Making your own soap is a lot of fun! Soap making isn’t terrible complex or difficult. You can be quite creative in your soap making choices.  Molds can be found in any craft store.  If you want to add color to your homemade soaps you can use a little bit of food coloring. When making your own soap think of who you might want to give some to as a special gift. If you find you enjoy soap making there are several soap making books available in your local library.

Be sure to read all of the directions before you begin.

How to Make Simple Glycerin Soap

To get started with most of the following homemade soap recipes you need 3 basic ingredients. You need glycerin soap which can be purchased in most craft stores as well as online. You will need essential oils and/or fragrance oils of your choice and you will need molds. Fragrance oils can be purchased at any craft shop but do a little research when buying essential oils to be sure they are pure essential oils. There is an article “What Are Essential Oils” that will help you discover true essential oils.

Melt glycerin soap base in a double boiler bringing the temperature up to 160 degrees F. Slowly stir in essential oil(s) and/or fragrance oil(s), and any other ingredients you may be using. DO NOT OVER STIR! Too much stirring adds bubbles to your bars and makes them look ugly. Pour your homemade soap into your molds.* Allow to cool 3-4 hours. Pop molds into freezer for about 30 minutes and gently press on the bottom of the mold to remove. If you do not use this immediately, wrap each bar in plastic wrap to prevent them from ’sweating’.

*Molds= plastic soap case, or sturdy candy molds work great. Any plastic container with the opening larger than the bottom will work.

Castile Soap Balls

Add essential oils to the hot water. Pour water over castile soap flakes. Knead the soap mixture together, and form it into balls. Place the soap balls on a piece of waxed paper and allow the soap to dry for 3 to 6 days. They can be stored unwrapped.