10 Easy Ways Why You Should Make Melt And Pour Handmade Soap

10 Easy Ways Why You Should Make Melt And Pour Handmade Soap

Learn How To Make Soap

Whether you are making soaps for fun or plan to pursue the business entrepreneurial, our How-To-Guide will walk you through the process. You will be crafting elegant handmade melt and pour soaps like a PRO in no time and also a great Perfect Gift!

When I first became interested in making soap,  I researched every single way possible to make soap in simple and fun.

It is a great way to get started making and experimenting with using melt and pour soap base is actually the way I began my own journey into making our own handmade soaps. It is allow you to customize and create your own soap with additives like botanical, herbs, clay, seeds, honey, salts, essential oils etc etc etc.

Read on for step by step instructions for making your own beautiful melt and pour soap even a child can do it right away!!! This is a great project to get kids excited about making their own soaps too.

Here is the secret way to create your own natural soaps --- you simply purchase large blocks of ready made soap base that have been specially processed to melt very easily, melt it on down smoothly, add whatever additives you like and you have your own soap creation!

You can be as creative as you like, and get a feel for whether or not making your own handmade soap

is something you will enjoy. You also get a feel for the kinds of additives you love and the kinds of scents you like.  Pretty cool, right? 

MELT AND POUR SOAP MAKING FOR BEGINNER

Creating a high-quality soaps is not hard.  In fact, it is simple, fun and can be done right from your home and any work space.  It is an exciting hobby and also an easy way.  Let's get started!

Materials:
Alcohol (99%) in Spray Bottle
Cloth Towel
Cutting Board
Double Boiler or Microwave
Glass (Measurement) Container
Hand Glove

Melt and Pour Soap Base
Paper Towel
Plastic Wrap
Scissors

Silicone Soap Mold

Silicone Spatula
Soap Cutter/knife
Tray
Traymet

Weight Scale

Ingredients:
Additives - herbs/seeds/clay etc
Base Oils
Colorants
Essential Oils
Fragrances
Oase - carrier Oil/butter/olive oil

Packaging (Option)
Brown paper
other decorative paper
Rafia
Ribbons
Sticker labels

Step 1) Prepare Your Materials and Work Space

Wash and dry molds, spatula and glass containers with warm soapy water and dry completely.  To avoid cross contamination, it is good practice to sanitize your work area before getting started.  You can spray the materials and work space area with rubbing alcohol (99%)  and then wipe dry with a clean paper towel.

Step 2) Cut Up the Block Of Soap Base

Cup the soap base into small or even sized cubes (roughly 1" cubes).  Place glass container on weight scale and tare the weight.  Add the soap cubes and weight it. We are ready to transfer to double boiler or microwave.

Tips: Cut up the block of soap base if you are doing this project with kids, you will probably want to do the cutting for them, unless they are older and proficient with a large knife. 

Step 3) Get Your Double Boiler Ready

For the melting part, you will need a double boiler or the microwave** on low heat until the soap base is fully melted.  Stir while heating to ensure fully melt.  Do not over heat.

**Place glass container with soap base in the microwave and heat for 1 minute.  Stir gently to help break up any clumps and help the soap melt more easily.  It necessary, heat in 20 second intervals until most of the soap is completely melted.  Melted soap will be extremely hot, so use caution when handling. If the soap base starts to foam while in the double boiler or microwave, it is too hot.  Stop and do not continue to heat.  Stir gently to continue the melting process. 

Tips: Melt and pour soap is a great option for beginners. Do not want to bother with using lye at first. Cold press soap is made by combining oils and sodium hydroxide lye.  That causes a chemical reaction call saponification. Melt and pour soap has already gone through that process.  That means you do not have to handle lye, you can focus on the design and you do not have to cure the soap - it is ready to use as soon as it is cool and hard.  It is great for kids as well.

Step 4) Melt it Down

Gently stir your soap cubes as they melt down smoothly.  You want to have your colors, additives and essential oils prepared ahead of time so the soap does not start to harden as you work.

Tips: Add dried rose petals, dried lavender buds or oatmeal but a word of caution, some botanical can discolor your soap.  Also, the pieces will come off as you use the soap and could clog drains or cause the soap to be uncomfortable to rub against your skin if it is not quite the right consistency.  Most botanical like rose petals or lavender buds dry up and turn brown as well, so they may not be as pretty in the soap.  Let's feel free to experiment and see what works for you.

