If you are interested in making your own homemade soap but are not really sure if you are ready to jump into it. There are some really good soap-making kits that can help you get started.
Making soap
Making soap can be an expensive hobby, but if you want to turn it into a business it may not be so expensive. I can attest to this.
I started out making soap for my own health, then started experimenting with adding color and essential oils, it got costly because the essential oils were so expensive to buy in small quantities. It got to the point that I and a friend would order and split the costs. Later she went on to open a soap-making store in our town and ordering bulk helped us both.
I was working full time so could not join the venture but later started my own business when I retired. I can tell you when you get into making soap there are so many things you want to try so you buy a bit of this and a bit of that and soon your bar of soap goes from $3.00 a bar to $12.00 or more a bar. So a great way to start out might be by trying out some soap-making kits if you are making soap for yourself as the kits will supply everything you need or buy a soap-making kit to see if this really is a business you want to venture into.
Soap Making Kits
There are two types of soap-making kits available out there:
Cold Process Soap – this kit will require sodium hydroxide, this is not a kit I would recommend for children. Before using this kit you should read Soap Making Safety
Melt and Pour – these kits are great for children. I used to buy them for my grandchildren as they thought it was so neat that Grandma made soap and wanted to help. There is no need for sodium hydroxide with these kits. You simply melt and pour into molds. I bought some really neat mold for the grandkids and we had such fun creating soaps for Mom and Dad for birthdays, valentines day, Christmas you name it.
Melt and Pour
These kits are a great way to make soap without having to deal with any chemicals. The premade base has already gone through the saponified process which eliminates the use of chemicals. As I said above these are great and fun for children.
My Grandsons are so into Dinosaurs, most likely like most little boys so I got this kit to make soap with them. They were so happy and Mom is especially happy that they wash themselves clean. This is a great kit for the kids.
This kit is an excellent one for the girls. I don’t have any granddaughters, but I have a friend with twin granddaughters and we had great fun making this soap with the
My grandmother always said that Castile Soap is the best soap you can use. She told me it is 100 % Olive Oil and also that Cleopatra used Olive Oil to wash her skin as did the Romans. Olive oil is known as Gold. So after hearing this and doing some of my own research I do agree that the Castile Soap is so great for our soap.
Here is a link to a kit that will give you everything you need to make Castile soap including the mold as well as boxes to package your newly made soap in.
Soap-making Kits are a great way to get started or try making soap, whether it is melt-and-pour or cold-process soap making these kits will surely help you decide if this is something you want to do.
My method of soap making is Cold Process, it’s more complicated than melt and pour, and takes a lot more time, trial and error to find that perfect recipe, but it’s worth it for that perfect batch of soap and I get to decide what oils go into my soap and every other single ingredient that is in it.
I can create and play with colors and scents. I guess that’s why many refer to homemade or handmade soap as artisan soap. We create with color, scent, and oils.
The kits above are a great way to give you a chance to try soap making without spending $100 of dollars on ingredients to find out in the end that it really isn’t for you.
I retired from soap making 3 years ago and still had over 7 thousand dollars in inventory. I don’t own a store, and I am not one to buy more than I need, but when you are making Lemongrass soap and it is selling like crazy at the farmer’s market and craft fairs. You run out of that essential oil and order a larger amount. Then that very popular soap is not so popular the next year and there you are with 500 ml of Lemongrass Essential oil, you make a batch and this year they sit on the shelf….do not sell.
This is not a scent I have had that happen to me, but it happens.
So if you really want to become a soapmaker and do this as a business I suggest that you try these kits first to make sure this is what you want to do.
Trying to decide what Soap Making Oils to use when creating a soap recipe can be confusing. What and how much of each oil should I use?
There are so many reasons and/or purposes for each of the oils used for making soap. Below you will find a list of the Pros and cons of some of the most used Oils and butter in soap making.
Pros and Cons of the best oil to make soap
When choosing oils for making soap different oils and fats will give your soap different properties. Solid oils like palm, palm kernel, and coconut oil, and fats like lard and tallow will make a hard bar.
Liquid oils need to be combined with solid fat to make a decent bar as liquid oils will not make a hard bar.
There is however one liquid oil that will make a hard bar and this is Olive oil so let’s start there:
Olive Oil
This is my favorite Oil when making soap, it is the largest ingredient in all my soap recipes. Olive oil makes a great moisturizing soap full of great skin-loving properties. Olive oil is especially good for people with sensitive skin and makes a great baby soap. With this oil, it is possible to use 100% of your soap-making oils – doing this produces a bar called Castile Soap.
