Melt and Pour Soap Making
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Melt and Pour base Soap (found in all good craft stores)
Melt and Pour soap is a soap base that is literally melted and poured to make soap. You simply melt the base mix and add extra ingredients to make luxurious home made soaps. This project shows you the basics of melt and pour soap making.
Melt and Pour Soap can be bought from all good craft supply stores in the form of "melt and pour" soap mix or base.
Alternatively you can use pure soap flakes available in the laundry section of your supermarket but I would recommend using a recipe that contains some moisturizing oils as pure soap flakes can be a little harsh on the skin.
But using soap flakes is a great inexpensive way to try your hand at soap making before embarking on a well blended soap mix.
You can melt the base soap in a double boiler or the microwave.
Microwave method:
Add your chunks of soap to a large microwave bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap to prevent moisture loss. Melt the base soap on high for one minute and then stir in any un-melted pieces.
Double Boiler method: This is where a double boiler pan is used or a pan of water with a bowl over the top is used.
Double boiler method is the same method used for melting chocolate on the stove top.
Bring the water to the boil, place the top pan or bowl on top and add chunks of the base soap. It may take 10-15mins to melt the wax down. Do not leave it unattended.
Additives:
There are so many things that can be added to base soap from milk, oils, chocolate and even spices. Check out our soap making recipes for full instructions on how to add these extras.
Fragrant oils
Add any scents after the base is fully melted or it will evaporate.
Essential oils
Add any essential oils just before pouring to prevent evaporation.
Colorant/Dye
There are different types of colors and dyes. Choose one that is suitable for your project. Mica and soap making dyes well give the best result, but if you are just wanting to have a go at soap making than the candle dye and food color are great substitutes for a home batch of soap.
Mica
Add 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon mica with the melting base and stir it in really well. Spray any "mica bubbles" that form on the top with rubbing alcohol.
Candle Dye
Shave a few shards into the melted soap base until a desired color is reached. Only use a small amount of candle dye or it may temporarily dye your skin and is not recommended for sensitive skin types.
Food Color
Add a few drops of food coloring to the melted mix until a desired color is reached.
Molds:
You can use anything from ice cube trays to muffin tins.
Simply pour your melted soap into the mold. Allow it to cool before popping it out of the mold. Allow it to dry for 2-3 days to harden.
By Shellie Wilson. Shellie is the chief creative editor for Craftbits.
What kind of soap flakes can I use as all that I have found are scented and some are very strong. Is there a certain braind to use? I have not been able to find pure soap flakes. I am assuming that these are NOT scented. I have tried finding them at just about every major chains of department and grocery stores and have not had any luck. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Jeanetta
i plan to do it later on this week, and i love how it tells what to do and what not?But i do have a question, where on earth can i get scents for the soap?i really hope someone can answer my question! *)
What can I add to soap flakes to reduce the harshness on skin??
Wow! Lot to take In!!
I made the citronella soap, "melt and pour" method, over 1 week ago. I have popped only one bar out of the mold because the soap is still soft and mushy! I actually rolled the one that I popped out into a ball so that I could use it. What's with this recipe? Will it ever harden into a useable bar? I used Dr. Bronner's castile soap as my soap base, because it is pure, and I then followed the recipe exactly as presented to us. I appreciate advice on how to perfect this recipe.... it seemed so easy!
well i tryed both ways but my soap just cooked not melt at all
what went wrong?
i tried to make it as you wrote. but it is soo dry and hard. what should i do to have smooth and soft soaps? thanks alot
berturan@hotmail.com
LOVE IT
i love this im going to get started as soon as poss
that is really good explenation for soap making and very good for the begginers!!! i will start making my soap as soon i buy material !!!!cantwait and sorry for my grammar....
ok but not the best i seen it has no pics and that is what is going to make people want to look at it instead of just words it needs pics u no, i like the idea though it is good and it can be made so many ways you can add colors and it can be your own :)
This site is very helpful. I have stared making my own soap several months ago.
its great and really easy to use
Great craft will be making some for xmas gifts
i loved the information,thank you for all the free stuff.great!
thanks for the info...it is is very usefull!!!
really dont get this? and is the base expensive?
x
Sounds Great! I think that soap would make a great present, all you need is some cute little bags to put them in!
I'm off to help do soap making with my son's class on Thursday.Hope it's as easy to do as your method sounds.
I already knew how to make homemade soap using this method but this was a perfect reference for a demonstration speech I did in my speech class.
THis was pretty helpful because i really don't like store-bought soap and i really wanted to make my own soap!
Very good info craftysue!!!
thanx for suggestioncan u gave more example of soap making
I LOVE SOAP!!!!
Very Informative,I thought I could melt left over soap scraps and make one bar of soap out of many scraps.
i absolutly love this site please keep up the good work craftysue
Very good. Plain and simple. Thanks
one ? how do you make soap the old fashoned way? you know, like in "little house on the praire"?
i luv this site! thanks a lot for such great ideas.
You can shave bar's of soap but lot's of soap these days has so many additives that they don't always melt down well. You may need to add more water. Pure Soap bars work best if using the shaved soap method.
Can you shave previous bars of soap, melt and mold them. Like recycling them into new bars.
I have Tried the food coloring and the candle crackles as it burns.
Very nice site. Helps a lot to have it at our fingertips.
Thank you..This is info I can use :0)
this was a helpful thing to start me off
Exactly what I needed. Thank you!
this wasent very helpful