Name: soapmakerj
Posts by soapmakerj:
- Dry Skin – Helps dramatically reduce the issues associated with dry skin. Specifically, Shea Butter helps prevent chapping, chafing and skin cracks (especially on the feet and elbows).
- Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis – Has shown to have remarkable effects on rashes, psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. French dermatologists used Shea Butter on 35 people from different age, sex and racial backgrounds for a period of ten days to 5 months. These subjects had all types of skin disorders ranging from dry and wrinkled skin to serious burns and rashes. There was substantial healing in all of the cases, and in some cases the healing was almost miraculous. These clinical trials have all been well documented by the French Ministry of Health.
- Skin Irritations - Minor skin irritations including allergies, insect bites, frost bites, sun burns, burns, and small skin wounds all respond positively to treatment. Shea Butter glides on smoothly and easily and penetrates into the skin immediately, having a very quick effect.
- Wrinkles - Helps dramatically with wrinkles. Shea Butter works by rejuvenating skin cells and cleaning pores. Shea Butter also helps by preventing wrinkles by keeping moisture protected in the deeper dermal layers of the skin.
- Dry Hair and Scalp – Helps prevent weak hair from breaking, fading or thinning out. Unlike almost all other hair conditioners on the market, which use Petroleum by-products, Shea Butter does not clog pores or block the hair shafts. It also helps prevent dandruff and revitalizes split ends. In addition, it will protect the hair from the damaging rays of the sun, hair dryers, perms and dyes. A good idea is to use it before swimming in a pool or the ocean to help protect your hair from chlorine and sea salt.
- Sensitive Skin – One of the best choices for people with ultra-sensitive skin, including infants. Why? The chemical composition of shea butter is close to vernix, the substance found on newborns at birth, so there is no negative reaction to it by even the most sensitive people.
- Stretch Marks – Excellent for the prevention and treatment of stretch marks and other kinds of scar tissue. It works by moisturizing and feeding nutrients to these areas which helps dramatically reduce the appearance of scars or stretch marks. In addition, Shea Butter is also good for the healing of sore nipples of nursing mothers.
- Aging – Wonderful for older people who are looking to prevent bed sores and want to keep the suppleness of their skin. Shea Butter works great for the elderly population and can be used everyday.
- Adding Colors & Fragrances the Right Way
- How to Add Herbs, Petals, and Other Additives
- The Secret to “Floating” Additives So They Don’t Clump
- How to Create Incredible Marbling Effects
- How to Layer Your Soap So That It Comes Out Right - Every Time!
- Fun Projects Like Creating Loofah Soaps
- And More!
- The Essential Secrets of Packaging and Labeling
- Marketing Tips for Getting Your Soap Business Started
- Personal 1-On-1 Email Guidance from Shona O’Connor for 12 Months!
- And 10 Additional Bonus Videos (Not Mentioned on Her Site) that Have More Melt & Pour Projects for You!
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable Shortening
- Coconut Oil
- Lye
- Palmarosa Essential Oil
- Patchouli Essential Oil
- 1 chamomile tea bag
- How to Get Started in the Soap Business – Even on a Tiny Budget!
- Money-Saving Tactics for Increasing Your Profits
- Marketing Methods Proven to Work for Selling Soap
- The Basic Steps for Creating Your Business Legally
- The Mistakes Beginners NEVER Think About & How to Avoid Them!
- Little-Known Strategies to Get Your Soap Into More Customers Hands
- Why Having a Website is a MUST for Developing a Solid Business
- Why Repeat Customers Are So Critical to Your Business
- How to Effectively Prepare for Craft Shows
- The Undercover Techniques of Savvy Soap Business Owners
- Extraordinarily Important Legal Aspects All Soap Business Owners
Must Know! - Return to this page with your receipt number from Gary Everson’s “Soap Making for Profit” OR “Soap Making Oil Properties”.
- Enter your email address and receipt number into the form below.
- The 50% Off Discount Link will then be mailed to you!
- That’s it!
- Bath and Body Boutiques are small stores that sell bath and body care products. Begin by looking for independently owned and they carry an assortment of products from different manufacturers.
- Bed and Breakfasts’ are small establishments that are run like a hotel and usually specialize in offering personalized attention to their guests.
Many Bed and Breakfast’s will prefer miniature sizes of your handmade soaps and the owners may also ask for gift baskets for special occasions, such as Christmas, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. - Gift Basket Companies are also a great outlet for selling your handmade soap as they regularly buy body and bath products for their “pamper baskets”.
- Health Food Outlet. Don’t be fooled by the name because there are a lot of Health Food Outlets or stores that sell naturally made products such as handmade soaps.
- Day Spas also offer skin care products and freshly scented soaps.
- Discover the EXACT Steps for Starting Your Soap Business
- Get the Secrets to Starting Your Business on a TINY Budget
- Find Out About the Mistakes that Beginners NEVER Think About & How to Avoid Them
- Uncover Marketing Methods that are Proven to Sell Soap – Even if You are “Afraid of Selling”
- How to Generate More Profits with Each Sale
- Find Out About the Legal Aspects You MUST Address
- Unique Techniques for Getting Vital Business Needs Filled Without Spending a Dime!
- How to Prepare for Craft Shows
- And Much More
- Pure Almond Oil – 16 oz.
- Pure Coconut Oil – 32 oz.
- Pure Canola Oil – 26 oz.
- Pure Olive Oil – 28 oz.
- Pure Soybean Oil – 26 oz.
- Water – 48 oz.
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) – 18 oz.
- Beeswax – 4 oz. (0.5 oz per pound * 8 pounds)
- Honey – 4 oz. (0.5 oz per pound * 8 pounds)
- Mixing bowl, bucket, jar or pot
- Cast iron or stainless steel boiling pot
- Wooden spoons or sticks for stirring
- Molding trays
- Clean cloths or rags
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Ringworm and Other Fungal Infections
- Oily Skin
- Dry Skin
- Infected Cuts and Abrasions
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Clean plastic cup or any small container
- Measuring cup or container
- 3 tablespoons of soap flakes
- 60 milliliters of methylated spirits (alcohol)
- 50 milliliters of glycerine
- 60 milliliters water
- Shona O’Connor’s Soap Making Course is the Best I’ve Seen for Melt & Pour
- Adding Colors & Fragrances the Right Way
- How to Add Herbs, Petals, and Other Additives
- The Secret to “Floating” Additives So They Don’t Clump
- How to Create Incredible Marbling Effects
- How to Layer Your Soap So That It Comes Out Right - Every Time!
- Fun Projects Like Creating Loofah Soaps
- And More!
- The Essential Secrets of Packaging and Labeling
- Marketing Tips for Getting Your Soap Business Started
- Personal 1-On-1 Email Guidance from Shona O’Connor for 12 Months!
- And 10 Additional Bonus Videos (Not Mentioned on Her Site) that Have More Melt & Pour Projects for You!
- Olive 18 Oz
- Sunflower 12 oz
- Coconut 16 oz
- Palm 9 oz
- Palm Kernel 4 oz
- Castor 3 oz
- Palm Stearic 2 oz
- Distilled Water 22 oz
- Lye 9 oz
- Black Jojoba Beads 1 oz
- Titanium Dioxide (water dispersable) 1 Tablespoon
- Anise Essential Oil 2 oz
- Pure Olive Oil – Olive oil has been known to have many beneficial properties for centuries. The olive oil at Mountain Rose Herbs is unrefined and certified to be organic.
- Pure White Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is often used to rejuvenate skin and is thought to have the ability to reduce the formation of wrinkles. Both refined and unrefined coconut oil is available for your vegan soap and both are certified to be organic.
- Jojoba Essential Oil – Jojoba oil’s natural moisturizing abilities are often used to combat dry skin as well as cleanse pores.
- Tea Tree Essential Oil – Among its multitude of characteristics, tea tree oil has the ability to treat acne.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil – Eucalyptus oil is often used as an antiseptic.
- Pepperment Essential Oil – Peppermint possesses anti-fungal and antibacterial qualities. Both are great features to have in your soap. Plus it smells good.
- Aloe Vera Gel – Aloe vera is known for its remarkable ability to regenerate damaged skin.
- Beeswax – Beeswax works as an emulsifier and also works the increase your skin’s natural moisture.
- Dried Herbs – According to the organic vegan soap recipe, you can use any herbs you like.
- Pure Cocoa Butter – This butter is certified to be organic.
- Pure Olive Oil – The olive oil at Mountain Rose Herbs is unrefined and certified to be organic.
- Pure White Coconut Oil – Both refined and unrefined coconut oil is available for your vegan soap and both are certified to be organic.
- Containers for your ingredients which are mainly lye, fats, and water
- Cast iron or stainless steel boiling pot for rendering the fats or oils
- Mixing bowl, bucket, jar or pot
- Wooden spoons or sticks for stirring
- Molding trays
- Clean cloths or rags
- Water, preferably natural or purified
- Lye, either made from white ash or soda
- Fats and/or oils
- Usual additives: superfatting oil, scents or essential oils and coloring element.
- Extra enhancers: vitamin E, glycerin, exfoliants, aloe vera, etc.
