins A & E which support skin health, helping to protect and nourish. Gently cleanses without stripping away natural oils, making it suitable for most skin types. Adds hardness and a smooth, stable lather to soap.
• Local Honey ( from Mourne Mountains beekeeper Darren Nugent) - A natural humectant that draws moisture to the skin, offers antibacterial properties, skin - loving enzymes, and boosts lather thanks to its natural sugars, which feed the bubbles.
• Celtic Sea Salt - Rich in minerals that nourish the skin and help create a narder, longer-lasting bar.

• Other ingredients we use in our soaps.

• 100% Essential Oils - Carfully selected for their natural scents and therapeutic skin benefits - calming, cleansing, or uplifting depending on the blend.
• Organic Oats - Soothes dry, irritated, or sensitive skin. Acts as a gentle cleanser and helps calm inflammation.
• Indian Pale Ale (IPA) - The hops in IPA are rich in amino acids, which help soften and soothe the skin. The natural sugars also boost lather, making for a creamy, luxurious wash.
• Natural colourants - Tumeric, Activating Charcoal, Spirulina, and Alkanet Root Powder.

We use responsibly sourced, sustainable palm oil (RSPO) because it plays an important role in natural soapmaking. First and foremost its rich in vitamins A & E which support skin health, and creates a hard, long-lasting bar with a stable creamy lather.

Our palm oil is:

• Certified sustainable (RSPO)
• Sourced from suppliers who do not contribute to deforestation
• Grown without harming orangutan habitats or displacing Indigenous communities
• Traceable and transparent

We're mindful that palm oil has a complex global impact. Rather than avoiding it completely, we've chosen to support suppliers commited to better practices. This approach helps drive demand for ethical palm oil production- supporting sustainable livelihoods, protecting biodiversity, and preserving rainforests.

When responsibly sourced, palm oil can be both skin-friendly and evironmentally conscious - which aligns with the values at County Down Natural Soap Company.

We use only natural colourants, never synthetic dyes - so our soaps are gentle on the skin and full of character. Each ingredient adds its own shade and skin - loving benefit:

• Turmeric - Adds a warm golden tone and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
• Activated Charcoal - Creates blacks and deep greys while drawing out impurities from the skin.
• Spirulina - A nutrient-rich algae that give a soft green hue and helps nourish and protect the skin.
• Kaolin Clays - Come in white, yellow, pink or purple shades and help cleanse and purify.
• Alkanet Root Powder - Gives beautiful natural purples, blues, and muted greys, while also being gently exfoliating on the skin. 

Yes! We only use natural ingredients including essential oils, clays, botanicals, and plant based oils. No synthetic fragrances, artifical colourants, or preservatives.

Our soaps are formulated with gentle ingredients like oats, honey, and plant based oils and are suitable for sessitive skin. We also offer unscented options like Natural Soap Fragrance Free and Oat & Honey Fragrance Free.

Our soaps are not vegan as they include a small amount of honey in each batch. 

To extend the life of your soap, let it dry between uses. Our handcrafted Waves & Wonders Soap Rest is perfect for this - it allows your soap to drain and dry naturally, making it last longer.