Due to my skin problems, I made these when I first started making soap. The Castile soap however lacks bubbles but adding some coconut oil to the recipe will give you those bubbles.
PROS:
this oil is considered by most customers to be the best soap-making oil
this oil has so many skin-conditioning properties
it is readily available and possible to buy in bulk
the finished soap has tiny creamy bubbles
it is safe for all types of skin – even the most sensitive
CONS:
it costs more than most oils
Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is my second favorite oil for soap-making, it gives your soap lots of lather and is an excellent cleaning oil. This oil along with Olive and Palm makes a great soap bar. You must take care not to use too much coconut oil when making soap as it can be drying.
PROS
this is the best oil for producing bubbles in your soap bars
medium priced
excellent cleansing oil
great for making laundry soap
CONS
if too large a quantity is used in soap it will produce a drying bar
it melts very easily in warm temperatures – store it in a cool place
very expensive in health food stores and grocery stores
Canola Oil
I have never used this oil in soap making but many of my fellow soapmakers have. I think the key with this oil is to mix it with Olive Oil, replacing a portion of the Olive oil but not over 50%.
PROS
it is one of the least expensive oils for soap making
easy to work with
the color is a very clear tint
CONS
some reports say canola is toxic – my research suggests that some are so be sure to use Organic
if more than 50% is used in your recipe, oxidation can occur resulting in brown spots on your soap
it may indicate to some customers that you are being cheap.
Castor Oil
I use castor oil when making shaving soap or shampoo bars due to the great lather it produces. The key is to not use too much or your bar will feel sticky. I would recommend not using any more than 5 – 8%
PROS
produces a great lather that is thick and creamy
an excellent oil to add to shampoo and shaving soaps
has great moisturizing properties
thick texture
CONS
used alone will make a mushy bar
if using a high percentage bar will be very soft
Palm Oil
Palm oil helps to create a hard bar of soap with a nice lather, it works well in helping your soap last longer. I use this in most of my recipes. It is a key ingredient for most soap makers, but in recent years palm oil has got a bad reputation due to sustainability questions. There are concerns regarding damage done to the environment and the people living in some manufacturing areas.
I buy only Certified Sustainable palm oil – RBD-RSPO Certified.
PROS
makes a nice moisturizing bar
creates a harder bar
nice bubbly action is produced
Certified Sustainable Palm is now available
CONS
with some bio-fuel companies and manufacturing plants stripping the palm of their fruit, most eco-consumers do not want anything that is created with palm.
Palm Kernel Oil
It is very similar to Palm oil but very hard. It is another great soap-making oil, but also has the same stigma attached to it as Palm Oil.
PROS
makes a nice moisturizing bar
creates a very hard bar
CONS
see above – same as Palm oil
very hard – I use a knife to chip it out of the container
Animal Fats – Lard and Tallow
The only fat I have used is when making pet shampoo in which I use Lard. It makes an excellent shampoo bar for pets producing a very hard bar. Lard and Tallow also make very good laundry soap.
PROS
good cleaning ability
produces a hard bar
great for laundry and pet shampoos
CONS
customers may not like anything produced with animal products
tallow has to be rendered down and may have a lingering smell
Butters (Cocoa and Shea)
Cocoa and Shea butter help to make hard bars of soap with a nice stable lather. A good amount to add to your recipe would be about 20%.
PROS
these butters smell wonderful
great when used as a super fat oil
helps to create a hard bar
CONS
makes a very expensive bar due to the cost
When choosing the oils to make your soap remember that each oil has a different saponification value. Each oil will require a specific amount of lye per ounce in order to make soap. Be sure to use a LYE CALCULATOR when creating your recipe.
If you don’t use enough lye it will result in a soft bar of soap and if you use too much your soap could turn out to be caustic which means it would be very drying and could even end up with a pocket of lye-water which could cause mild burning Too caustic soap would most likely be tossed in the garbage.
This morning I realized it’s been a few years since I started this website and I thought it is probably time to update my about me page…..this was written a few years ago. I guess that makes 20+ years of experience. I don’t do the markets so much anymore, have slowed down and am just doing a few shows each year and a couple of stores.