- Olive oil (fine, silky bubbles; smooth on the skin)
- Coconut oil (large fluffy bubbles; a bit harsh on the skin)
- Palm oil
- Palm kernal oil
- Ground (pea)nut oil
- Shea butter
- Cocoa butter
- Jojoba oil (skin conditioner)
- All the oils just mentioned
- Avocado oil (soothing on the skin)
- Cocoa butter (makes the soap hard; is aromatic; does not lather)
- Neem (with antiseptic effect)
- Emu oil (moisturizing; said to heal dermatitis and psoriasis)
- Castor oil (scent retaining; rich lather)
- Anise
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Cajeput
- Carrot Seed
- Catnip
- Chamomile
- And More
- Bentonite or kaolin clay (good for oily skin)
- Glycerin
- Honey (adds fragrance and lather)
- Salt (adds hardness to soap, mixed into lye water)
- Stearic acid (hardens soap)
- Silk
- Sugar
- Ground oat meal (exfoliant)
- Herbs
- Vitamin E (healing)
- Soap pigments such as oxides and ultramarines
- Micas
- Colorants
- Other Natural soap colorants
- Packaging paper – food paper will do as well
- Brown paper bags – choose a size that fits your soap snugly, or make your soap in sizes that fit available paper bags
- Ziplock plastic sachets
- Carton boxes
- Brown Craft boxes
- Acetate tubes or boxes, which may be clear, or tinted blue or red, etc.
- Recycled, lidded tin containers
How to Create Herb Infused Oils
April 2nd, 2013You can make this method to create herbal infused oils for your soap making! Definitely try this out!
Lavender & Tea Tree Soap Recipe from Frank
March 18th, 2012
Discover How to Make This Soap at Home!
The other day, Frank of the Falling Leaf Soap Company sent in another great recipe for you to try out. You can check out his very popular K-9 Doggie soap here.
This recipe is for a Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Soap that he developed! Here is what he had to say:
I’ve found that although Olive & Palm Oil combination makes soap, when targeting specific concerns /relief and/or remedies, as sited here , to treat various skin disorders, I feel that adding some lighter oils like Apricot Kernel and Sweet Almond oil, not only give an increased conditioning value to the soap, it also aides in allowing the Olive oil penetrate the deeper into the dermis. and not just sit on top of the skin.
Another oil I add is Castor oil, not only because of it’s super conditioning and lathering properties, it also has a pretty decent capacity to act as a bio-pesticide by repelling insects, too much lavender and the bees will follow you.
I’ll also use 15% coconut oil to regain some of the hardness and cleansing value given up by the castor oil and the lighter oils.
I add melted Shea butter at trace, which is always a nice addition to any bar, it has a middle range conditioning value and adds to the hardness of the bar.
I then add at trace Jojoba oil, which is actually a liquid wax that is very similar to sebum in its chemical composition. It contributes a nice stable lather, has remarkable absorption and moisturizing qualities and unlike some of the other luxury moisturizing oils, has a very long shelf life – 1-2 years! I also infuse the Jojoba oil with Alkanet Root, which when added to the soap will make it turn a yucky gray (so you’re not surprised!!!), Remember… .it will render a nice light natural shade of purple resembling the Lavender as the soap cures, the more you infuse or add the deeper the shade will be. I use a few other oils as shown below in my blending sheet.
The ingredients of this soap can aid in the relief of various skin ailments. Try it out!
Frank’s Lavender & Tea Tree Soap Recipe Ingredients
You can get most of the ingredients you need from Mountain Rose Herbs and Amazon.com. Amazon even carries lye that you can use.
|
|
|
Ingredient |
Pounds |
Ounces |
Grams |
|
Water |
3.04 |
48.64 |
1378.92 |
|
Lye – NaOH |
1.119 |
17.911 |
507.767 |
|
# |
√ |
Oil/Fat |
% |
Pounds |
Ounces |
Grams |
|
1 |
|
Olive Oil |
30 |
2.4 |
38.4 |
1088.621 |
|
2 |
|
Palm Kernel Oil Flakes, hydrogenated |
16 |
1.28 |
20.48 |
580.598 |
|
3 |
|
Rice Bran Oil |
16 |
1.28 |
20.48 |
580.598 |
|
4 |
|
Coconut Oil, 76 deg |
15 |
1.2 |
19.2 |
544.31 |
|
5 |
|
Almond Oil, sweet |
7 |
0.56 |
8.96 |
254.012 |
|
6 |
|
Apricot Kernal Oil |
7 |
0.56 |
8.96 |
254.012 |
|
7 |
|
Shea Butter |
5 |
0.4 |
6.4 |
181.437 |
|
8 |
|
Flax Oil, linseed |
3 |
0.24 |
3.84 |
108.862 |
|
9 |
|
Jojoba Oil a Liquid Wax Ester |
1 |
0.08 |
1.28 |
36.287 |
|
|
|
Totals |
100 |
8 |
128 |
3628.736 |
|
|
|
Additives |
Notes Eos- 60% Lav & 40% Tea Tree / Alkanet root infused in Jojoba@trace |
|
Recipe Name: |
|
|
|
Ingredient |
Pounds |
Ounces |
Grams |
|
Water |
3.04 |
48.64 |
1378.92 |
|
Lye – NaOH |
1.119 |
17.911 |
507.767 |
|
# |
√ |
Oil/Fat |
% |
Pounds |
Ounces |
Grams |
|
1 |
|
Olive Oil |
30 |
2.4 |
38.4 |
1088.621 |
|
2 |
|
Palm Kernel Oil Flakes, hydrogenated |
16 |
1.28 |
20.48 |
580.598 |
|
3 |
|
Rice Bran Oil |
16 |
1.28 |
20.48 |
580.598 |
|
4 |
|
Coconut Oil, 76 deg |
15 |
1.2 |
19.2 |
544.31 |
|
5 |
|
Almond Oil, sweet |
7 |
0.56 |
8.96 |
254.012 |
|
6 |
|
Apricot Kernal Oil |
7 |
0.56 |
8.96 |
254.012 |
|
7 |
|
Shea Butter |
5 |
0.4 |
6.4 |
181.437 |
|
8 |
|
Flax Oil, linseed |
3 |
0.24 |
3.84 |
108.862 |
|
9 |
|
Jojoba Oil a Liquid Wax Ester |
1 |
0.08 |
1.28 |
36.287 |
|
|
|
Totals |
100 |
8 |
128 |
3628.736 |
|
|
|
Additives |
Notes Eos- 60% Lav & 40% Tea Tree / Alkanet root infused in Jojoba@trace |
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Natasha and ~J are Engaged!
March 11th, 2012
At sunset on March 5, 2012, on a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico...
...J asked this couple from Vancouver to help him by taking pictures...
...As he proposed to his unsuspecting girlfriend, Natasha...
...
...And she said yes!
7 Top Reasons To Use African Shea Butter
February 12th, 2012
Shea Butter Can Impart Amazing Properties to Your Soap!
by Scott Malin
African Shea Butter
African Shea Butter is made from the seeds of the Karite tree (known as the Tree of Life) which grows wild in West Africa. In Africa, there are number of therapeutic uses for the “King of skin care ingredients” including ingesting it for colds and flus and as a ceremonial food. Africans use it on the skin of infants, because of it’s incredibly mild properties on the most sensitive of skin. Also, it does an amazing job of protecting and moisturizing their delicate skin. Africans also use Shea Butter with the elderly to help with aching joints and to keep their skin supple. Due to the dry nature of the Sahara, it is also used regularly to help with cracked and dry skin.
The 7 Top Reasons to use Shea Butter
Scott Malin is rapidly becoming a widely respected writer on the subject of organic, all natural skin care. You can find excellent advice about how to have healthy and beautiful skin at:
http://www.organichealthandbeauty.com/Skin-Care-Smart-Guide_ep_209-1.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Malin
Valentine’s Recipes to Try
February 3rd, 2012Valentine’s Day is approaching fast this year. To be honest, it has caught me a bit off guard. Even so, here are some great projects that you can do even though time is short!
The videos were created by GoPlanetEarth.com.
How to Make Soap Heart Bars (Melt & Pour)
How to Make Valentine’s Cupcake Soaps (Melt & Pour)
Want to Learn More About Melt & Pour Soap Making?
Shona O'Connor's Soap Making Course is the Best I've Seen for Melt & Pour
I recently had an opportunity to check out Shona O’Connor’s “Soap Making Course”. I can safely say that it is the best course on melt & pour soap making that I’ve seen.
The course gives you everything you need in order to go from never having made melt & pour soap to being able to do advanced projects like creating soap petals from flowers!
It is broken down into 23 short, individual videos so that you do not get overwhelmed. The videos cover:
Shona’s Soap Making Course also includes the following bonuses:
Shona really went all out with this course and it shows. I had a chance to correspond with her last week and she seems like a great person who genuinely loves to teach soap making. In fact, she used to teach melt & pour soap making courses out of her home when she was in the UK!
If you’ve always wanted to master melt & pour soap making or you want to start your soap making adventure without worrying about handling lye -- this is course gets my biggest recommendation!
Click Here to Find Out More About Shona’s “Soap Making Course”!
