The Truth About "Homemade" Goat Milk Soap: What You Need to Know

The Truth About "Homemade" Goat Milk Soap: What You Need to Know

I’ve been making homemade soap for over five years now, and when I first began, goat milk soap was booming. It seemed like everywhere you turned—farmers markets, craft shows, small boutiques—there was someone selling goat milk soap. And still today, it remains a popular item.

But early in my soapmaking journey, I learned a hard truth: not all goat milk soaps labeled "homemade" are truly homemade.

The Rise of "Fake" Goat Milk Soap

At one of my first farmers markets, there were three or four different soap vendors, including myself. Like me, one vendor advertised goat milk soap. But I noticed something strange—customers kept coming to my booth saying they’d had bad experiences with goat milk soap. It dried out their skin or didn’t perform the way they expected.

I knew something wasn’t right.

I started giving those customers samples of my soap, and to my delight, many came back the next week ready to buy. Curious, I started digging into what could be happening—and that’s when I discovered the hidden world of bulk soap reselling.

There are commercial companies that produce goat milk soap in bulk, offering vendors the ability to slap their own labels on it—making it look like a small-batch, handmade product. These soaps are mass-produced, often using cheaper ingredients, and lack the care and quality of true artisan soap. To my shock, some vendors were doing exactly that—reselling and calling it "homemade."

What Happened During & After COVID

Like many, I paused selling during COVID. I kept making soap, but only for personal use. Recently, I felt led—through prayer and faith—to begin selling again. When I returned to the craft show scene, I was surprised yet again.

There were six vendors (including myself) all selling goat milk soap. But four of them had identical packaging, colors, scents, and bar designs. Identical. Yet each claimed to be "homemade."

Let’s be honest—how can four different soapmakers create the exact same product independently? The truth is, they can’t. What you’re seeing is mass-produced soap, rebranded and sold as if it were handcrafted.

What Sets Real Handmade Soap Apart

If you’ve seen my soap, you’ll notice it doesn’t look machine-perfect. There are natural imperfections—variations in color, rough edges from hand-cutting, and sometimes uneven textures. Why? Because it’s made in small batches, by hand, with real goat milk and thoughtfully chosen ingredients.

Even my labels are homemade. I design, print, and cut them myself, which means sometimes they aren't perfectly aligned—but they are authentic.

How to Spot Real Handmade Soap

If you're shopping at a market or craft fair and want to make sure you're buying real homemade soap, here are a few tips:

• Ask questions. Don’t be shy! Ask the vendor how they make their soap. A true soapmaker will be happy to explain their process.

• Look for imperfections. Uniformity isn’t a bad thing—but natural variations are a good sign that it wasn’t mass-produced.

• Check the label. Does the label include the name and contact info of the maker? Are the ingredients clearly listed?

• Smell and touch. Real goat milk soap has a distinct feel and scent. If everything at one booth looks exactly like the booth two stalls down, that’s a red flag.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing wrong with supporting small businesses, but make sure they’re being honest with you. The heart of handmade soapmaking lies in the craft, the care, and the personal touch. That’s what I offer, and that’s what every customer deserves.

If you're looking for the real deal, come visit me at the next market. I’ll be the one with the slightly crooked label, the perfectly imperfect bars—and a passion for making honest, skin-loving goat milk soap.