How to Make Soaps at Home

Store-bought soaps that are said to be gentle or safe for sensitive skin are still made with lye. Made up of calcium hydroxide and lime, lye is a caustic chemical that is dangerous and corrosive. I watched a lot of soap making videos and picked the simplest instructions to try. I didn't follow their steps exactly but the soaps turned out great. I like kiss (keep it simple, stupid) instructions that don't make me think, so here you go.

Things you will need:

1. Glycerin block. I found out three types of glycerin blocks available for sale in stores like Joann Fabric, Michael's. They are: olive oil (transparent), cucumber (lightly green), goat milk (white). The glycerin blocks I used were olive oil and white glycerin blocks from Michael's. One glycerin block in Michael's costs $9 while the exact same glycerin block costs $14 in Joaan Fabric.

2. Food coloring. You don't have to use food coloring. I chose food color dyes because they are safe to eat and I want my soap edible. I got mine from Wal-Mart food section

3. Fragrance oil. I picked lavender, rose and gardenia. I got them from Michael's

4. Dried lavender and rose buds from my garden (my own extra addition. You can omit this)

5. Soap mold. I got them from both Michael's and Joann Fabrics

6. Utensils: paper cups (no one on internet or YouTube suggested paper cup. They all ask you to use double boiler but paper cups work the same if you use microwave), stirring spoon, knife

Instructions:

1. Cut the glycerin block along the premeasured lines to smaller pieces with a utility knife. Fill the paper cup with the cut pieces.

2. Microwave the paper cup for 40 seconds. Stop microwave and stir the cup with spool. Continue to heat the cup every 10 second segments until all glycerin pieces turn to liquid. (If you overheat it, the liquid will overflow so make sure to stop your microwave every 10-15 seconds after the initial 40 seconds and stir. I knew it because it happened to me several times.)

3. Add a few drops of your fragrance oil and food coloring into the cup and stir the mixture. (I also added dried lavender or rose buds). Gently mix it briefly otherwise you will see a lot of bubbles on the soap. Also when you add color, remember the color will look darker in solid form than in liquid form.

4. Pull the liquid mixture into the soap mold

5. Let it to cool for at least 1 hour. I let mine sit overnight.

6. After you pop the soaps out from the soap mold, spray a little alcohol on them. One reason is to make them less slippery, and the other reason I use it is for sanitation.

You are all done!

Just be creative and have fun with it. Love to see how your soaps turn out to be like.