Rhassoul Clay Facial Bar
January 22nd, 2012This article was provided by Ashely Haynes of SpunkySuds.com
Rhassoul Clay is a favorite in luxury spas for the toning and enriching
benefits. It is high in minerals such as silica, magnesium, iron, calcium,
potassium and sodium, making it truly exquisite! These minerals make the
clay detoxifying as they have the ability to exchange themselves for toxic
compounds, (like metals) in the skin. So in essence, the clay cleanses your
skin while also replenishing depleted minerals.
Along with the high mineral content, rhassoul clay also has amazing
astringent properties and absorption properties, making a wonderful
cleansing and detoxification experience.
Rhassoul Clay has been used for over 1400 years in Rome and Egypt and has
been praised for the way it made women lovelier by softening and soothing
their skin.
Spunky Suds has formulated a unique blend of Rhassoul Clay, Lemongrass and
Lavender essential oils to make a finely detailed bar of soap.
Lemongrass essential oil has great benefits as a skin toner and is used for
oily skin, opening up blocked pores and clearing up acne.
Lavender essential oil has been used to disinfect the skin, help acne and
eczema, great for healing damaged skin, and helps soothe and prevent
breakouts.
Also, please note that the lemongrass and lavender essential oils are both
Young Living brand, and are fully pure and therapeutic grade.
Quality ingredients for quality soap!
Try a bar today!
Visit www.spunkysuds.com
Creating Soap Rocks
January 15th, 2012
Here is a video that will show you how to create your own “soap rocks”. This method of creating rock molds could also be used to create your own molds with other shapes as well. It seems like you could possibly use this for cold process soaps as well as melt & pour!
Click this link to get ComposiMold on Amazon.com
Robyn’s Shampoo Bar
December 11th, 2011Here is a recipe for a shampoo bar that Robyn submitted in one of the comments on the site.
With this recipe, you will be able to customize the scent and properties by using your favorite essential oil.
Thanks, Robyn!
Robyn’s Shampoo Bar Ingredients
You can get most of the ingredients you need from Mountain Rose Herbs and Amazon.com. Amazon even carries lye that you can use.
4 lb batch
12 oz coconut oil
19 oz mid grade olive oil (not virgin or pomace)
12 oz castor oil
6 oz lye
16 oz distilled water
1/2 oz your favorite essential oil (If the bar is to be used by a pregnant woman DO NOT USE ROSEMARY)
1st in a stainless steel pan combine the water and lye then rest of the oils (except essential) and heat to 100 degrees F. Stirring GENTLY and constantly with metal spoon. Once reaching the proper temperature add your essential and stir in completely.
Pour into mold(s)lined with saran wrap or vaseline. Insulate (cover) for 24 hours. Uncover and leave in mold until soap is hard enough to take out (usually 4-6 days). When hard enough remove from mold and cut into desired size bars. Allow to cure for 4-5 weeks. This soap remains soft for quite a considerable time longer than normal cold pressed soap. IT DOES EVENTUALLY HARDEN into nice bars. Enjoy!
A Great Dog Soap Recipe – Frank’s K-9 Soap
December 11th, 2011
Here is a Dog Soap Recipe Submitted By Frank
Just the other day, Frank who is one of the Soap Making Fun Newsletter readers, submitted this recipe for his K-9 soap.
He said that in the past 2 years, this soap has been one of his best sellers at craft shows.
With the combination of oils in the recipe, you know it’s going to have your dog smelling great! On top of that, those same oils will act as a repellent to mosquitoes and fleas!
Try it out and see what you think!
Thanks, Frank!
Please be aware that this recipe is ONLY FOR DOGS. This soap should NEVER be used on cats or rabbits!
Frank’s K-9 Soap Ingredients
You can get most of the ingredients you need from Mountain Rose Herbs and Amazon.com. Amazon even carries lye that you can use.
| K-9 Doggie Soap |
|
|
| Ingredient | Pounds | Ounces | Grams |
| Water | 2.28 | 36.48 | 1034.19 |
| Lye – NaOH | 0.845 | 13.513 | 383.093 |
| # | √ | Oil/Fat | % | Pounds | Ounces | Grams |
| 1 | Almond Oil, sweet | 4 | 0.24 | 3.84 | 108.862 | |
| 2 | Apricot Kernal Oil | 4 | 0.24 | 3.84 | 108.862 | |
| 3 | Castor Oil | 5 | 0.3 | 4.8 | 136.078 | |
| 4 | Coconut Oil, 76 deg | 15.5 | 0.93 | 14.88 | 421.841 | |
| 5 | Flax Oil, linseed | 2 | 0.12 | 1.92 | 54.431 | |
| 6 | Neem Tree Oil | 10 | 0.6 | 9.6 | 272.155 | |
| 7 | Olive Oil | 25 | 1.5 | 24 | 680.388 | |
| 8 | Palm Kernel Oil Flakes, hydrogenated | 15.5 | 0.93 | 14.88 | 421.841 | |
| 9 | Rice Bran Oil | 10 | 0.6 | 9.6 | 272.155 | |
| 10 | Shea Butter | 5 | 0.3 | 4.8 | 136.078 | |
| 11 | Avocado Oil | 4 | 0.24 | 3.84 | 108.862 | |
| Totals | 100 | 6 | 96 | 2721.552 |
|
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| Additives | Notes: Incorporate 2 cotton ball sized amount of Tussah Noil Silk into the Lye water. Add equal parts of Tea Tree Oil, Lavender, Cedarwood & Peppermint totaling 3.6 oz or 102 grams. Shea Butter is added at trace. I usually use Nettle Leaf or Comfrey Leaf for color |
Chamomile Face Soap Recipe MakeBathProducts.com
December 4th, 2011
Make Your Own Soap with Chamomile or Other Natural Ingredients!
I found this recipe for a chamomile face soap from MakeBathProducts.com.
Chamomile is known to have numerous beneficial properties that would be great to have in any soap. Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory, is an anti-bacterial agent, and can help soothe muscles.
Chamomile Soap Recipe Ingredients
You can get the ingredients below at Mountain Rose Herbs, Amazon.com (for lye), and your local grocery store.
As an alternative to the chamomile tea from a bag, you can make your own strong chamomile tea using 1/2 cup water steeped with 2 ounces of chamomile buds.
You can get the specific amounts at the MakeBathProducts.com.
How to Make Bath Bombs
September 18th, 2011
This is a great video on how to make your own bath bombs. Making them is pretty easy and it’s something else you can add to your bath and body craft making abilities. They also make great gifts!
If you like making bath bombs, I suggest you check out Jane Church’s book “The Handcrafters’ Companion”. In it you will get tips and recipes for:
I really think you’ll be able to get a lot out of her book. It is definitely a must-have if you want to increase your bath and body crafting prowess! You can get your copy here.
Shea Butter Melt & Pour Soap Recipe
September 13th, 2011
Here is a recipe that I found at eAudrey.com.
It isn’t often that you find a melt and pour recipe that includes ingredients like shea butter. If you know about shea butter and it’s great benefits, then you know why having it in your soap is such a big deal.
I hope you like it!
If you have any soap recipes that you’ve created that you would like to share, please send them to me using the Contact Us Page. I’ll create a page on the site specifically for your recipe and will make sure to have your name all over it=)
Aloe Vera Soap Recipe
September 13th, 2011
Here is a recipe that I found at eAudrey.com.
I was looking for an aloe vera soap recipe but most of the web pages I found did not actually have a soap recipe on it. Luckily, I found this one for “Aloe Soap Balls”.
It’s a little different because this is actually a milled soap that calls for castile soap shavings rather than making the soap from scratch.
I hope you like it!
If you have any soap recipes that you’ve created that you would like to share, please send them to me using the Contact Us Page. I’ll create a page on the site specifically for your recipe and will make sure to have your name all over it=)
Going Out with a Bang Sale!
July 29th, 2011
To celebrate 5 Years of Soap Making Fun, I’m giving 50% off of the Soap Making Fun Business Guide to anyone who has EVER purchased Gary Everson’s “Soap Making for Profit” OR “Soap Making Oil Properties”!
With the Soap Making Fun Business Guide, you will discover:
All of this knowledge in the Soap Making Fun Business Guide usually sells for $77 but you get it for only $38.50 when you buy or already bought Gary Everson’s “Soap Making for Profit” OR “Soap Making Oil Properties”!
How to Get Your 50% Off Discount Link:
Just enter your email address and your Gary Everson’s “Soap Making for Profit” OR “Soap Making Oil Properties” receipt number below to get the Secret 50% Off Link!
Soap Business Tips and Tricks
July 26th, 2011
Discover the Secrets of Selling Your Soap for Profit!
This page is available to anyone and everyone who would like to contribute their tips and tricks for running a soap making business.
Simply use the comment section below to enter your tips! All contributions are moderated so your post will be made available after approval.
Other Bath Product Tips and Tricks
July 26th, 2011
This page is available to anyone and everyone who would like to contribute their tips and tricks for making other types of bath products.
Simply use the comment section below to enter your tips! All contributions are moderated so your post will be made available after approval.
Melt & Pour Tips and Tricks
July 26th, 2011
Get Step-By-Step Help with All of the Most Popular Soap Making Methods!
