The Secret Behind Our Brown Soaps

At Straight Arrow Farms, we've noticed something a little odd: our fall and winter soaps—the ones with those comforting, cozy scents—sometimes end up being our worst sellers. It seems their rich, brown color can be a bit of a turn-off to some. But we're here to share a secret: that color change is actually a good sign! It's a natural and expected part of a quality soap.

Why Your Fall/Winter Soaps Turn Brown

The culprit behind this natural transformation is vanillin, a compound found in many of the fragrance oils that create those warm, delightful aromas like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, and classic vanilla. Think of it like a freshly sliced apple left on the counter—it turns brown due to oxidation. Vanillin does the same thing. When it's exposed to light and air, it reacts with oxygen, causing it to change from a creamy off-white to a rich tan or even dark brown.

This is a completely natural process that happens in all cold-process soap made with a fragrance containing a high concentration of vanillin. While some companies use chemical stabilizers to prevent this browning, we at Straight Arrow Farms choose to embrace the beauty of our authentic ingredients.

So, the next time you see one of our fall or winter soaps with its distinct brown hue, know that it's just proof of its genuine ingredients and a completely natural process. The color might be different, but the incredible scent and quality of the soap are exactly what you expect from us.