In Short
Coconut is one of the most common ingredients you'll find in soap, and for good reason. It has a long history in soapmaking and helps create bars that people have enjoyed for generations. Yet for some individuals, it's also an ingredient they intentionally avoid. Understanding why both of those things can be true is an important part of making informed choices about the products you bring into your home.
If you've ever turned over a bar of soap and read the ingredient list, you've probably noticed coconut appearing again and again. Sometimes it's listed plainly as coconut oil. Other times it appears under names like sodium cocoate, coco-glucoside, or cocamidopropyl betaine. Once you start looking, you'll realize just how common coconut-derived ingredients have become throughout the skincare aisle.
There's a simple reason for that. Coconut has earned its place in soapmaking over many generations because it contributes qualities that many soap makers appreciate. It's familiar, dependable, and has become a standard ingredient in countless formulations. Many beautifully made soaps contain coconut, and many families use them every day without giving the ingredient a second thought.
At the same time, we've also met people whose experience has been very different. Some have a diagnosed coconut allergy. Others choose to avoid coconut because they've found products containing it simply don't work well for their skin. Those conversations are one of the reasons we believe ingredient transparency matters. People deserve to understand what's in the products they're using and have the freedom to choose what works best for them.
Looking beyond the label
One thing we've learned over the years is that reading ingredient labels can feel overwhelming. Cosmetic ingredients are often listed using technical names rather than the words we use in everyday conversation. That's why someone trying to avoid coconut may not immediately recognize ingredients like sodium cocoate or coco-glucoside as being coconut-derived.
We don't think people should have to become cosmetic chemists just to shop for soap, but we do think a little understanding goes a long way. If you've been advised by your healthcare provider to avoid coconut or you've personally found that coconut-containing products don't agree with your skin, learning a few of those ingredient names can make choosing products much easier.
More importantly, it reminds us that ingredient labels aren't something to fear. They're simply information. The more we understand them, the more confident we become in choosing products that fit our own needs.
A different path
When we began developing our own recipes, we knew we wanted to create products that families with coconut allergies or those intentionally avoiding coconut could use with confidence. That decision wasn't made because we believe coconut is a bad ingredient. It was made because we recognized there were people looking for an alternative, and there simply weren't many options available.
That search eventually led us to babassu oil. After many batches and plenty of testing, it became one of the ingredients that consistently helped us create the kind of soap we wanted beside our own sink. It wasn't about replacing coconut for everyone. It was about building recipes that reflected the direction we wanted Curtis & Kin to take while offering an option for people who had been searching for coconut-free soap.
Looking back, that decision has shaped much of who we are today. Many of the conversations we've had with customers begin not with fragrance or color, but with relief at finally finding a soap that fits their family's needs. Those stories continue to remind us why thoughtful formulation matters.
Finding what works for you
One of the things we've tried hard to avoid is telling people there's only one right way to care for their skin. Every person's skin is different, and all family's priorities are different. Some people happily use coconut-based products for years without a second thought. Others intentionally choose products made without coconut because that's what works best for them.
We don't believe either choice needs to become an argument.
Our hope is simply that people feel informed enough to make decisions with confidence. Read the label. Ask questions if you're unsure. Choose products that fit your skin, your family, and your values.
That's exactly how Curtis & Kin began.
Not because we wanted to convince the world to stop using coconut, but because we believed there should be another option for the people who were quietly looking for one. If our soaps help make that search a little easier, then we think they're doing exactly what they were created to do.