This page is available to anyone and everyone who would like to contribute their tips and tricks for the melt & pour method.
Simply use the comment section below to enter your tips! All contributions are moderated so your post will be made available after approval.
Hot Process Soap Making Tips and Tricks
July 26th, 2011This page is available to anyone and everyone who would like to contribute their tips and tricks for the hot process.
Simply use the comment section below to enter your tips! All contributions are moderated so your post will be made available after approval.
Cold Process Soap Making Tips and Tricks
July 26th, 2011
Discover the Easiest Way to Learn How to Make Soap - Guaranteed!
This page is available to anyone and everyone who would like to contribute their tips and tricks for the cold process.
Simply use the comment section below to enter your tips! All contributions are moderated so your post will be made available after approval.
Skydiving is Incredible!
June 26th, 2011
Discover the Joy of Making Your Own Soap Today
As promised, here are some pictures of me skydiving=) Ann, Greg, and I went on the jump to celebrate Ann’s 40 birthday. Ann is EXTREMELY afraid of heights and HATES flying so she decided it was time to push herself past those fears.
When she asked if I wanted to go, I said “sure”. I didn’t really think about it. In fact, I didn’t even consider that the people conducting the jump would charge for it=) That just shows how much thought I put in before I said I’d go.
However, in the two weeks leading up to the jump the reality of the situation hit home. I was about to jump out of an airplane! People DIE doing this. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t done things in the past that were ill advised and put my life in danger but this was different. With this, I was going in knowing that it was dangerous.
The nerves stuck with me up until the day of the jump. Who knows, maybe I resigned myself to whatever fate may lie for me after leaping from a plane but I was surprisingly calm. There were a few remaining jitters but once we suited up, all of that was gone. Nevermind the fact that I signed paperwork saying that what I was about to do could kill me, I was ready to jump!
I met the guy that I would be tandom with during the jump. He explained what I needed to do, what to expect, and a lot of other things before we got to the plane.
We loaded onto the plane and Ann screamed. The plane started to move and Ann screamed. When we hit 11,000 feet and they opened the door, Ann screamed all the way out the door as they fell into the sky.
I was up next. We got to the door and I looked down. Fear hit me for a split second before we leaped out into nothingness. We fell at 120 miles per hour but it really didn’t feel like falling. It was more like floating with a lot of wind. After freefalling for a while, my instructor pulled the chute and we started to drift to the ground. We did a few turns and circles. ”This is what eagles feel like,” the instructor said.
He was right and I completely understand why people choose to jump out of “a perfectly good airplane”. Skydiving was one of the greatest things I have ever done. I seriously recommend it if you ever get a chance. Besides, as they say at the school where I jumped, “There’s no such thing as a perfectly good airplane.”
“Sherry’s Fantastic Soap” | Soap Making Recipe
June 26th, 2011
You can try this recipe at MillerSoap.com=) The owner, Kathy Miller has a great site full of recipes and soap making information you can use.
You can get the ingredients you need at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Mint Swirl with Avocado Oil Soap Making Recipe
June 26th, 2011
You can try this recipe at MillerSoap.com=) The owner, Kathy Miller has a great site full of recipes and soap making information you can use.
You can get the ingredients you need at Mountain Rose Herbs.
Energize Your Family with Tea Tree Oil Soap!
June 8th, 2011
I was doing some research on essential oils yesterday because I
wanted to find some that would have an energizing effect.
It turns out that tea tree oil is one of those essential oils that
does just that! It is known to reduce mental fatigue and promote
blood flow throughout your body.
So, here is what looks to be a great tea tree oil soap that you can
use to energize yourself, your family, and your customers if you
sell your creations!
http://www.soap-making-resource.com/soap-making-instructions.html
It has a lot of other really great ingredients including shea
butter and almond milk=)
Leave comments on the page and let me know what you think!
Selling Your Homemade Soap
May 22nd, 2011
Are You Thinking About Selling Your Soap?
Do you enjoy making your own soaps? Have you thought about starting your own soap making business? Don’t know where to begin? Marketing is one of the most important parts of starting a small business because without marketing you have no way of reaching potential clients and selling your handmade soap.
One way to start selling your soaps to wholesalers is to begin selling in your own hometown.
Potential Clients for You Soap Making Business:
There are many ways to promote your own soap making business and listed below are five types of companies to get you started.
Start Your Soap Making Business Online
If the idea of approaching companies does not appeal to you and you don’t want your soaps to compete with other products why not try online selling? If you can’t afford a website or do not want the hassle of maintaining it you should consider the auction site EBay. Selling on EBay is easy as all you need to do is register (free of charge) and create a listing (advertisement) for your handmade soaps. The only costs you will pay on EBay are the small listing fee and a final value fee if your handmade soap is sold.
More Options When Starting a Soap Making Business?
Another option when marketing your soap making business is to host a “home party” where guests have a chance to buy your handmade soaps. You could even start your own party plan business. If you are on a tight budget or what give your customers more of a variety you should consider teaming up with a friend who also sells handmade products, such as handmade candles, bath bombs, bath salt, body lotion and facial scrubs, and massage oils.
However you decide how to sell and market your handmade soaps, it is important to make sure you have set a price for your soap that will allow you to cover your expenses while still earning a profit. Even though making handmade soap is fun and the idea of starting a making business can be exciting it can also be time consuming so remember not to underestimate the value of your time when pricing your soap.
Start Your Own Soap Making Business the Easy Way!
How would you like to be able to skip all of the mistakes that most soap business owners make and start your business off on the right foot?
I created the Soap Making Fun Business Guide for just that reason! I interviewed four soap business owners from around the US to get their advice on how to build a successful soap business.
Their secrets are ones that they had to learn through trial and error – but you get them handed to you on a silver platter.
In the Soap Making Fun Business Guide, you will:
With the Soap Making Fun Business Guide, you will get everything you need to know in order to start your business.
Not only that but the course is covered by my 60-Day Money Back Guarantee!
If you have ever dreamed about having your own soap business – something that is not only rewarding but also puts money into your pocket - All you need to do is take the next step.
Bed & Breakfasts – Untapped Soap Business
May 22nd, 2011
Discover the Secrets to Soap Business Success
You may be familiar with the bed & breakfast concept. The owner of a small hotel or quaint, rustic home rents out rooms to couples so they can have a romantic getaway. The owner will often provide their guests with a homemade breakfast or vouchers to a local eatry. This type of business has grown in popularity and is the retirement dream of many individuals.
While this may not be your retirement dream, there is a way to tap into this business for the purpose of selling your soap. Many of these bed & breakfasts try to treat their guests with homemade or crafty items. By creating your own soap, you are in prime position to wholesale your products to such businesses. Not only will you be able to generate income from the bed & breakfast itself, but if done correctly you can convert their guests into customers as well.
Recommended Approach
While this could be a lucrative venture once you find an establishment or two to work with, the problem may lie in making contact. These bed & breakfasts are usually located in rural areas so visiting them in person to establish a business relationship may not be the most efficient use of your time. This is especially true if you find a number of them to contact.
Instead, it is recommended that you call the owner and tell them that you plan to send a few samples of your soap for their guests. Let them know that you are doing so in hopes of establishing a long-term business relationship with the bed & breakfast. Many owners will be receptive, however, you should be prepared for some rejection.
So take it one step at a time. First learn to make the soap, then learn to make a business.
Once you find a bed & breakfast to work with, be sure to include your contact information on each bar. This will give the guests a means to buy your soap from you directly if they enjoy your products!
Instantly Get the Secrets that Most
Soap Business Owners Spend YEARS Trying to Figure Out!
A Winning Strategy for Your Soap Business Pt. 3
May 22nd, 2011
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own soap business or you currently have one -- you’re going to love this video. In it, I go over some things you can do to keep in touch with previous customers…
A Winning Strategy for Your Soap Business Pt. 2
May 22nd, 2011
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own soap business or you currently have one -- you’re going to love this video. In it, I continue the example with Amy and let you in on what I called the “Real Power of a Soap Business”…
A Winning Strategy for Your Soap Business PT. 1
May 22nd, 2011
If you’ve been thinking about starting your own soap business or you currently have one -- you’re going to love this video. In it, I’m going to talk about the typical approach most people take when running their soap business -- and why you should definitely not do things the way that they do.
What Do You Want to Know?
May 20th, 2011Hey Everyone,
I’ve been thinking about making a small course for some time now. It would be a course that was slightly more advanced than “how to make soap” but would still be easy for beginners to pick up. But I have a problem…
I don’t know what to make the course about=)
So, I wanted to ask you! What do you want to know? All you have to do is send in your comments below and let me know what you would like to know more about.
Thanks, I really appreciate it!
How to Make Soaps: Beeswax Soap Recipe
April 22nd, 2011
Create Your Own Beeswax Soap!
If you have ever wanted to make soap using beeswax, here’s your chance. Beeswax is known for having hydrating properties that help to restore dry skin and increase your natural moisture!
Bee Good Soap Recipe
I have collected some of the ingredients called for in the soap recipe for you. The links take you to Mountain Rose Herbs, the site where I get many of my ingredients from. They specialize in organic products and have a huge selection to choose from. Their products are top quality and you will be able to tell from the finished soap you make.
