Until recently, making soap with your own hands at home was not possible. It's not even a matter of ingredients, but a lack of basic skills and information on how to do it correctly. Today, soap making has become a pleasant hobby. It allows you to create unique natural cosmetics based on natural ingredients and aromatic oils.

For some people, making natural soap with healing additives has become a source of additional income. This product is in great demand both for personal use and as a gift. Below, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the specifics of the process of making soap with your own hands, the main nuances and necessary components.

You can make your own soap at home from the following materials:

• bars of baby soap;
• purchased soap base;
• make it from scratch.

This product can also have different shapes and thicknesses:

• hard. With this form, the hot liquid base is poured into prepared containers and hardens there;
• liquid form - creamy, transparent, with or without added solid particles, etc.

Handmade soap is also convenient because you can add any ingredients you like to it: herbs, flowers, honey, crushed seeds, perfumes, dyes, abrasive particles, etc. It all depends on the flight of your own imagination and taste preferences. So, let's look at several soap-making techniques at home in more detail.

Homemade soap based on baby soap

For this recipe you will need baby soap, which you can get at any hardware store. We use honey, milk and cosmetic oils as additives. However, you can diversify it with those ingredients that you and your skin like: perfume compositions, decoctions of medicinal herbs, abrasive particles, etc.

Materials and equipment:

• 100 gr. milk;
• 100 gr. baby soap;
• 1 tbsp. honey or brown sugar;
• 1 tbsp. l. cosmetic oil of your choice (olive, apricot, grape seed, rose, etc.);
• aroma oil (2-3 drops is enough);
• melting bowl;
• steam bath or microwave;
• grater;
• spoon or stirring stick;
• molds. These can be various silicone containers for cakes, plastic boxes, small glass containers, etc. The more beautiful the shapes you choose, the prettier the finished bar of soap will look.

Prepare the ingredients

Grate baby soap and pour hot milk into it. Place in a cool place for 4-5 hours or overnight.

Bring until smooth

Heat the water bath to 50-60°C. Place a container with mass on it. While stirring gently, add brown sugar or honey. When the substance becomes homogeneous, remove it from the stove.

Add supplements

Pour in essential and cosmetic oils.

At this stage, you can also add other components as desired: lemon zest, dyes, solid particles (to create a scrub), etc.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Pour into molds

Pour the hot liquid into prepared containers. Leave to harden for several hours.

Remove solids from containers. When completely cured, the product should slide out easily. If this does not happen, place the container in the freezer for a few minutes.

Wrap the bars in parchment paper for storage. You did it!

Photo: Homemade handmade soap

Soap base soap

Fragrant and juicy homemade soap in the form of watermelon slices is a great option for decorating your bathroom! Plus they are so nice to wash!

This product is created from a combination of white and transparent soap base. Thanks to the use of silicone triangular containers, it is very easy to prepare. This is a great soap for yourself and as a gift for family and friends!

Photo: Homemade handmade soap

Consumables and necessary equipment:

• microwave oven and safe glass containers;
• sharp knife for cutting;
• spray bottle with alcohol;
• latex gloves;
• silicone triangular mold in the form of watermelon slices;
• disposable pipettes;
• thermometer;
• transparent soap base – 500 grams;
• emerald green and bright red dyes;
• black mica;
• aroma oil of your choice. Fresh summer scents are best;
• disposable plastic spoons – 15 pieces.

Photo: Materials for making handmade soap

Make black soap

If you don't have such soap, make your own. It is made using black mica. There is no need to add aroma oil to it, since very little is required.

Mixing mica with the base can be difficult - it does not dissolve well in the soap base and can stick together in lumps. To prevent this from happening, initially dilute it in glycerin or alcohol.

Note: One tablespoon of black mica requires 100 ml of base. If you need more black soap, increase the proportions accordingly.

With glycerin

• Place 1 spoon of mica in a glass bowl. Add a few milliliters of glycerin to this and mix well.
• Add 100g of melted clear base and stir.
• Place the mixture in the microwave for 20 seconds. Repeat if necessary.
• Mix slowly and thoroughly until the mixture acquires a dark, uniform structure. After this, it will be ready to pour into molds.

With alcohol

The technique is the same, but instead of glycerin you will use alcohol.

• Mix 5-6 drops of alcohol with one tablespoon of mica. Please note: with alcohol, the resulting substance will be thinner than the version with glycerin.
• Add 100ml melted base, stir and microwave for 20 seconds. Repeat if necessary.

Black soap without additives

If you don't have alcohol or glycerin on hand, follow the steps below.

• Melt 100 ml of transparent base.
• Add 1 spoon of black mica to it: it will float on top. This method is more labor intensive - you will have to stir and shake the container many times to completely remove any lumps.

