Soap making is a skill developed in colonial times. Soap was produced by boiling together wood ash, lye and fats. This type of soap production is still used today, and is referred to as cold process soap. Many people prefer a simpler way of making soaps by melting glycerin soap, adding fragrance and pouring it into molds. This is the "melt and pour" method of soap production. Glycerin soap is easy to work with, and you can add dried flowers, exfoliants, fragrance and color to the soap to make each batch different.
Step 1
Cut the glycerin soap bar into small pieces. Each piece should be about 1 inch square. Place the cut soap pieces into the top part of the double boiler. Or, place the cut soap pieces in a glass measuring cup if you choose to microwave the soap.
Step 2
Cover the glass measuring cup with plastic wrap, if you are melting the soap in a microwave. This will keep the moisture in the soap from evaporating out when the soap melts. Microwave the soap blocks in 20- to 30-second increments until thoroughly melted. Stir the soap after each time you microwave it to ensure uniform melting. If you're using a double boiler, place the soap cubes in the top portion of the double boiler and turn the heat on low to slowly melt the soap. Check back periodically to see if the soap is melted.
Step 3
Add colorant gradually to the glycerin soap base, as it is melting, until you reach the desired shade. Stir the soap well as you add the colorant so the color is uniform throughout the soap.
Step 4
Mix in any desired dried flowers or exfoliating grains. You can control how much or little of these you add to the soap. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way when it comes to exfoliating grains in soap. For a 4 oz. bar of soap, 1 tsp. of grain will give a mild exfoliation, while 1 tbsp. of exfoliating grain will give a heavy exfoliation.
Step 5
Add essential oil fragrance to the soap mixture last. This will prevent the heating of the soap from boiling off the fragrance. Add a few drops at first, mix the essential oil into the soap, then waft the fragrance toward your nose. If it's not strong enough, add a few more drops of fragrance and mix again. Repeat these steps until the scent of the soap is the strength you desire.
Step 6
Pour the soap into the mold of your choice. Fill the mold completely, without overflowing the mold. Spray the filled mold with rubbing alcohol if necessary, to get rid of any bubbles in the soap.
Step 7
Allow the soap to fully cool in the mold before attempting to remove it. Turn the mold upside down and gently press on each mold to release the soap from the mold. The soap should fall out of the mold easily.
Tips and Warnings
- Use a microwave to heat the soap if you want it to melt faster, but choose a double boiler if you don't want to worry about constantly watching the soap and excess moisture evaporating out. Adding liquid colorant allows you to have more control over the color of the soap than solid colorant. Using liquid will allow you to add just a few drops if you desire a light shade of colored soap.
- Don't allow children to melt and pour soap without adult supervision. The heated soap can get very hot, and may result in burns or other injuries if not handled carefully.
Things You'll Need
- Plain glycerin soap bars
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Glass measuring cup
- Microwave or double boiler
- Plastic wrap
- Solid or liquid soap colorant
- Spoon
- Fragrance oil
- Dried flowers or exfoliating grains (optional)
- Soap molds
- Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
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