Not to pile on but cocoa prices have also gone way up. I use 5% cocoa butter in most of my soap so it’s not a deal breaker, but it is a big increase. The reason, according to Forbes.com:
“About 70% of the world’s cocoa is grown in West Africa, international trade association CropLife International
reports. The rising prices are a result of lackluster, weather-related crop yields in West Africa. El Niño—above-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that affects global climate patterns—has caused warmer temperatures and heavy rains in the region, which has resulted in a decline in crop yields. The ICCO
attributed “unseasonal heavy rains” as the main reason the cocoa supply was affected late last year. These heavy rains have led to the spread of a fungal infection called
black pod disease. This disease infects the pods, roots, stems, shoots and flower cushions of cocoa trees, causing beans to rot internally. It typically occurs during rainy seasons and is spread when rain splashes on the plants.”