Discover the Joy of Homemade Soap Making
Updated January 2021 Have you ever wanted to create your own homemade soap but felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the process? Traditional soap making from scratch requires a significant investment in time, equipment, and expertise. The intricate steps involved can be daunting, and the thought of waiting weeks for your soap to cure can be discouraging. But fear not! There’s a much simpler and more enjoyable way to craft your own soap without the hassle. It’s cost-effective, quick, and free of any dangerous lye or lengthy curing times!
I have a passion for creating all-natural DIY personal care products and have been doing so for years. Making my own products allows me to have complete control over the ingredients that touch my skin daily. Often, it’s just as easy to whip up delightful items like lip balm, liquid hand soap, scrubs, masks, and even deodorant as it is to buy them at the store. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about making products you use every day. Not to mention, you could save quite a bit of money in the long run!
What I’m about to share with you is even easier than the simplest cold process soap for beginners. It requires minimal time and just three ingredients! There’s no need for specialized tools or protective gear. In fact, it’s so straightforward that you might soon find yourself experimenting with your own unique recipes.
If you guessed that we’ll be using melt and pour soap, you hit the nail on the head! This method beautifully combines convenience with creativity. Melt and pour soap bases are available in various formulations, including glycerin, shea butter, and goat milk, just to name a few. You can even create your unique blend! The process is so simple that you can let your imagination run wild!
Why Choose Homemade Soap Bars Over Shower Gel?
In our household, we prefer soap bars over shower gel for several reasons. Firstly, there are no potentially leaky plastic bottles that will eventually end up in a landfill. It’s also more economical and practical. When using a shower poof, you can achieve the same luxurious lather you’re accustomed to with shower gel. Furthermore, soap is more travel-friendly; it packs neatly in a soap caddy and won’t leak in your suitcase!
Why Not Just Buy Soap from the Store?
This is a valid question! To put it simply: many store-bought soaps contain ingredients that I prefer to avoid for both my kids and myself. Since we use soap on our bodies nearly every day, it’s wise to err on the side of caution, wouldn’t you agree? While some products claim to be all-natural, it’s often difficult to discern the actual quality or quantity of those ingredients.
Yes, there are high-quality pre-made soaps available, but they often come with a hefty price tag. We all deserve the best for our skin, but wouldn’t it be nice to allocate that budget to something more enjoyable? This soap-making process is incredibly easy, allowing you to create a considerable batch at once, which can last for a long time. Have guests coming over? Surprise them with their very own bar of homemade soap! Or, why not make smaller guest soaps in fun shapes?
If you enjoy crafting lovely homemade gifts, incorporate some soap into your creations! Especially with cute molds, the possibilities are endless. For more easy and printable skincare recipes, be sure to sign up here to access my FREE Resource Library, which is filled with valuable information designed just for you.
Ready to Dive into Homemade Soap Making?
As I mentioned earlier, the star of this process is the melt and pour soap base. You don’t need to be an expert in soap making because someone else has already done the heavy lifting! Melt and pour soap bases are sold in blocks, typically weighing 1, 2, or 5 pounds. A two-pound block can yield about eight 4 oz bars of soap. You can conveniently order the soap base online, such as this glycerin soap, shea butter soap, or goat milk soap. For this project, I chose the shea butter variety, but the choice is ultimately yours! Regardless of which melt and pour soap base you select, the method remains consistent.
Craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joann Fabrics usually carry a limited selection of soap bases. Don’t forget to use their 40% off coupons to score the best deals! You’ll also need molds to pour the soap into. You can use a loaf pan lined with wax or parchment paper and cut the soap once it’s hardened. I prefer using silicone molds (like the one shown with the soap base I selected for this project) because they ensure each bar is uniform in size and are incredibly easy to clean and reuse. Alternatively, you might already have some silicone molds at home or can find an inexpensive loaf pan at a thrift shop.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- Melt and pour soap base
- Silicone molds or lined loaf pan
- Pyrex glass bowl
- Essential oils
- Optional add-ins such as dried herbs (like lemon balm, mint, or lavender), spices (such as cardamom, cinnamon, or cloves), dried lemon or orange zest, poppy seeds, or oats
- Popsicle sticks
- Silicone spatula
- Potholder to handle the hot glass bowl
- Find a printable version of this recipe, along with my other health and beauty recipes in my FREE resource library
Before beginning, set up your soap molds on a protected surface, like a kitchen counter covered with newspaper or craft paper. It’s essential not to move silicone molds until the soap has fully hardened! If your workspace is needed before the soap is solid, place the molds on a sturdy tray for easy transport.
Have your essential oils and other add-ins ready for use. Suggestions for essential oil combinations that work well can be found at the bottom of this post. Cut the soap blocks into 1-inch cubes and place them in a glass bowl. Microwave them in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until the soap is completely melted. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a pot of hot water and stirring regularly until melted.
Once the soap base is fully melted, carefully pour it into the molds. Work with one bar at a time, adding oils and any other ingredients after pouring and allowing the soap to cool slightly. Stir the mixture with a popsicle stick after adding oils. Remember to use a different popsicle stick for each soap if you are making varying scents. Heavier add-ins like oats may settle towards the bottom of the bar, which is perfectly normal.
Let the soap cool completely for at least two hours. Once it has set, gently push each bar out of the mold and wrap them in wax or parchment paper for storage. Isn’t it beautiful? I wish you could experience the delightful aroma!
One fun variation is to add a small plastic toy into the mold before pouring the soap. My kids used to love washing their hands to uncover little dinosaurs hidden inside the soap. This method works best with translucent glycerin soap.
Wasn’t that straightforward? Making your own easy homemade soap is something everyone can accomplish. Don’t you love the idea of personalizing your beauty and personal care products with essential oils and real ingredients? By whipping up a batch of soap every now and then, you’ll have one less item to purchase from the store!
Essential Oil Combinations That Work Well:
- Lemon/Peppermint
- Cypress/Lemon
- Lavender/Peppermint/Lemon
- Cedarwood/Frankincense
- Geranium/Bergamot
- Tea Tree/Lemon
Feel free to experiment with your own combinations and add-ins—the sky is the limit! To store any leftover ingredients, I use these handy little containers I found at the Dollar Store. Check out some of my other recipes using essential oils!
- Natural Baking Soda Free Stick Deodorant
- Easy Homemade Lip Balm
- Homemade Cleaner Recipes
Now, I hope you feel inspired to create your very own homemade soap! Join us and share your results in our Facebook group. We’d love to see your creations!
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