I’m here to pass on some of my knowledge and recipes to the younger soapers that are starting and want to learn and get recipes from me ” Jan 2023Continue reading →
There are many ways to label your soap; having soap in boxes is another way to present your craft. These soap boxes are perfect for most soap sizes.
I have used the cigar label for years and I like it because you can see the colors or additives in your soap bar and potential customers can pick it up and smell it, but picking up and smelling it can be another issue. Most people are pretty good about it and I don’t have all the soap out to smell but……
In today’s times with the coronavirus and really the flu or colds I have decided to put my soap in boxes. I don’t really want people at the market to be picking up and smelling all the bars displayed and potentially leaving germs for someone else to pick up.
So now if you see me at the markets you will find that I have cut up small pieces of soap placed out for people to smell, hold and take home with them. There are soaps on display but in limited quantities.
A bonus to putting soap in a box is that it looks professional and the boxes can be labeled or even written on if you are better than I at handwriting lol.
Here are a few soapboxes that I found online. The prices are reasonable and there is a great variety of sizes and shapes to choose from. Continue reading →
Flashpoint is the temperature at which a combustible or flammable substance will burn when it is exposed to a spark.
Flashpoint can be used as a rough measure of how volatile a flammable/combustible substance is, but it’s good to also note that not all volatile substances are flammable or combustible. Some soapers use the flashpoint to safely add fragrance or essential oils at or below the flashpoint. I don’t really pay much attention to that because once mixed with the soap it won’t burn and you shouldn’t be handling your fragrances around an open flame. When adding fragrance or essential oils to my soap the temperature is at 100. The soap oils I never heat above 120 I have never had a problem and don’t soap make around open flames.For your knowledge here are a few flashpoints.
Coconut Oil Flash Point is 450 degrees
Olive Oil Flash Point is 468 degrees
Canola Oil Flash Point is 400 degrees
Castor Oil Flash Point is 392 degrees
Lard Flash Point is 390 degrees
So you see the oil would have to be heated to such a high temperature that it would surely take all the benefits of the oils away as well. When making soap the oils should never reach these temperatures making soap making oils safe from becoming flammable.
Essential Oils Flash Point
Angelica Root – 113° F
Anise – 200° F
Balsam – 200° F
Basil –164° F
Bergamot –125° F
Calendula –200° F
Carrot Seed –117° F
Cedar Leaf– 135° F
Cedarwood – 200° F
Chamomile – 127° F
Cinnamon -190° F
Cinnamon Leaf – 190° F
Citronella – 170° F
Clove Bud – 200° F
Eucalyptus 80 / 85 – 118° F
Eucalyptus Lemon – 118° F
Frankincense – 104° F
Geranium Leaf – 185° F
Grapefruit Pink – 142° F
Lavender – 156° F
Lemon – 110° F
Lemongrass – 160° F
Orange – 110° F
Oregano – 145° F
Peppermint – 151° F
Rosemary – 110° F
Sage – 125° F
Spearmint – 122° F
Tea Tree – 134° F
Thyme – 131° F
Looking at all the flashpoints you can pretty much make soap without worrying about them.
I made a few different batches of baby powder when my first grandchild arrived in 2000. Since then I have tweaked the recipe and will share with you my favorite natural baby powder recipe
What is Baby Powder
First – What is in Baby Powder – it is a powder that is used to prevent and or treat diaper rash on baby bottoms.
For many years baby powder was made from talc which is a substance that is known to contain asbestos. We all know that asbestos has been linked to cancer. So we certainly don’t want to use Talc on our babies.
Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder was first introduced in 1893 and has since been one of the most used powders.
Also in 2020 Johnson and Johnson announced they would stop all talc sales worldwide by 2023 while at the same time maintaining that its talc-based baby powder is safe to use and does not contain asbestos.
Ingredients that are better for Baby Powder
There are other safer powders that can be used to make your own baby powder, some of the ingredients found in natural baby powder can be:
Burts Bees is a Natural Baby Powder that is recommended by Pediatricians.
The ingredients found in this Natural Powder are: zea mays (corn) starch, sodium bicarbonate, montmorillonite, bentonite, commiphora myrrha leaf cell extract, ulmus fulva bark powder, rosa centifolia flower extract, parfum (fragrance), limonene
A key ingredient in Burt’s bees Dusting Powder is Cornstarch also known as Zea Mays – it comes from the corn plant and is extremely versatile. It acts as a natural moisture absorber and bulking agent.
