Easy Soap Making Tips
Soap making is not only a fun way to spend your time but it’s also a way to tap you’re your creative side. You can get creative and make a product that is usable. Often time’s people start making soap as a hobby only to turn it into a business eventually.
photo credit: savor_soaps
Here’s how to get started.
You need to look at soap making from a couple different angles. The first angle is a simple strategy of using natural soap or unscented soap, melt it down, add your own ingredients and make it your own. If you choose to go this route you will need some basic supplies. Those supplies include:
• Colorless bars of natural or fragrance free soap
• Essential oils of your choice – these will scent your soap. Choose scents wisely. Lavender is a calming scent, citrus or mint invigorates.
• Food coloring
• Vitamin E oil
• Blender
• Soap molds
• Double Boiler
• Wax or parchment paper
Once you have the supplies you’ll need grate the soap in a blender and then use a double boiler to melt it down. Add oils and coloring to it to suit your preference. You can really do whatever you like. If you want to add glitter, go for it. If you want to add some toys, you can. Do whatever you feel led to do to create your own personal touch. After you’ve added whatever it is you are going to add, it’s time to add the water. Add water until the soap is thin enough to pour into a mold. The mold will need to sit for at least 48 hours and then you release it onto wax paper.
If you decide that you would go the second route when creating soap which is creating it from scratch, it’s a bit more involved but still just as fun. You will need some supplies and those supplies are:
• 1 oz. coloring dye
• Thermometer
• 1 lb. coconut oil
• 1 lb. olive oil
• 3 lbs. lard
• 11.2 oz. of lye
• 1.5 oz. fragrance
• 32 oz. water
• Rubber gloves
• A stainless steel pot
• 1 plastic container
• Protective goggles and an apron
• Thermometer
Using a three to one rotation you are going to add lye to water in a large plastic container. It’s going to be one part lye and three parts water. It’s important that you mix in an open are that is well ventilated and make sure you have goggles on. The mixture will get hot so you have to let it cool before proceeding to the next step.
In a metal pot, place the lard and oils. On the stove, over medium heat warm it until the fat melts. Using your thermometer keep track of the temperature until it reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the lye to the melted oils very slowly to combine. Make sure you continue stirring as the mixture will change consistency. Add your dye and fragrance. Now it’s time to pour into your molds and let sit for 24 hours. Once it’s cooled for 24 hours pop the soap from the molds. Voila you now have bars of soap!
It might take a couple times of trying before you perfect your recipe. Just don’t give up, keep trying and eventually you can try different shapes, textures, fragrances, etc. The sky is the limit when it comes to your creativity and making soap.
Books to help you get started:
- Melt & Pour Soapmaking
- The Soapmaking Kit: Tools and Recipes for Sensational Handmade Soaps
- Making Natural Liquid Soaps
One of my very favorite candles on Etsy ~ Soy Candle – Handcrafted Ceramic – Key Lime Scent – by MadHattersPottery
photo credit: cype_applejuice
Great picture of a row of handmade soaps