Basic Materials for Melt & Pour Soap Making:

• 1 lb or 2 of Soap Base
• Serrated Knife
• Cutting Board
• Soap molds
• Glass measuring cup
• Soap additives - This can be different added ingredients such as oatmeal, goats milk, honey, aloe vera, apricot bits, herbs, vitamin E oil
• Fragrance - in the form of fragrant or essential oils
• Saran Wrap
• Cosmetic Grade Soap Colorants - liquid dyes or color blocks
• A stirring device - This can be a wooden craft sticks or something like a whisk
• Alcohol in a spray bottle (use to spray the top of the soaps to get smooth)
• Microwave

Instructions:
Within a couple of hours you could make your very own bar soap, an ideal present for house warmings, hostesses, or even if you are feeling truly special, yourself.

Slice the preferred quantity of soap base directly into 1 inch chunks and set inside your set aside measuring
cup.

Liquefy pieces of melt and pour soap base in your microwave oven in 20-30 second time frames up to the point the soap becomes liquified. Just always be cautious to avoid getting burned by the boiling soap.

Incorporate your soap colorant, a little quantity each time, up to the point that your particular color shade is produced.

Blend with a whisk (or other stirring device) very carefully & slowly in order to avoid air bubbles from forming.

If you’re employing color nuggets, make sure that you liquefy a small piece together along with your soap base to obtain the sought after hue.

Reserve a couple of minutes ahead of time to arrange your soap molds, tools, fragrance, as well as any other soap additives that will make your soap special. Arrange your favorite soap molds on a clean and dry working surface that is level and has lots of room. Start off incorporating your favorite ingredients along with an aromatic fragrance (usually this will be between ¼ - ½ tsp. for every cup of melt and pour soap base or 1 oz/lb of base)

Important NOTE! Refrain from incorporating the scented essence when the soap is very hot, or the fragrance could possibly evaporate from the actual warmth of the soap itself. Nevertheless, waiting around for too long can cause the final bar soap to setup with an unintended skin layer.

After you have stirred in your fragrance along with the miscellaneous other soap additives, your molds are ready for the soap to be poured. In case you have air bubbles developing on top of your soap pours, take your alcohol sprayer and gently spray the tops of the soap. Now let your newly poured soap cool for around half an hour or up to the point it is firm. Its then that you can pop it out of the soap mold. Placing the soap mold with the hardened soap inside your refrigerator’s freezer for a couple minutes or so should help the soap let go from the molds much more easily. When you get your soaps out finally, you can dry them in the open air on wax paper over night. In the morning, you can then wrap the new bars in clear Saran wrap, shrink wrap, or some kind of fancy waxed paper in order to maintain the aroma.

Suggestions: When you are doing melt and pour soap, just remember that additives, colorants, or fragrance is not required! Go with what you like.

Just remember to have fun with it and remember to do what makes you happy!

Here is a cool How to do a Melt and Pour Soap Video!

Look at the selection of books that we have available to learn the craft of Melt & Pour Soapmaking:

Records indicate that soap making may have existed as far back as 2800 B.C. There are records that indicate both the Ancient Greeks and Romans both started experimenting with olive oil in their initial soap making. During its earliest years of creation soap was considered a luxury and was only available to the richest individuals and families. Soap makers were hired to create their products and were paid well by their wealthy employers. Because of its’ rare status, it took years before handmade soap became accessible to everyone. But, one thing that remained unchanged through the years is the fact that, like its current use, soap was used to wash skin and clothes when it was first discovered.

As the years progressed, Europe established a soap making industry as did America. While handmade soap was generally made by women during the colonel American era. Each year, usually before spring, women would gather together and make soap from the ingredients that were saved from the winter months. Generally colonial soaps were made from lard.

Since large industries took over the process of soap making, the quality has suffered immensely. Soap making has been quite profitable to large corporations. However, these large corporations do not offer handmade soap and, therefore, lose control over the special touches that only handmade soap can offer. Rather than a luxury item, as it was earlier considered, soap has become an everyday must-have household item. The availability of regular soap lead to the inventions of other things, including detergent, dishwashing liquids, stain removers, liquid soaps, etc.

Today, handmade soaps are created by talented crafters worldwide. Unique designs, scents, colorations and styles are among the many characteristics found in today’s handmade soap. From lavender soap to soap loaves, handmade soap is still very much considered a luxurious item, but not anywhere near as unattainable as in its earliest years. Soap loaves, much like the name implies, can be cut down to make bars of any size of shape. Many soap makers show their creations at various craft fairs throughout the year, as well as specialty stores.

Handmade soap is thought to be wonderful for your skin. Because each bar contains healthy ingredients that help to rejuvenate the skin, many users swear by its’ effects. Today, everyone from amateurs to small business owners are experimenting, selling and enjoying their own handmade soap. Vanilla, lavender, floral and practically any other scent imaginable is available. The next time that you find yourself peeking in and out of quaint stores lining the streets or browsing the aisle at a local craft fair, snoop around and see if you cannot find someone who is offering handmade soap. Otherwise, there is always the internet where a variety of handmade soap is right at your fingertips.