How to Make Beeswax Soap Instructions
Heat oils to 150 degrees F. Add beeswax (you can grate it, chunk it, pre-melt it).
Cool to 115 degrees F. Lye and water to about 110 degrees F. Add lye/water to oils, at light trace, add the honey. Stir it well until blended.
Pour into your mold, no more than an inch deep (covering with Saran type wrap prevents soda ash). Don’t wrap with a blanket, just put a cookie sheet over the top, as this will get warmer than soaps without honey.
You can scent this as you like, add scents at light trace.
Enjoy Your Beeswax Soap!
Bulk Soap Making at Home
April 19th, 2011
Here are some tips on bulk soap making.
Space and logistics are two things you will surely need when you go into bulk soap making at home. But before anything else, let’s take a detailed look the process itself of soap making.
There is an entire gamut of variations in this craft. They range from the ‘melt and pour’ shortcut to more self-reliant and traditional methods that include making your own lye.
Choice of which approaches to adopt will of course depend upon inclination and intentions of the maker, as well as availability of ingredients and equipment.
Soap is basically fatty acid salt, the outcome of mixing fat or oil with a caustic, alkaline base, using water as a catalyst. Lye, which is derived from wooden ash or soda, frequently serves as the base. So, the three basic ingredients needed when making soap are: 1) Lye or some other alkali, 2) animal fat or plant oil, and 3) water.
Bulk Soap Making Materials
Soap-making may be simply summed up as the boiling of a mixture of fat and lye. If lye is not ready-made, it is produced by the soap maker from wood ash. This caustic chemical compound, also knows as sodium hydroxide, is very strong stuff that should be handled with caution. It should be kept away from the reach of children at all times.
Basic equipment necessary for soap making would include vessels for holding and boiling liquid, an implement for stirring or mixing, some mold or receptacle for setting the freshly made soap, and cloths for filtering out impurities from the mix and for cleaning up. Our rough list of apparatus should look something like this:
You’ll be needing larger-sized and more heavy-duty ware for bulk soap making, and perhaps more than one of each kind. You can’t settle for just a couple of molding trays if you intend to make three hundred bars a day.
Don’t use tin and aluminum utensils as they easily corrode when they get into contact with lye. Enameled or granite ware will do for small quantity production, but for larger batches, an iron or stainless steel pot boiler should be used. Other items related to safety and the taking of measurements may also be needed in bulk soap making, such as eye protection gear, mitts or pot holders, clocks or timers, and measuring cups or spoons.
Rain or spring water is good for bulk soap making, but distilled or de-mineralized water will do as well. For purifying your tap water at home, the reverse osmosis type of filtration is recommended.
Tallow and lard, in that order, are best for soap making, but if you are a vegetarian, or are after some of the qualities of plant oil, you may want to use olive oil or coconut oil, both of which are “bubbly” in their own ways. Temperature of the fat or oil to be mixed should be a little over its melting point, which is 130˚ F for beef tallow, and 85˚ for pork lard and vegetable oil.
Successful Mixing in Bulk Soap Making
The trick for successful mixing is in the lye water-to-fat ratio. The rule of thumb is: 0.38 parts of lye water to one of fat, measured by weight. That would be equivalent to 16 ounces of fat for every 6 ounces of lye water. The maker may deviate from this ratio, depending on use intended for the soap. In general, more lye makes harder soap bars.
There is a proper sequence to adding ingredients in soap making. Generally speaking, the mix of fats or oil should be completed before adding lye water. Enhancement elements such as coloring, scents, superfatting oil, vitamin E, and abrasives should be mixed in right after “tracing,” or the consistency at which liquid soap is ready to pour into molds. At this point saponification (the process of becoming soap) is about 90% complete.
Hardening of the soap after pouring onto setting trays takes anywhere from a few hours to three days. Total time for curing is around two to four weeks.
Bulk Soap Making: Work and Storage Spaces
As mentioned earlier, you’ll be needing space to accommodate your growing bulk soap making enterprise. What started as a hobby you played around with inside the kitchen has to move out now to the yard or some outdoor area of your house. Keep in mind that large amounts of animal fat can make a mess of your surroundings.
And while your end product may be dainty and fragrant, its beginnings are not. Rancid fat, lye spills, and smoking pots are but some of the things you may have to put up with in bulk soap making. You’ll have your hands full maintaining cleanliness. Any semblance of orderliness will also be of great help to your inventory keeping.
Where to let your soaps harden and where to store them when they are finally wrapped are things you also have to consider. The storage space should be dry and not prone to moist conditions, as homemade soaps tend to attract moisture. You also ought to have ample room for storing your supplies. Lye should be stocked securely, away from the reach of children.
Medicinal Soap Making
April 19th, 2011
Your Soap Can Act as a Home Remedy!
As you know, one of the greatest benefits to making your own soap is your ability to create it in any way you see fit. You can make very attractive, art-like soap to add to your bathroom’s décor or you can make purely functional workshop soap without much aesthetic appeal and everything in between.
Some soap makers decide to delve deep into the powers the ingredients they choose in order to create medicinal soaps of their own design!
Medicinal Ingredients
Unlike most commercial soaps, handmade soaps often contain carrier and essential oils as the main ingredients. It is through manipulation of these natural ingredients that soap makers are able to create the beneficial, medicinal properties.
The healing properties are not limited to those possessed by carrier and essential oils. Other ingredients can be added to your soap to increase its therapeutic nature. These ingredients include oatmeal, herbs, herb-infused water (used in place of normal water in your recipes), butters such as cocoa and Shea, as well as clays!
Specific Ailments Your Soap Can Treat
Here is an incomplete list of ailments you soap can treat if it contains the proper ingredients.
Your soap’s ability to heal is limited only by your knowledge of the power held in natural ingredients. Far too often, we forsake the ancient natural remedies of old for modern solutions. Ironically, it is the natural remedy that is usually more effective and safer than the chemicals we use today.
I invite you to truly study the power of herbs, botanical oils, and other ingredients so that you can create powerful, natural soaps with incredible curative properties!
Acne Soap Recipe by Paulien H.
April 18th, 2011Check Out Soap Making Made Simple Here!
The following is a melt and pour recipe submitted by Paulien for treating acne. Paulien is a subscriber to the Soap Making Fun Newsletter.
What Paulien Had to Say About the Recipe
Soap is made of natural oils and fats mixed with alkaline substance. Soap cleans your skin because it emulsifies or breaks up grease and dirt into small particles,which can then be washed away.
This soap is made by dissolving pure soap flakes in alcohol,water and glycerine. Glycerine soaps are good for the skin because glycerine is a humectant-it slows or prevents the evaporation of water from the skin.
The finished product will be clear soap that will clean and moisturise the skin.
Acne Soap Ingredients & Tools
The Method
1. Measure out all the ingredients and pour them into the saucepan.
2. Place the sausepan on the stove on a low heat,so the ingredients are simmering.
3. Carefully stir until the solution is clear and all mixed together.
4. With ventilation, simmer the solution for about 10 minutes,stirring occasionally.
5. If you like you can add scents to your soap using a drop pr two of essential oils.
6. Wipe the inside of the clean plastic cup with glycerine.
7. Pour the soap mixture in the plastic cup and place it in the fridge to set.
8. When your soap is hard you can take it out of the plastic cup and start using it.
Thanks for the Recipe, Paulien!
Exfoliating Sea Salt Gem Stone Soaps
April 17th, 2011
The video was created by GoPlanetEarth.com.
This looks great for all of you who are into melt & pour. Experiment with different colorants to get the look that you want.
Want to Learn More About Melt & Pour Soap Making?
I recently had an opportunity to check out Shona O’Connor’s “Soap Making Course”. I can safely say that it is the best course on melt & pour soap making that I’ve seen.
The course gives you everything you need in order to go from never having made melt & pour soap to being able to do advanced projects like creating soap petals from flowers!
It is broken down into 23 short, individual videos so that you do not get overwhelmed. The videos cover:
Shona’s Soap Making Course also includes the following bonuses:
Shona really went all out with this course and it shows. I had a chance to correspond with her last week and she seems like a great person who genuinely loves to teach soap making. In fact, she used to teach melt & pour soap making courses out of her home when she was in the UK!
If you’ve always wanted to master melt & pour soap making or you want to start your soap making adventure without worrying about handling lye -- this is course gets my biggest recommendation!
Click Here to Find Out More About Shona’s “Soap Making Course”!
Lemon Soap Recipe
April 17th, 2011
If you love lemons or citrus, you’re going to love this cold process recipe.
You can test out this recipe yourself at http://www.northcountrymercantile.com/soapmakinglibrary/pams-luscious-lemon-soap-recipe/!
Goats’ Milk Soap with the Hot Process
April 17th, 2011
This is a hot process recipe for making goats’ milk soap. All of the ingredients and measurements can be found at:
http://www.msbrenda.com/hpgoatmilkrecipe.html
Sweet Black Licorice Soap by Diane
April 15th, 2011
A Picture of the Soap from This Recipe!