Step 5) Add Your Color & Scent

Once your soap is completely melted down, you can add your colorant and scents. Follow the directions if you are using some kind of dye for soap. I prefer to use natural materials like clay or powdered herbs. Add colorant and stir well to make sure it is completely incorporated.  Start with 3-4 drops and add more until desired color is achieved.

Tips: Add fragrance oil, essential oil, colorant/mica sparkles, 1/4oz fragrance oil per pound is a general rule for starting and then make adjustments until you're happy with it.  If weighting ingredients and using percentages, 1-3% ratio is standard.  But verify fragrance oil recommendations from your supplier.  

Where do I get my colorants?

Mix the ingredients in really well! You don't want lumps of clay or herbal powder, and you definitely

want your essential oils mixed in well, too.

What about scenting your soap?

For scents, I prefer essential oils --- l'd start out with 15 to 20 drops of total essential oils per 100mL of melted soap base and stir well.  It is good idea to check the temperature of your soap and make sure it is between 60 celsius degree.  If you choose to use fragrance oils (I don't use these because they contain toxic chemicals), you can start with a small amount, then adjust until you like it!  It is easy to get too much scent, so be conservative at first.

Tips: The more the liquid is the softer the soap.  Add base oil will reduce the lather.

Have fun with this part by adding exfoliants, embeds, soap curls, soap chunks, soap layers, soap swirls, body safe glitter, herbs etc etc etc...the possibilities are unlimited!!!

Step 6) Pour into Your Soap Mold

Once you have added your fragrances or essential oils, it is time to pour the soap into the mold.  Pour carefully and slowly to minimize bubbles.  Fill to the rim of the mold.  Quickly spray the surface with rubbing alcohol to break up any bubbles that may have formed on the surface.

Leave it alone until it is completely cooled and set at least a couple of hours to be on the safe side. We decided to sprinkle some herbs, seeds or flowers buds on top of this soap!

Step 7) Spritz the Tops with Alcohol

This will help get rid of any bubbles that come to the surface of the soap which can affect the appearance.  It is OK to spray several times to eliminate as many bubbles as possible, however over spraying will cause the soap to foam.

Step 8) Remove the Soap 

After 30 minutes to allow your soap to cool down and undisturbed for 1-3 hours.  Also do not move it while it is cooling because you could get a wrinkled on top -- that is not looking good.

After 1-3 hours the soap should easily pop out of the mold.  Gently pull at the sides of the mold to help loosen the soap from the edges.  Invert the mold and apply light pressure to the center of the cavity.  DO NOT force the soap.  If it is not coming out easily, you can try placing the mold in the refrigerator for up to 30 minutes or so and try again.

Tips: I like to use silicone soap molds for melt and pour soaps because it is so easy to remove the soap when it is cooled down!  The  more liquid added, the longer it takes to harden.

Difficulty removing the soap from the soap molds?
Soap which is allowed to remain in molds for 12-24 hours after cooling releases much more easily than de-molding immediately after cooling. 

Step 9) Clean Up

Melt and pour soap clean up is so easy -- just wash with water and a scrub brush or dish cloth to loosen larger pieces.  If you are left with a thick layer of soap in your container, try pulling the layer of soap from the container while the soap is still warm.  You can roll this into a litter ball for fun and use it right away.

Step 10) Package and Label or Enjoy Now!

The soap will be ready to use right away, so when you are done admiring your handy work, go ahead and give it a try!

If you plan to sell your soap you will want to package and label it appropriately.  Soap contains glycerin which pulls moisture out of the air and can cause water droplets or sweating to form on the surface.  Wrapping the soap right away helps prevent this from occurring.

To package, tear off the piece of plastic wrap.  If it is too big, cut it with scissor to fit.  Fold plastic tightly around the soap on all four sides (similar to wrapping a present).  

Tips: Use a heat gun to shrink the plastic tightly around the soap to keep it protected.  Add a label that includes ingredients, product weight and name.

That is it! Congrats on making your FIRST soaps!

Check back soon for more tutorials, guides and recipes.  Or share your own ideas for projects with us at nutrieo@gmail.com