What are the castor oil soap benefits? How does castor oil affect lather? Should you use it in soapmaking? I would suggest you at least experiment with using it it because just a little bit will notably boost lather, and sudsy lather is something people really enjoy and look for in a soap. I’m going…

With cold process being a lot easier and more hands-off to make, why would anyone bother with hot process soap at all? There are a few different reasons, and one of them is that it might be better for your skin. Like anything else, this is up for debate. I’m sure you’ll find an endless…

Of all the materials a soapmaker works with, lye is the most dangerous. A highly caustic chemical that seems to serve as the catalyst to some really strong reactions, it must be treated with care. Each and every time you make lye solution, you’re causing an exothermic reaction between the lye and water, which is…

Let’s get right to the point here. The best way I’ve found to prevent soda ash on handmade soap is to use a water discount when making cold process soap. This one little adjustment solved it for me. I personally used 1.5 parts water for every 1 part lye I use in my recipe (1.5:1)….

Soapmaking is full of unexpected issues that seem teeny tiny in the grand scheme of things, but you worry about it anyway because you want a good batch of soap, dammit. Cloudy lye solution is one of those issues. There could be a number of different reasons for your lye water turning cloudy, and most…

Turning fats and lye into soap is an art and a science. No one knows this better than those who have experience with soapmaking and thus understand all the ways in which the process can fail. Hitting a false trace is one of the ways to fail, and it happens to many. What Is False…

Once the soapmaking bug hits, it takes you in. You end up walking through the aisle of the grocery store where the oils are kept, even if you just popped in to buy bananas down at the other end of the store. Your online shopping wishlist is full of soaping goodies – dividers, pigments, butters,…

This is a super-detailed step-by-step guide covering the cold process method of soap making. It’s perfect for beginners to refer to until they’ve got several batches under their belt, and good for intermediate soap makers to read as there may be little bits of info in here that serve as good reminders are tips to…

Hot process soap making is an easy way to make short work of making soap. Understanding the difference between hot and cold process soaps can be a little confusing at first, but how do you make soap with hot process?  The short version: to make soap with hot process, use lye and oil to make…

Organic handcrafted soaps made with non-toxic ingredients are a boon to people suffering from skin conditions and those whose skin reacts to artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives. These soaps are available for purchase, but wouldn’t it be satisfying to create them yourself and put your personal stamp on them? Make homemade soap suitable for sensitive…

Investing time in making your own soap is a lot of fun and can be a lucrative undertaking as well. It’s something that both adults and children can do safely at home. The best way to make good quality and attractive soap is to use a proper soap making kit.  The best soap making kits…

Handmade soap is a fantastic choice for those looking for a natural, skin-friendly, cost-effective way to clean their skin. When you choose to make your soap, it puts you in control of what you add – or don’t add – to it. In addition to the bare minimum of lye solution and fats required to…

Homemade soap is one of the most rewarding projects to create. Why? Because it can be put to use (that means a lot to me). I love soap that looks old-fashion and rustic, but some prefer a nice shiny bar. There are some critical steps to ensure a glossy finish when creating soap from scratch,…

We use soap every day, whether to wash ourselves, our clothes, or our dishes. In the supermarket, it is easy to come by and cheap. But lately, there have been more and more people buying natural soaps or making their own soap. Why should you make your own soap? You should make your own soap…

So you’re getting into soap making and are ready to purchase your first (or next) silicone mold. Great choice! If you’ve already selected silicone as your material, we applaud you for an excellent choice in simplicity (not messing around with nuts and bolts or glue to hold it in place), durability, and abundant, versatile variety. …

Whether you made it yourself or are the proud owner of someone else’s artisan handmade bar of soap, it’s a work of art worthy of storing wisely. How you keep your handcrafted soap influences how long it lasts and how well it maintains its color and scent. So what are the best ways to store…

Many people are switching to natural self-care products because of the potential negative impact of some ingredients in commercial soap. Making natural soap gives you control over what you put on your skin. But how do you make it? To make soap at home using natural ingredients, choose organic, responsibly sourced raw material from plants,…

Soap-making is a nearly 5,000-year-old art that originated in Mesopotamia with the Babylonians, in a vat of animal fat, water, and wood ashes. From its origins as a product used for washing textile fibers, soap took a meandering course through millennia before arriving at its modern status as a human hygiene essential.  Homemade soap is…

What exactly do you use alcohol in soapmaking for? Alcohol can be sprayed on the surface of your soap batter to pop bubbles, prevent soda ash from forming on the soap’s surface, join the layers of poured soaps, and make transparent soaps.  It can be used in different ways to add to the artistry in…

Making handmade soap is a fantastic hobby that is not only enjoyable but also a creative process. It is something that you can customize to your likings, and it results in an exceptionally useful product for you, your family, and friends. You can start making soap at home by reading up on the process and…

