This article reflects my personal views as a vegan soap maker and the values behind SAABOON.

Over the past year, I've had quite a few people ask whether I make tallow soap or if I plan to add it to my product line. With animal‑fat‑based skincare becoming more popular, it’s a fair question — and one that deserves a clear answer.

The short answer is no.

But the conversations that followed made me realize something: many people aren’t entirely sure what tallow actually is, where it comes from, or why some soap makers choose to use it while others do not. This article is my attempt to explain why I choose a different path.

What Tallow Really Is — And Why Tallow Soap Is Trending

There’s a growing trend in skincare right now. Animal fat, mostly from cows, is being turned into soap bars, lotions, lip balms, and more. It’s marketed as ancestral, traditional, natural, and the way things used to be. And it’s selling well.

Tallow is the ingredient at the center of this trend. Tallow is rendered animal fat — a process where raw fat is melted down until impurities separate, leaving behind a stable fat used in soap, candles, cosmetics, and industrial products.

No matter how it’s described, tallow is still animal fat. Whether it comes from a large processing facility or a small farm, it was once part of a living being.

Many tallow‑based brands lean heavily on words like heritage, pasture‑raised, or small‑batch. Those descriptions may appeal to some consumers, but they don’t change the nature of the ingredient. The story around it can become louder than the reality of what it is.

Why the Source of Tallow Matters

To be fair, not everyone who makes or sells tallow hides where it comes from. Some small businesses and farmers openly show the rendering process. Anyone curious can find videos demonstrating every step.

My concern is not whether the process is visible. My concern is the process itself.

Whether the fat comes from a large industrial operation or a small farm, it still comes from an animal whose body is being used for human purposes. For those of us who believe animals are sentient beings capable of feeling pain, fear, and stress, that ethical question doesn’t disappear because the scale is smaller or the marketing is more transparent.

Words like traditional or ancestral can describe how a product is made, but they don’t change what the product is. Tallow is still animal fat. The animal involved still had no choice in the matter.

That is why I choose not to use it. My objection isn’t about whether the process is hidden or artisanal. It’s about whether animals should be treated as ingredients in the first place.

The Ethical and Environmental Reality

My primary reason for not using tallow is simple: I do not believe animals should be used as ingredients at all. No matter how gently or transparently the process is presented, it still relies on an animal’s body. Because animals cannot consent, I choose not to participate in that system in any form.

This principle applies to every product I make. None of my soaps or skincare items contain animal fat or any animal‑derived ingredient — and they never will.

There is also an environmental dimension. Livestock production is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and resource consumption. Even when tallow is described as a “byproduct,” it still comes from that larger system. Choosing not to use it is part of choosing a different impact.

Why Vegan Soap Is a Better Alternative to Tallow Soap

The instinct behind the tallow trend isn’t wrong. People are tired of harsh detergent bars and want something that nourishes their skin. That instinct is correct.

But tallow isn’t the only answer — and it’s not a necessary one.

Real soap, made through traditional saponification, can be gentle and moisturizing whether the fats come from animals or plants. The plant world already gives us everything skincare needs: olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and many other plant‑based oils create rich, nourishing bars without involving animals at all.

Every SAABOON bar is made this way — small batch, by hand, here in Ottawa, using only plant oils. You can see exactly what’s in every bar and exactly how it’s made.

The Shift Toward Vegan Skincare

Interest in vegan and cruelty‑free products continues to grow as more consumers think about where ingredients come from and how products are made. For many people, skincare is no longer just about performance — it’s also about values.

I’m not interested in chasing a trend that depends on animal‑derived ingredients. My soap, and everything else I make, will remain vegan.

Every ingredient I use is one I can stand behind fully. Nothing hidden. Nothing softened in the explaining.

Animals don’t get a vote in any of this. The least I can do is not put them in anything I make.

What Do You Think?

I’d love to hear your perspective.

Have you tried tallow‑based skincare products? Had you ever thought about where tallow comes from before seeing it marketed in soaps and lotions?

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts, questions, or feedback. Whether you agree, disagree, or simply see things differently, respectful discussion is always welcome. I read every comment and genuinely appreciate hearing from readers.

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Winner Announcement

A huge thank you to everyone who read, shared, and engaged with my tallow blog. Your comments and conversations genuinely meant a lot.

I randomly selected a winner for the soap giveaway, and the name drawn was Richard Balkin.

Congratulations Richard — come pick up your soap at your convenience anytime during business hours!