Here is another great recipe from Diane of Indulgent Body & Bath. Here is what she had to say:
When you think of Black Licorice – what color comes to mind? Black, of course. But I didn’t want to make an all black soap; I already had an idea for that one (I used for my Leather Luxury soap that will be available soon on my website). I decided to use Black Jojoba Beads instead. In order to be able to see the Jojoba Beads and for the exfoliation benefit, the Beads must remain solid and not melt during the processing of the soap – more specifically, during the gel phase.
To accomplish just that, this recipe is a variance to the overall soap processing method that keeps everything (oils, lye and in the mold) very cool…. that’s the secret to keeping those Jojoba Beads in tact.
Sweet Black Licorice Soap Ingredients
How to Make Sweet Black Licorice Soap Instructions
As you can see by the ingredients, this is a nice hard, great lathering and conditioning bar of soap. And, it’s moisturizing, too – about 7% superfatted. But remember to run this through your own lye calculator.
After thoroughly combining your lye and water, making sure all is well dissolved and clear, add 1 T of the Titanium Dioxide and stir well. This will produce a very nice white soap base to show off the Black Jojoba Beads. Put aside to cool to about room temperature.
Next, measure out all your oils; melt the Coconut, Plam, Palm Kernel, Palm Stearic; then add the liquid oils and combine well. Set aside and also cool to room temperature.
When both oils and lye water are about the same temperature then mix very slowly, stirring all the while. You do not want it to trace quickly. Once combined, take your stick blender to this mix, carefully watching your trace. At thin trace, add the Anise essential oil – again using your stick blender making sure you have thoroughly mixed the essential oil into the soap mixture. Bring the mix to a medium pudding state and add the Jojoba Beads. Quickly stir by hand to incorporate the beads as evenly as possible.
Pour into your log mold, smooth out the top, if neccessary. Do not put the top on the mold; do not insulate; and by all means – do not put in the oven to hasten the saponification process. This batch needs to remain cool. If you have any doubts about the temperature getting too warm, use a fan or even put this in the refrigerator for a few days (especially during hot, humid weather). Do not unmold until it is completely set. The soap will set: Soap does not require gelling to go through the saponification process and become soap.
Once the soap in the mold is firm set, slice into bars and let dry/ cure for about 6 weeks. You will feel a noticeable difference in the feel and texture of this no-gel cold process soap… very creamy and ultra smooth. And, you will also be able to see individual black beads of Jojoba.
You could let this gel, of course. But the heat of the gelling process will melt the Jojoba Beads giving you a very different look to your soap. However, my intent was to keep the integrity of the Jojoba Beads for the texture and exfoliating effect.
Thanks for Another Great Recipe, Diane!
Powerful Herbal Soap Recipe
April 14th, 2011
Create Your Own Herbal Soap!
Herbal soap smells great. This herbal soap recipe from Soap Naturally is supposed to pack a very powerful aroma according to its creator.
Test it out and see what you think.
Herbal Soap Ingredients
I have collected just few of the ingredients called for in the recipe for you. The links take you to Mountain Rose Herbs, the site I get many of my ingredients from. They specialize in organic products and have a huge selection to choose from. Their products are top quality and you will be able to tell from the finished soap you make.
How to Make This Herbal Soap Recipe
Click the following link to get the full instructions and ingredients to make this herbal soap.
How to Make Organic Vegan Soap
April 12th, 2011You CAN Make Vegan Organic Soap!
The world is getting greener and more conscious of how human behavior affects other species. With this, the population of those adopting a vegan lifestyle has increased.
Many people, vegan or not, are interested in creating their soap without any animal products in them. One of the greatest advantages of creating your own soap is that you know exactly what is in it. What many people don’t realize is that while soap does require “fats” those fats do not have to come from animals! Other types of fats that can be used include a variety of plant and fruit oils. You will find recipes and instructions on how to make organic vegan soap here at Soap Making Fun!
Organic Vegan Soap Ingredients
I have collected some of the ingredients that you’ll often find in soap recipes that don do not contain animal products. The links take you to Mountain Rose Herbs, the site where I get many of my ingredients. They specialize in organic products and have a huge selection! Their products are top quality and you will be able to tell from your finished soaps!
How to Make Organic Vegan Soap Instructions
Click the following link to get the full instructions and necessary equipment to make your vegan soap.
Vegan Soap Instructions – How to Make Soap
Vegan Soap Recipes for You
Benefits of Using a Digital Infrared Thermometer for Soap Making
April 11th, 2011
Check Out the MasterCool MSC52224A at Amazon.com
With the plethora of high-tech gadgets and devices available, the process of making soap at home has become a lot more convenient. Using an accessory like a digital infrared thermometer in soap making helps you avoid costly and time-wasting mistakes, whether you are into creating soap at home as a hobby or as a business.
How a Digital Infrared Thermometer for Soap Making Works
The principle of how digital infrared thermometers function is simple. In a nutshell, it detects or finds energy that is emitted in the infrared spectrum. It then uses the measurement to calculate the temperature and put it on a digital display.
Those who make their own soaps use these kinds of thermometers to quickly measure the surface temperature of oils, lye, solutions, etc. It is very important to prevent oils from overheating in order to prevent accidental overflows. Also, overheating can lead to discoloration in your finished soap bars and also tends to develop an unpleasant smell. For melt and pour soap making, you run the risk of having your soap lose its moisture and transparency.
Reasons for Using Digital Infrared Thermometers for Soap Making
Probably one of the best things about using these infrared heat measurement devices is that they are extremely accurate. Soap making is all about precision, so being able to quickly and accurately determine temperatures is a definite plus. In addition, since there are no probes involved, you do not have to worry about cleaning the thermometer.
These thermometers come in various sizes. Many are small and fit comfortably in your hand or in your pocket. Some of the best ones have large liquid crystal displays, which make reading the temperature very easy, while a number of models enable users to switch from Celsius and Fahrenheit. Many of them come with their own holsters or pocket cases and batteries.
If you are new to the homemade soap field, take the time to find high-quality accessories and devices that will work the best for you. You can check out the thermometers at Amazon.com. Choosing the right equipment such as digital infrared thermometers for soap making is invaluable for your venture.
Similarities Between Candle and Soap Making Supplies by Thomas Morva
April 11th, 2011
Learn How to Make Incredible Candles That Match Your Soap!
There are a number of similarities in making soap and candles. Both require pouring the raw materials into molds to give them shape. Candles and soap need scents and color as well. Many stores sell both candle and soap making supply kits. Candle and soap-making supply stores are found nationwide and on the Internet. It is easy to find materials for very reasonable prices.
Making soap is similar to making candles. The early steps are alike, in that they both involve melting the materials in order to pour them into a mold to give them shape. While wax or gel is used to make candles, a glycerin compound is usually used for soap. This is normally a mixture of natural vegetable oils, pure water, glycerin, and a soothing moisturizer. Once the raw materials are melted, they are poured into a mold that gives them shape. There are an endless variety of molds available for both soap and candles. Candles and soaps can be molded into a number of designs and shapes. Another difference, besides the materials used, is that soap molds are usually smaller than candle molds.
Also, candles often stay in containers or votives, while soap is always taken out of its mold.
Candles and soaps both benefit from the addition of colors and aromas. There are a number of dyes to give color to soap and candles. It is important to use the correct kind of dye for the soap. Candle dyes could be toxic and create skin rashes or discoloration if used in soap. There are scents that can make candles and soaps more pleasing, tiny bottles of concentrated liquid that give soap or candles an aroma.
Candle and soap-making supply stores have all of the ingredients needed to make either product. It is important to use the materials for their intended uses rather than mixing and matching. The processes of making soap and candles are similar, but they are not identical.
Candle Making Supplies Info provides detailed information on wholesale, discount, soy, gel, and bee wax candle making supply, and more. Candle Making Supplies Info is affiliated with Original Content.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva
Some Soap Making Materials
April 11th, 2011It is possible to make soap at home using utensils already found in your kitchen. To get a fairly good idea of the sort of equipment you’ll be needing, keep in mind that soap is the product of blending fats (or oils) and lye (or some other caustic alkali) solution. Thus your basic list of apparatus should be something like this:
Don’t make tin and aluminum utensils part of your soap making materials they easily corrode when they get into contact with lye.
Other items, which may seem incidental at first, but which may prove to be crucial at some point include such items as eye protection gear, mitt or potholders, thermometer, measuring spoons or cups, and litmus paper for testing the lye content or pH of your soap.
Should your hobby evolve into an enterprise, or if you originally had bulk production in mind, you would probably have to invest in additional equipment, such as a blender or amalgamator for mixing your lye and fat, and possibly machinery for cutting soap bars and packaging.
The method of production you’ll be employing will most likely be the most common one, cold process. But in case you choose to go the hot process way, you may want to use a microwave oven to quicken your output. These two start-from-scratch techniques of soap making are nearly identical, except that one requires cooking your mixture and adding enhancers at a latter phase of the process.
Soap Making Ingredients
Now for the ingredients that should form part of your soap making materials. Here it would be helpful to draw an analogy with cooking. Lye, fats (or oil), and water are your basic ingredients, but you’ll need more than these to spice up your concoction. You want to create something that’s not only useful, but also enjoyable. Making soap without color, scent and superfatting oils is like serving chicken boiled in plain water!
