Step 1: Equipment
The following items are required to begin your soap making:
Step 2: Melting
Cut your soap base into cubes and place in your microwave safe pouring jug. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time to ensure no part is overheating. Continue this until it has fully melted.
Ideal melting temp is between 40-60oC to avoid sweating.
Step 3: Mixing
Calculate the amount of fragrance oil you need.
2% maximum loading for fragrance oils. 1% maximum loading for essential oils.
Ensure your soap base isn’t above 60oC before adding any ingredients. Add your fragrance oil and if you are adding other ingredients, this is when you add them in too. Mix together until fully combined.
Step 4: Setting
Pour your soap into your moulds. Ensure that your mould is silicone as it is easy to remove the finished soap. Do not move as until completely set, at least 4 hours but ideally overnight.
Step 5: Finishing
Once the soap is completely set, remove from the mould. Store in an air tight container until ready to use and enjoy.
Soap Making Options
Get Creative
Soap making allows you to get creative by adding different fragrances, colours and other ingredients. Below are a few ideas.
Essential Oils
These are great to use in soaps. Only a few drops are required. Rose hip oil is popular in soaps but you can use different ones to achieve different purposes.
Fragrance Oils
Your options for the smells of your soaps are endless with the amount of fragrance oils you can choose from. With floral, citrus, fruity to more woody and masculine. You can fully customise the soap the way you’d like.
Colours
You can add colour to your soap! Make sure the colours you are using are body safe and designed for soaps. You can also layer colours or swirl them to give different looks.
Silicone Moulds
There are so many options for moulds which you can use to make different shapes for the soaps.
Exfoliants
You can add salt, coffee grounds and other ingredients as exfoliants. This helps to remove dead skin cells from the body. Ensure that your soap base isn’t too hot when adding them as they’ll sink to the bottom of your mixture. We recommend following a recipe to ensure you are using the correct amounts of exfoliants.
Dried Herbs and Flowers
These add texture and can add fragrance. Ensure any herbs and flowers are well dried. Testing is recommended.
Recipes
There are hundreds of different recipes you can use to make melt and pour soaps. Look online to find ones you want to try.
