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Soap & skincare
Handmade soaps, shaving soaps and future skincare products.
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Handcrafted in Vörå, Ostrobothnia
Craft rooted in the forest
Handmade soap, local charcoal and blacksmithing – produced in small batches using traditional methods.
Natural raw materialsCarefully selected ingredients
Made in small batchesHandcrafted with care
Local to VöråFrom Hemängen in Ostrobothnia
Hemängen
From blacksmithing and charcoal burning to soap
At Hemängen in Vörå, we make soap the traditional way, entirely by hand. We use clean, natural ingredients and local raw materials such as tar and charcoal from our own forest. Every bar is mixed, poured and cut by hand with respect for both skin and nature.
Our range
Three branches of the same craft
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Charcoal & forest products
Birch barbecue charcoal, forge charcoal, tar and products from the forest.
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Blacksmithing & craft
Forged utility items and small series, made at Hemängen.
Explore blacksmithing & craft →Today's favourites
From Hemängen today
Two handpicked favourites from Hemängen. The selection changes from day to day and features products that are available right now.
News from Hemängen
From the workshop
Product launches, work in progress, events and videos from Hemängen.
Guides & knowledge
Learn more about our products
Practical guides to using our products, understanding how they work and discovering the craft behind them.
About the craft
Soap made the traditional way
About us
Our goal is simple: truly clean hands and a comfortable feel in everyday use. We work in small batches and choose our raw materials with care.
Traditional soapmaking
When lye and oils react, soap is formed through saponification. Once complete, no active lye remains—only soap and naturally occurring glycerin.
Ingredients and quality
We use whole vegetable oils such as olive, coconut, rapeseed and linseed oil. The natural glycerin remains in the soap and contributes to a gentler feel.
Made at Hemängen
Every batch is mixed, poured, cut and packed by hand at Hemängen in Vörå.
Our story
How Hemängen came to life
“A day would come when these skills would be needed again.”
Hemängen grew from another craft—blacksmithing. As coal became harder to source locally, it felt natural to return to older methods and begin making our own charcoal.
Many years ago, I discussed this with my mentor Einar, a master blacksmith with deep knowledge of traditional craft.
With his words in mind, I built my own charcoal pit to make fuel for the forge. Tar was also produced, and what began as a by-product soon became a growing interest.
My interest in tar soap was already there. Combined with blacksmithing and the daily need to wash hard-working hands, the idea of making my own soap took shape.
When the first handmade soap proved to work remarkably well, the foundation of Hemängen was laid.
About Hemängen
Hemängen – Handmade soap from Ostrobothnia, Finland
Hemängen is a small craft business in Vörå, Finland, founded and operated by Niklas Svevar. We produce handmade soap, shaving soap, birch charcoal and other products inspired by Nordic craftsmanship, forestry and traditional production.
Hemängen is known from local markets, radio interviews and social media. Every product is developed and handcrafted in Vörå with carefully selected ingredients and locally inspired materials.
Hemängen is operated as a sole proprietorship by Svevar Niklas Erik.