As in the culinary arts, we speak of recipes in soap making. Your list of ingredients should have the following:
- 1) Basic components:
- 2) Added when 90% of the saponification process is complete:
Animal fats usually used as bases are: beef tallow and pork lard. Your choices for vegetable oil as base are innumerable, and vary in the ways they affect soap lather and hardness, as well as the skin. Some are milder than others, and some are better moisturizers. They are often mixed with fats and other oils.
Partial lists of the various ingredients that may form part of your soap making materials are provided below.
- Base oils:
- Superfatting oils:
- Essential oils:
- Additives: Aloe vera gel
- Coloring:
Sources of Soap Making Materials
How or where do you get your soap making materials? Finding them is mostly a matter of applying common sense and being resourceful. Some utensils are already to be found in the kitchen, as mentioned earlier, and you may improvise or reuse old items lying around the house (e.g. stick for stirring the lye-fat mixture). For your supply of fat, you can try approaching the grocery butcher, who may want to dispose of surpluses from his store of meats.
Most of the other items may be obtained from various retailers and dealers. Chemicals and similar stuff, such as lye, glycerin, colorants, and litmus paper are available from your local drugstore, while essential oils and additives are also sold in specialty, discount and grocery stores. Blenders, microwave ovens and mechanical cutters may be purchased from appliance stores and industrial suppliers.
Not to forget, of course, the Internet as a convenient source of your soap making materials. There are numerous Web sites from which you can order materials for your home-based undertaking. Some of the items you need may be just a few clicks away.
Ideas for Wrapping Soap
April 11th, 2011
How you wrap the soap you have made with your own hands will depend on whether you will: sell the soap, give them out as presents, or keep them for family or personal use. Your packaging may have to be more professional-looking if your home production is a growing business. Whatever the case, wrapping soap can be a test of your resourcefulness but also a source of enjoyment. It’s a craft in itself with plenty of room for creativity.
When it comes to handmade bars of soap, you can afford to be homey and less commercial-grade with your wrapping. After all, there’s an unrefined naturalness associated with this kind of stuff.
Wrapping Soap Ideas: Carton Boxes
Making uniformly sized carton boxes in which to package your soap will require cardboard cutting and folding apparatus, unless you decide instead to buy your boards pre-folded. There’s no way you can make boxes in large numbers manually. If you don’t have the resources for obtaining machinery or feel that you should invest your money elsewhere, then you might as well wrap your soap in packaging paper. If you are giving them away as personal gifts, then gift wrapping paper is, naturally, what you’ll need.
Wrapping Soap Ideas: Plain Wrapping
If you are out simply to package your soap without any intention of making them look like gift items, your ideas for wrapping soap might include the following:
- For fold-and-paste paper wrapping:
- For hard packaging:
Making Your Soap Gift-able
However you can easily modify any of these plain ideas for wrapping soap or packaging them to come up with gift-able items. You can, for example, do some tying up with an ornamental string, add a ribbon, attach a colorfully designed sticker paper, or wrap up the package in cellophane paper. Placing a couple of your wrapped soap inside a gift paper bag will also do the trick.
You won’t easily run out of ideas for wrapping soap or packaging them as gift items. They are as many as your resources and imaginativeness will allow. We have just mentioned a few of them. Here are some more:
Handy crate packs. Pine wood would make good material for these small crates. Make soap bars of sizes that stack snugly inside.
Fabric gift bags. Mesh, organza, muslin, and calico are some of the textiles used in making these cloth packs.
Cellophane paper bundle-ups. Tie up the bundle with a yarn, slender hemp rope, or raffia ribbon. During the Christmas season, you can use shiny green, red or gold Twistee wires.
Recycled, lidded tin containers. Reusing old items should be part of your ideas for wrapping soap. Make sure the mouth of your tin can is wide enough to take out soap without the hand getting jammed.
Glass jars. Place bars of various colors or designs inside the jar or other glass bottles. Add a ribbon or colorful sticker.
Cardboard boxes with cellophane window. The viewing hole can be round, square, or the shape of a star, Christmas tree or angel.
Gift baskets. Bundle up several soap bars, a loofah and colored face towel with cellophane paper or see-through fabric. You can use a tray or plastic bowl in place of woven basket.
Gift paper bags. You can buy these bags or make your own. If you don’t know how to fold your paper or card board into a bag, unravel one you’ve bought and imitate the folding pattern.
Corrugated cardboard wraps. You can also simply roll your soap inside corrugated cardboard, leaving the sides of the bar exposed. Tie up with an ornamental string or ribbon.
A Few More Ideas for Wrapping Soap
Soap that is viewable through wrapping makes your handiwork more interesting. You may want to allow a peek to some feature of the soap, such as a cool color or an embossed name, logo or emblem. For added attraction, stick printed descriptions of your soap somewhere in your packaging. The following are examples of fancy soap names others have given their own soaps.
Sweet almond baja; Mediterranean chamomile; English white lavender; Mint swirl avocado oil soap; Tea tree wake-up bar; Patchouli blend soap; Kitchen citrus scrub.
Soap Making Mold Auctions (US)
April 11th, 2011No matter what type of soap making process you choose, eventually you will need a mold of some type to pour your mix into. You can use all kinds of containers as a soap making mold. Here are some molds specifically designed for soap making that are available for auction on eBay. These are auctions based in the US and Canada.
Check them out and if you see something you like, make a bid.
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Soap Making Molds in the US |
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How to Stay Safe When Making Soap | Soap Making Safety
April 11th, 2011Not only is soap making rewarding, but it also holds many adventures for those who are interested in the hobby. Of course, as with any other type of adventure that you can take, safety is one of the most important issues that you will need to think about when making soap. There are a number of different steps that you can take in order to prevent any accidents and to make sure that you are prepared in the event that something does go wrong.
Have a Spray Bottle Prepared
It is important to make sure that you are prepared for the possibility of lye coming into contact with your skin. Lye is caustic and will burn your skin. Preparing a spray bottle that is full vinegar will come in handy if you come in contact with the lye. Vinegar is capable of neutralizing lye.
Wear Goggles and Hand Protection
Wearing goggles is a must, as it will keep your eyes protected from lye or anything else that may come in contact with your eyes. Hand protection is another must when making soap. Although you can neutralize skin reactions that may be caused by lye with vinegar, preventing such an occurrence is the better course of action.
Don’t Leave Anything Unattended
Whether it is lye that may come in contact with children or pets or if it is oils that are heating on the stove, it is important to make sure that you do not leave anything unattended. It is important to make sure that you are there at all times to keep your eye on things.
Use Common Sense
If you feel as though you may run into any types of distractions, such as with children or pets, you will probably want to put off making soap until you can do so without disturbance. It is also a good idea to make sure that you have the amount of time that is required to make soap. While you may want to rush the process, this is something that you should avoided. Many accidents tend to occur from rushing, so it is important to make sure that you relax, take your time, and enjoy yourself.
Scale for Soap Making
April 11th, 2011
The Escali Alimento is a Great "Starter" Scale
In the arena of soap making, one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will needed is a scale. The quantity of the ingredients your recipes call for is crucial so getting a scale that will fulfill your needs is vital for making soap properly. That said, there are a number of different things which you will want to take into consideration when purchasing a scale for soap making.
There are various types of scales that can be found on the market, most of which will offer you features that may work to your advantage. When you purchase the right type of scale, those features will be able to help you reduce the amount of working time you spend while at the same time helping you to produce the best quality soap possible.
Soap Making Scale Features
Accuracy
When you are looking to purchase a soap making scale, you will need one that will always be able to give you the correct weight of the ingredients that you are measuring. Many times you will need a measurement into decimal place. With that being the case you need to pay attention as to how many decimal places the scale will measure.
Maximum Weight
As is the case with all scales, there is going to be a maximum weight you will be able to use. If you are just looking for something to measure your oils on, then you can consider buying a scale that will be able to measure up to about 10lbs. On the other hand, if you are planning to create large quantities of soap will need something with a greater capacity. There are some scales out there that can measure as much as 130lbs.
Digital Read-Out
Plan to invest in an electric, digital soap scale. Those scales with the little arrow that points to the weight just will not cut it. Persicion is key and you need a scale that will give you measurements in no uncertain terms. Look for a scale with a screen that is easy to read and gather information from quickly.
Stability
If you have a scale that is moving around every time you take a measurement, you’re going to have problems. Most importantly though it can throw off the measurement drastically. In order to avoid this, you need make sure that the bottom of the scale is secure by non-slip materials on each of the legs.
Cord Length or Battery Powered
It is a good idea to take a look at the length of the cord to make sure that it will be long enough to reach the electrical outlet that you will be using. You can also go with a battery powered scale that would completely eliminate the threat of getting the cord tangled as you weigh your lye.
Tare Function
Tare function is very helpful. What it will do for you is subtract the weight of the container so that you get a more accurate measurement. This feature, unlike the print outs, is a must. Avoid scales that do not offer this feature.
