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Note: Pictures will be coming soon!
So now you've gathered your ingredients and you're ready to start crafting your soap! The first thing you'll want to do is start with a clean work space. If you're working in your kitchen, clean off all the counter & table space for room. When I'm working on soap I'm normally making a few different things at once and I turn into a "mad woman"! =) Its nice to have a prepared area. Then follow these instructions:
1) Start your "double boiler": I use a saucepan that I got at the dollar store with a 4-cup glass pyrex measuring container. Fill the pan with a couple inches of water and place the pyrex container in it. Put this on medium high until the water starts to boil a little. Keep the temperature so it "simmers".
2) Prepare colorants, scents and additives: Its good to get the additives, color and scent ready - you may want to measure them out into small bowls. This makes it easier to add them when the time comes.
3) Weigh and cut your soap: You can use a kitchen scale and knife for this... Cut the soap into small peices - this will help it melt more quickly. Put the soap into pyrex container and cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps keep the moisture of the soap in. You can "nudge" the soap a little with a wooden spoon to break up clumps - do not over stir, or whip the soap, as this will create bubbles!
4) Add Colorants, Additives, & Scent: After the soap is
completely melted, let it cool a bit. You will want to add your scents
first, because they can affect the coloring of the soap base. You don't want
to add the fragrances to hot soap, because fragrances have a "flash point" where
the scent can be lost. After adding the scent, you should add in
your colorants. Add a little at a time - remember that you can
always add more but you can't take it back out! =)
After the colorants are mixed in, add in any additives you would like...additive
ideas and techniques are discussed later.
5) Pour into Molds: Most plastic molds will not need to be "greased" - especially single cavity soap molds. If small bubbles appear at the top, spray the surface with rubbing alcohol. After pouring, the soaps will need to sit for 30 min - 1 1/2 hours depending on the recipe you used.
6) Unmolding: After the soap has hardened and cooled,
you can unmold it. If you have problems getting it out of the mold, you
may want to place it in the freezer for a short time, then let it set so it makes
condensation. This will help it pop out. Do not let the soap freeze through!
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Ingredients/Materials
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Packaging
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