Not Just Another Trend: Why I Use Lard, Coconut Oil, and Skip the Buzzwords

Like many soap makers before me, I’ve watched ingredients rise and fall with trends. Years ago, palm oil was the gold standard for handmade soap — until the media blew up, screaming how palm oil destroys the rainforest. It wasn’t the whole truth, of course. Over time, more education came out. There is responsibly grown, certified sustainable palm. But by then, the damage was done — customers had heard enough horror stories, and palm became a dirty word.

Fast forward, and now it’s tallow’s moment. Everyone’s touting “old-fashioned, traditional tallow soap.” And sure, tallow (beef fat) makes a beautiful bar. But here’s what doesn’t always get said: most of that tallow comes from the same big ag companies people try so hard to avoid. Think Cargill, Tyson, the large packing houses. Rendering it yourself? That sounds charming on Instagram — but in reality, it’s rarely done under truly sterile, food-grade conditions.

I use lard in my soaps — very similar to tallow, both are time-tested animal fats that make a creamy, gentle bar. I choose it thoughtfully, because it makes fantastic soap.

And I still use coconut oil too. Remember that craze about ten years ago? Coconut oil was the cure for everything. Then backlash hit: it’s in everything, it can be drying, suddenly everyone claims allergies. Like most things, it’s not the ingredient itself — it’s how you use it. In the right amounts, coconut oil creates gorgeous lather and a hard, long-lasting bar.

Meanwhile, if you pick up a bar of commercial soap from the big box store — say Dove, for example — try reading that label. It’s full of chemical compounds no one can pronounce. I’m not saying those are all bad (some sound scary but are just scientific names for salts or fats). But it’s a far cry from simple, recognizable ingredients you’d find in a farmhouse kitchen.

So what does this all mean for you?

It means at JSW Farms & Blue Paradise Dairy, I’m not chasing trends.
I’m not swayed by internet panic.
I’m not here to sell you on the ingredient of the year.

I’m here to make soap that works — for real skin, in the real world. With old-world, quality fats like lard, balanced with oils that bring lather and firmness. Without cheap fillers, without misleading buzzwords, and without hiding behind unpronounceable labels.

Because at the end of the day, it’s about thoughtful formulation. Real, honest ingredients. And sharing the full story — so you can decide what’s best for your skin and your values.