If you have left your soap sitting unused for several years, it may have lost its fragrance or gone rancid. However, since soap has a high pH, it cannot grow mold or other fungi. So, is it possible for homemade soaps to go bad? Homemade soaps do go bad. Over time, homemade soaps can lose…

Homemade soap is a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to store-bought soap (which in most cases is actually detergent shaped like a bar of soap). In addition, making your own soap is a sustainable way to tailor your soaps to your own needs and preferences. But for those of us concerned about the environment, you…

Making soap at home can be a fun and creative process. The easiest way to do it is by finding a great soap base that will fit your personal needs. It can be difficult finding the right melt and pour soap base, so we decided to find the best of the best for you!  The…

Soap isn’t just for cleaning humans, pets, and objects. It gives one a feeling of well-being and, if it smells great, aromatherapy benefits too. It’s easier to just get some ready-made melt-and-pour soap and get on with the fancy decorating, but you are brave enough to start from scratch, and in the comforts of your…

Handmade soap bars can vary significantly based on personal preferences, ingredients used, design details added, and even the method used to make them. While each one is a unique work of art, the process used to make the bar of soap creates a different soap-making experience for the soapmaker and a different looking and feeling…

Regardless of the question if making soap is your hobby or your business, accurate measuring is essential, and for that, you need a good, reliable kitchen scale. This can be harder to find than you might think, which is why I’m here to help.  The best kitchen scale for soap making for most people is…

Making your own soap is a wonderful way to ensure that something you put on your skin every day is made just how you want it to be. It is a creative, thoughtful, artisan process that requires some precision and yields fantastic, natural, high-quality results. So how do you become a soapmaker yourself? To make…

As people move towards organic beauty and make their own products, homemade soap becomes more and more popular. However, there is science involved in making soap, and it’s important to make sure your homemade version won’t damage your skin. What pH level should you look for when making or purchasing homemade soap? The pH of…

Handcrafted soap making is increasingly popular, and now, because of the pandemic, many housebound soap enthusiasts have taken an interest in the activity for its money-making potential.  This article aims to help beginners, hobbyists, and wannabe soap creators transition into making their beloved activity a legitimate business. Read on to find out the specifics. Starting…

Shine is wonderful on your hair, your car chassis, and the sun, but on your face, it’s not the best. Following the trend toward natural remedies to address oily skin concerns, soap makers are now using organic ingredients in their products. How can you join this movement and start making your own soap?  You can…

Handmade soap is a fantastic natural product that cleanses and nourishes the skin. Whether you make it yourself or support a local artisan soapmaker, there are many great reasons to use homemade soap. However, in a world where we’re watching every germ and bacteria to prevent illnesses, you may be wondering if homemade soap is…

You want to create soap by yourself, and you decided you’ll use palm oil as one of your base oils. So, you asked around and did some digging, and you realized you’d need to bleach palm oil for soap making. You’re unsure on how to proceed with this, so you turn to Google for help….

Creating your own soap is one of many satisfying (and potentially money-making) activities you can engage in while homebound during quarantine time. Customize homemade soaps by adding fragrance, dried flowers, or color to them. But how do you add your preferred hues? To add color to homemade soap, use skin-safe liquid dye or colored blocks…

Cleaning up is an essential but tedious part of soap making. Plastic soap molds are pretty and easy to use but require delicate care to clean them up after use. To clean your plastic soap molds, start by scraping out residual soap chunks and washing by hand like your dishes using dish soap. Don’t use…

Lye is an essential ingredient for soap making. Unfortunately, it is caustic and can cause serious injury if not handled correctly. Some beginner soap makers would like to make homemade soap without having to use this harsh chemical. The best way to make homemade soap without lye is to use the melt and pour technique….

Handmade soap is a cleansing, skin-nourishing, made-from-the-heart artisan product that works hard, feels good, and almost always looks and smells divine. People of all soap making skill levels can make homemade soap, as you can obtain most of the necessary ingredients at your local supermarket or online. In a nutshell, it’s made by combining lye…

You’ve just made a gorgeously marbled loaf of cold process homemade soap and are ready to cut. It smells divine, is rich and smooth, and it turned out just the color you were going for. However, as it sits a day or two, a white film starts to come over it, but what is it,…

Soap: a foamy, bubbly good time that lathers away dirt and germs while delivering a powerful punch of nourishment to our skin, right? Well, maybe. For a product we slather onto our largest organ every day, it’s wise to take a close look on whether it’s harming or helping our skin. Homemade soap is better…

Homemade bath products have become increasingly popular in recent years due to sites like Etsy. Handmade soap, in particular, is going strong thanks to unique designs and an eco-friendly appeal. So surely this means that soap making is an excellent business to pursue? Soap making can be a lucrative business if you’re prepared to make…

Inquiring minds want to know: is soap making expensive? Money is, after all, a limited resource we must learn to manage. And I know there are plenty of us out there who get excited about an idea and spend way too much money in pursuit of said idea. Later we find out maaaaybe we shouldn’t…