Question 1

Are your products suitable for sensitive skin?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Our soaps are designed for all skin types, including sensitive skin.  Check out the ingredients page for more information on each individual ingredient and the type of skin it's best used for.  However, should you experience irritation, discontinue use.

Question 2

Are your products vegan and cruelty-free?

Accepted Answer

Our bar soaps are 100% plant-based and vegan — certified organic oils and butters, no animal products whatsoever. Our body creams contain organic beeswax and are not vegan. Check individual product pages for vegan status.

Question 3

Why does shipping cost so much for just one or two products?

Accepted Answer

We completely understand the frustration — seeing a $7-8 shipping cost on a $6 bar of soap stings, and we wish we could change it. The honest truth is we ship through live carrier rates (USPS and UPS) and we never mark up shipping. That cost is set entirely by the carrier based on package weight and your distance from Hastings, Nebraska — we have no control over it.

Here's the silver lining: shipping costs barely increase as you add more products. A cart with 4-5 bars ships for nearly the same price as a cart with 1. So the best way to offset shipping is to stock up — grab a few scents, add a bath essential, or try one of our bundles. Your per-product cost drops significantly and the shipping starts to feel a lot more reasonable. We also offer free shipping on orders over $55.

Question 4

Do your fragrance oils comply with California's Proposition 65?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Our soaps are made with high-quality natural oils and essential or fragrance blends. Some of these naturally derived ingredients may contain trace compounds (for example, estragole, eugenol, or limonene) that are listed under California’s Proposition 65 as potential carcinogens or reproductive toxins.

These substances occur in extremely small amounts and are common in many plant-based products and essential oils. Private Oaks follows IFRA safety guidelines and uses only approved, skin-safe concentrations.

Question 5

Do you offer free shipping?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Orders of $55 or more (after any applied discounts) ship free. We also offer free shipping for wholesale customers — contact us for more information on wholesale pricing and quantities or to become a Private Oaks distributor.

Question 6

What makes your products different?

Accepted Answer

Our products are crafted with premium, organic ingredients and undergo rigorous quality testing to ensure the highest standards of luxury and effectiveness.

Question 7

What are parabens, pthalates, SLS, and SLEs?

Accepted Answer

Many commercial soaps and body products contain synthetic chemicals designed to extend shelf life, create more lather, or carry fragrance.  
Parabens are synthetic preservatives commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos to prevent bacteria and mold growth.  Studies have shown parabens can mimic estrogen in the body. 
Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and are also used in many fragrance oils to help scents last longer.  Some phthalates are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive toxicity in animal studies.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLE) are synthetic surfactants (detergents) found in many commercial soaps, shampoos, and cleaning products. They create lots of foam and bubbles — but they’re also known to be harsh on skin.  SLS and SLES can strip natural oils from the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, or sensitivity. Some SLEs are also contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct considered a possible carcinogen.

Question 8

What is California's Proposition 65?

Accepted Answer

Proposition 65 (Prop 65) was enacted by a voter ballot initiative, not the California Legislature.  This law requires companies to provide clear warnings about the presence of any one of over 800 chemicals that occur naturally in the environment.  California has a formal process for adding these chemicals to the Prop 65 list, including reports based on animal studies.  In many instances, these animal studies involve extremely high dosages of chemicals.  There are many substances that require the California Prop 65 warning at levels that are far more stringent than the federal action limits.  A Proposition 65 warning does not automatically mean the product is unsafe.  Although its intentions are good, Prop 65 has brought about unforeseen consequences.  For instance, it requires a warning on natural ingredients and essential oils that may contain even trace amounts of any one of those over 800 compounds.  www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Question 9

Do you offer wholesale pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  Contact us directly via the contact page for quantities and pricing or to become a Private Oaks distributor.

Question 10

Do you offer international shipping?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we ship worldwide. Shipping costs and delivery times vary by location.

Question 11

Do you have documentation for all of your fragrance oils?

Accepted Answer

Yes.  We keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from our suppliers to prove our compliance should we be questioned.

Question 12

Should I trust that your products are free of parabens, pthalates, and harsh chemicals?

Accepted Answer

We believe clean ingredients make better products. Every bar of Private Oaks soap is made from pure plant oils, mineral salts, and natural clays, giving you a luxurious wash that’s safe, gentle, and honest.  We and our suppliers do our very best to avoid any potential contamination from plastics or synthetic compounds such as parabens or phthalates during packaging and shipping.  Whenever possible, we use metal, glass, kraft paper, or cardboard materials instead of plastic. These materials help prevent leaching of plasticizers or chemical residues into our products and are more eco-friendly and sustainable.

Our goal is to ensure that every bar of Private Oaks soap arrives to you as clean, natural, and uncompromised as when it left our hands.

Question 13

How long before I receive the products I ordered?

Accepted Answer

Shipping times vary.  We typically process and ship product packages within 3-4 business days.  Most packages should arrive within 1 week from shipping date.

Question 14

Why do soaps of the same scent sometimes look different from one another?

Accepted Answer

Each of our soaps is handcrafted in small batches of 36 bars. While the ingredients, scent blend, and formulation remain exactly the same across every bar, natural variations in color distribution, swirl patterns, and temperature during the soap-making process can create subtle visual differences—especially in two-tone designs. These variations are purely aesthetic and do not affect quality, performance, or fragrance.  No two batches are ever identical—just like nature itself.

Question 15

Are your soaps safe to eat?

Accepted Answer

Our soaps are intended for external use only and should not be ingested under any circumstances.

Question 16

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

We offer a 30-day product-replacement or money-back guarantee.  If a product shows up damaged, ship it back to us, and we'll replace that product or send you a refund.

Question 17

Why does small-batch soapmaking matter?

Accepted Answer

Small-batch soapmaking allows us to prioritize quality, intention, and integrity at every step—not speed or scale.

Each of our batches is made in limited runs of 36 bars, giving us complete control over ingredient handling, mixing, temperature, and finishing. This hands-on process ensures that every bar meets our standards for performance, scent, and skin feel.
While appearance may vary slightly from batch to batch, every bar is made with the same premium formulation and attention to detail—without mass production or shortcuts.

Question 18

Why is there a white, chalky film on my soap bar?

Accepted Answer

That white, dusty/chalky film you’re seeing on your soap bars is soap ash (also called soda ash). Super common, especially with natural, high olive oil bars.  It is a natural sign of real soap made from fresh raw ingredients of the traditional soapmaking process that disappears with use.

Question 19

Why might the weight of my bar vary slightly from another bar?

Accepted Answer

During the curing process, moisture gradually evaporates from the soap, which can slightly reduce its final weight. To account for this, we intentionally pour and cut our bars so that most finish at or above 5 ounces after curing. However, minor variations can happen due to natural factors such as how the soap settles in the mold or slight differences in cutting — particularly with the final bar in a batch.

While federal guidelines allow for up to a 10% variation in handcrafted goods of this type, we work diligently to keep differences within 5% whenever possible. Our goal is consistency without compromising the integrity of traditional soapmaking.

Because every bar is hand-poured, hand-cut, and carefully cured, no two are perfectly identical — and that’s part of what makes them uniquely Private Oaks.

Question 20

Why does my cream look slightly different from the product photos?

Accepted Answer

Because our body creams are made in small batches by hand, there can be slight variations in texture and appearance from jar to jar — particularly in the last few jars of each batch where the cream begins to set in the bowl. This is completely normal and does not affect the quality, performance, or shelf life of your cream. It's simply the nature of small-batch handcrafted products. If you have any concerns about your order, reach out to us at support@privateoakssoap.com.

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