Baby Powder Recipe
This recipe will make 7 cups of Baby Powder
What you will need to make this recipe:
You will need an 8 or larger cup mixing bowl or measuring cup – I use a 10-cup plastic one. A wooden spoon or similar spoon to mix up the powder and a few shaker bottles.
Put 5 cups of Arrowroot Powder in the mixing bowl and slowly add the Zinc Oxide, White Clay and mix well.
Once that is mixed up well add the Aloe Vera Extract and continue to mix until it is blended well.
Put into a container to use for baby or put into shaker bottles.
I used to sell a lot of this baby powder at Farmer’s Markets and Craft fairs. I always had extra after making it for the grandchildren so would package up the extra powder into nice aluminum white shaker bottles and put a cute label on them.
This recipe makes 7 cups of baby powder which will last a long time. If you don’t want that much just simply cut the recipe in half or quarter for the required amount.
I’m sure your baby or baby grandchild will be happy with this homemade product.
If you are looking for natural baby powder and don’t want to make it yourself here are some more suggestions for Natural BABY Powder.
Natures Paradise is a Talc-free, all-natural baby powder. It has high ratings and is one of Amazon’s choice powders.
It’s great to see Johnson and Johnson going natural this product is made with cornstarch, Aloe, and Vitamin E which will surely keep a baby’s delicate skin soft and comfortable.
Any of the above powders are great and don’t contain any harsh chemicals or other ingredients that you would not want to put on your baby.
Not Just for Babies
Baby powder is not only for babies but can be used by adults for things like:
Chafe-Free – baby powder dusted on the inner thighs helps to prevent chafing – it is often used by runners for this
Dusting legs with powder before having them waxed will help protect them against the burn that can come after waxing
It can be used as a deodorant as it absorbs sweat and will help to get rid of any odor
Add some tea tree and put in your running shoes or those hockey skates to keep them dry and odor free
I have not tried this one but have heard that sprinkling baby powder on your sheets will help keep them cool on a summer night as well as absorb any sweat.
Use baby powder to help slip on rubber gloves
Keep your pets smelling nice by sprinkling and rubbing in some baby powder – it will work as a dry shampoo for your pet.
The ingredients in Vaseline are 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly – which is White Petrolatum, USP. Petrolatum is used In industry, as a lubricant for machinery. Where we use it to relieve diaper rash, soothe chapped lips and relieve dry skin.
The (EWG), which is a non-profit US organization doing environmental and safety studies, says that petrolatum is an ingredient in one of every 14 cosmetic products on the market, this includes some lipsticks and about 40 percent of baby lotions and oils. I wonder why I see products being listed as Petroleum Free? Is it safe or not? Continue reading →
The Oregano is growing like crazy and I’m ready to start harvesting it.
Oregano is one of my most used herbs, it is a very hardy plant that is easy to grow and has many uses. We live in a cold climate and my Oregano thrives here. The leaves can be dried, eaten raw, or soaked in oil for oregano benefits of health.
Oregano oil has been used for thousands of years for health benefits, traditionally it has been a great remedy for colds and flu, inflammation of the mouth and throat, upset stomachs, and respiratory problems. Joy of the Mountains 100% Wild Organic Oregano Oil – 30 milliliter
The Chinese have used this herb to treat fever and itchy skin problems as well as diluting the oil for and using it externally for headaches, muscle, and joint pain as well as for stings and bites.
Oregano oil has become increasingly more known today as a natural remedy for colds and flu.
This herb has strong fungicidal, bactericidal, and antiseptic properties which are just a few of the health-improving properties this incredible herb has. Continue reading →
All the changes going on in the world over the last few years have got me looking elsewhere for my soap-making supplies.
Some suppliers are being stretched with containers being stuck on ships or just not getting here and of course the lack of supplies to begin with.
Recently I have started doing some shopping on Amazon. More and more soap supplies that can be bought through their site and the prices are not that bad at all! Shop around though, but with Amazon Prime and free shipping in some cases the price is right.
Just starting out with soap making or are just wanting to make some soap for gifts, Amazon really has some fairly good prices on supplies.
Doing some of the research I have found some reasonably priced soap supplies.
A key ingredient in Burt’s bees Dusting Powder is Cornstarch also known as Zea Mays – it comes from the corn plant and is extremely versatile. It acts as a natural moisture absorber and bulking agent.
