Most members of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild make their soap from scratch using the CP method. And many of these people feel strongly that MP Soap is not really handcrafted soap. They feel that including the Melt and Pour soapcrafters in the guild devalues the worth of the guild and the perceived value of their own product. The clay artisan starts with access to knowledge and information about clay which extends back through time to the beginning of mankind. She then molds earth's elemental clay into a form.
Emphasis is placed on colorants and temperature for the firing process in the kiln.
Talent in this medium represents years of work and study. Meanwhile, the polymer clay crafter starts with pre-colored blocks of plasticized material manufactured in the lab. They shape the clay and then simply bake it in an oven to get their final result. In a similar way, the CP soapmaker is participating in a craft which has been around for hundreds of years. She is diligent in formulating the exact blend of healing base oils for her recipe, and in devising the special blend of therapeutic essential oils and herbs which will transform bath time into into a cleansing ablution of both body and soul.