If you’re looking for your first scale, you may consider getting the Escali Alimento. Not only is it battery powered and has tare functionality, but it also has a stainless steel top and a 13.2 lbs capacity. You can check out this scale for yourself at Amazon.com.
Using Rubber Soap Molds
April 11th, 2011There are literally hundreds of soap mold companies and suppliers online. You will want to find a soap mold company that produces a mold that allows the soap to come right out, as soon as it is done. If you are new to soap making you will want to find just a few molds at first. For those of you who wish to turn this into a business, buying your rubber soap molds in bulk is a much better choice. Many companies offer a discount depending on quantity.
Rubber Soap Molds – Variety is the Spice of Life
Soap Molds come in many shapes and styles. Some can have flowers on them and others can be in the shape of animals. The choice is up to you. A unique and well crafted mold can really set your soap products apart or add that special something to home made soap gifts.
Have a sports fan in the family? Try using a baseball or football shaped mold. Going to a baby shower? Buy a mold of a sleeping baby. You can even get 3-D soap molds that allow you to have the same design on both sides of your bar of soap. The possibilities are endless.
Novelty Rubber Soap Molds and Inserts
There are several novelty soap mold companies that can create Halloween soap molds and special occasion molds. Create angel molds for Christmas or Count Dracula for Halloween.
Would you like to have an image appear within a larger bar of soap? There are companies that create rubber molds that can incorporate small figures, like a tiny bear, into your bar of soap.
Here is an example of one company that specializes in this. There are also specialty manufacturers that you can contact to create your own custom rubber soap molds and designs. Your choices are virtually unlimited.
Organic Essential Oils
April 11th, 2011Aromatherapy is part of almost every person’s life even without him or her consciously realizing it. Scents have the power to make us feel good or better – anyone who has inhaled the fresh scent of a pine forest or the heady fragrance of a bouquet of roses realizes this. Aromatherapy harnesses the healing and relaxing power of scents to enhance a person’s well being, through the use of oils, lotions, and other substances – especially organic essential oils. This is because this type of oil is all-natural and is thus more potent than those from plants grown using conventional agricultural methods.
Organic Essential Oils: Nature’s Best
Not all essential oils are created equal. Although all essential oils impart health benefits to some degree, aromatherapists usually prefer those that have been extracted from plants that were grown organically. This means that no pesticides were used on plants that were grown in clean soil. In addition, the medicinal plants grown have to be certified as truly organic by an authorized body, such as Nature et Progrès, ECOCERT, and Agrobio.
Using the best organic essential oils ensures a relaxing and healthful aromatherapy session. The powerful natural chemicals in the oils interact with the oils and chemicals in the human body. This is why having an aromatherapy massage is so pleasurable, in addition to being therapeutic. Various herbs and plants from which organic essential oils are derived have medicinal properties. For instance, studies show that an herb called Melissa acts as an antiviral agent and can help treat herpes virus infections. Eucalyptus radiate oil and tea tree oil, on the other hand, have been found to be effective in helping people with respiratory symptoms. Remember however, that essential oils should not be applied directly on the skin as they are too concentrated and too strong. They should be diluted in carrier oil before being used for massage.
Organic Essential Oils: Healthy Applications
Organic essential oils are used in aromatherapy in other ways than massage. They are often included as ingredients in soy or beeswax candles. Imagine the scent of ylang-ylang or sandalwood in a candlelit room – the ambience would certainly be influenced by the aroma. Many personal care and hygiene products also incorporate organic essential oils: lotions, soaps, shampoos, and many others. This is also a great idea since a large number of medicinal plants that have positive effects on the skin. For instance, using soap made with lavender can help relieve acne, while a body wash with oregano can help treat fungal infections.
Common ailments like coughs and colds can also be relieved by the use of organic essential oils. Drops of oil from plants like lavender, rosemary, peppermint, and eucalyptus are placed in steaming water. The steam is then inhaled deeply for a period of time for symptom relief. There is no need to worry about getting toxic chemicals into one’s lungs – as long as the essential oils being used are organic.
Organic essential oils are a major part of the practice of aromatherapy, whether used in massage, in hygiene products, or in home remedies. They not only smell good, but used wisely, can also vastly improve one’s physical health and mental and emotional well-being.
Soap Making Supplies – For Business and Pleasure
April 11th, 2011In the “Earth’s Children” series of novels by Jean Auel, the subject of soap making is touched upon. The story revolves around a remarkable young woman named Ayla, her eventual husband, Jondalar, and the clans and tribes they meet along their travels during the Ice Age. In the novels, soap is either made by Ayla pounding on petals and leaves to extract their saponin, or mixing mammoth fat with ashes and water to create a soft skin cleanser. Today, the availability of soap making supplies makes the job a lot easier. Sure, a fair amount of work is still involved in the creation of handmade soap, but such products make the job a lot more enjoyable and help get one’s creative juices flowing.
Basic Soap Making Supplies
There are several ingredients necessary for a person interested in embarking on the handicraft of soap making, either as a hobby or a small business. The basic three are lye – also known as sodium hydroxide or caustic soda — oils and fats (from animals or plants), and water. All these can be bought in supermarkets or stores that sell soap making supplies. However, a person must do his share of research before going out and just buying supplies arbitrarily. The right ingredients must be used or the end product will not be the desired result. For example, olive oil should be pure and not blended with other oils, lye must be near-pure and not made up of a combination of chemicals, and tallow and lard must be pure animal fat.
Soap Making Supplies for Color and Fragrance
Perhaps the most interesting and fun part of soap making comes when it’s time to add the ingredients that give soap its tint and aroma. A variety of plant and animal products can be used, and most of these not only clean the skin but have other health benefits as well. For instance, neroli essential oil is useful for treating skin conditions like acne. Milk helps smoothen skin and create an even complexion. Oatmeal is good for rashes, while peppermint is an effective astringent, which also has antibacterial properties.
Essential oils are also fine sources of fragrance. A little experimentation can be a good thing here – just pick and choose among those that appeal to you or which have the properties that would benefit you most. If you are giving the soap products you make to other people as gifts or if you plan to sell them to friends and family to start with, a little of everything would perhaps be best. You can make an educated guess about what the people around you would want in terms of color and scent, and you can customize your soap making supplies accordingly.
Soap Making Supplies: The “Hardware”
The quality of other soap making supplies should not be overlooked. Beginners, especially, should take into account safety issues. Lye is a caustic agent that can burn or irritate skin, so it should not be handled with bare hands, so one should probably wear gloves and safety goggles to be safe. It can also corrode aluminum, so it’s best to mix lye and other ingredients in stainless steel containers. The molds in which the soap mixture is to be placed come in various shapes and sizes, it’s also fun to pick and choose among the many designs available. Lastly, consider packaging issues. Equipment to encase soaps in shrink-wrap plastic or boxes are available in handicraft stores. Labeling the finished product can also be fun – a person can create the label design by hand or use a printer for the job.
Soap Making Kits for Fast, Fun and Easy Soaps
April 11th, 2011Soap is a thing that most of us usually take for granted. We use it in one form or another everyday, and when we run out of it, it’s no trouble at all to get new ones in a store. A large number of people, however, have entered the thriving handcrafted soap business and are selling their wares either in physical store locations or online – or both. But if you simply want to try your hand at it and create soaps for personal use or to give as gifts to friends and family, soap making kits will give you an easy, fun, convenient, and modern introduction to this ancient art.
Basic Soap Making Kits
Many soap making kits – or so-called “melt and pour” soaps — from online and offline retailers come with virtually everything that a beginner needs; these are true starter kits. They come with all the basic soap ingredients, plus the additives that give color and fragrance. Many even come with the molds in which the soap is poured before it hardens to its final shape.
One of the nice things about starter kits is that the user does not have to deal with the harsh ingredients – such as lye – that normally need to be handled when making soap from scratch. And there’s no need to measure ingredients painstakingly to ensure that soap results in the right texture and consistency. With soap making kits, all one has to do is to melt the base soap, pour it into the mold, and let his or her creativity loose during the design phase of the process.
A person can select from among the many designs, ingredients, and price range that most appeals to him or her. Many starter kits offer a “theme” when it comes to design and fragrance: some incorporate tropical or exotic ingredients, others go for more traditional and simpler characteristics, and there are those that encourage the unleashing of one’s imagination – they come with extras like glitters or small toys and figurines that can be encased inside the soap itself.
Soap Making Kits: Some Things to Remember
Some natural handmade soap purists disdain the thought of starter kits, stating that these systems do not use all-natural ingredients and that they generally produce poor-quality soap that will spoil the experience for beginners. However, many soap making kits today use very high quality ingredients – a number of them are even dedicated to the use of plants-only extracts, making them ideal for vegetarians. And many kits include ingredients that have aromatherapy benefits, which make them not only enjoyable to use but healthful as well.
However, easy as it is to use these starter kits, care should always be taken in using them. Accidents can happen, especially during the part when the base soap is melted in a double boiler or microwave oven. In fact, thousands of the “Soap Making for Kids” system from Pace Products Inc., had to be recalled by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission because of burn injuries sustained by some users and because of further risk of injuries. Soap making kits provide can educational and enjoyable experience for children, but adult supervision should always be present.