Pour the prepared black mass into any mold and wait approximately one hour. When the mass has completely hardened, take it out and cut it into small pieces in the form of watermelon seeds. Set the “bones” aside for now.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Melt the base

This soap recipe uses ingredients for 3 bars. If you plan to make more, adjust the number of components. Each piece weighs about 150-200 grams.

Cut 250 grams of transparent base into bars and place them in a glass container. Place the container in the microwave for several periods of 30 seconds. After every 30 seconds, take out the container and mix. Do not overcook or let it boil, otherwise the substance will become rubbery. If there are any undissolved lumps in the container, stir slowly. The heat of the molten mass will dissolve them.

Add coloring and flavoring

Pour 5-6 drops of watermelon red liquid coloring into the melted base and stir slowly.

Using a pipette, add 5 drops of aroma oil to the substance.

Stir slowly until the liquid is smooth. Always stir the base slowly to avoid bubbles forming!

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Fill the red layer

Place the silicone mold on a flat surface.

Photo: Mold for making handmade soap

Pour a small amount of red liquid into each cavity and leave for a while.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Remember - the bottom of the mold will be the top of the finished product.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

After 5 minutes, spray this layer and the previously cut black “bones” with alcohol.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Place 2 – 3 pieces randomly into each cavity.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

When the seeds are laid, add more red base to the mold. It should completely cover them.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Repeat Step 4, using more seeds, until you have used all of the red base. Place approximately 5-7 seeds in each block. After this, leave the containers to stand for about 15 minutes.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Add white color

While the first layer hardens, prepare the second. This will require approximately 100 grams of white base. Pour 1-2 drops of aroma oil into the melted mass. You don't need to paint this layer!

Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the white mass - it should be around 130-140°.

Make sure the red watermelon layer has hardened enough. Spray it generously with alcohol, making sure to keep the edges in place. This will help the layers stick to each other better. After all, there is nothing worse than soap that separates and renders all your hard work in vain!

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

When the temperature of the white mass reaches the desired level, pour approximately 30-40 grams of it into each cavity. Spray with alcohol again to remove any bubbles.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Leave the containers for 10 - 15 minutes.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Fill it with green color

While the white layer hardens, prepare the green one. To do this, you need to add 5-6 drops of emerald green dye and 2-3 ml of aroma oil to the melted base (150-200g).

Spray the hardened white layer generously with alcohol.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Control the temperature of the mass and, when it reaches 140 degrees, pour the green liquid in equal portions into the molds.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Spray with alcohol again to remove any bubbles.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Allow the mixture to harden completely, leaving it for about 2-3 hours or overnight if possible.

Photo: Homemade handmade soap recipe

Gorgeous summer soap made with your own hands in the form of watermelon slices is ready!

Photo: Handmade soaps at home

Below are several ways to make these products yourself.

the site offers you various soap recipes. If you want to learn the secrets of making natural and healthy soap, our recipes will certainly come in handy.

Shake off the burden of the past day, leave it with its worries! A relaxing shower will help you with this, which we suggest taking with lavender soap, created by yourself. The delicate aroma of lavender has a calming effect. The beneficial properties of lavender essential oil help in the fight against insomnia, depression, and are used to treat migraines.

Treat yourself to a wonderfully attractive soap! Give your skin youth and beauty! Thanks to a carefully selected component composition, it was possible to create an excellent skin care product. Essential oils of rose and rosewood have an excellent regenerating effect, and basic oils of avocado, jojoba and grape seed are rich in fatty acids and vitamins.

Ingredients

To create striped soap you will need 100 grams of clear and white soap base, essential oils of ylang-ylang, anise, lavender (two drops of each), five drops of blue gel dye.
Manufacturing method

Soap-scrub "Oatmeal"

Soap-scrub “Oatmeal” is perfect for both dry and oily skin. At the same time, dry skin will not be irritated during gentle cleaning, and those with oily skin will be able to quickly get rid of dirt and tighten enlarged pores. Soap-scrub “Oatmeal” is an ideal option for everyone. You can make it yourself by adding the ingredients you see fit. At the same time, there are basic ingredients that must be contained in a homemade scrub soap.

Ingredients

So, for the Oatmeal scrub soap you will need 100 grams of transparent soap base, 0.5 teaspoon of jojoba oil, 0.5 teaspoon of peach seed oil, one teaspoon of 25 percent sour cream, 7-10 drops of any essential oils , cereals.

Handmade tar soap copes well with purulent rashes, inflammation, pimples and acne. In addition, this soap is ideal for drying small skin wounds, resulting in faster healing of skin damage. In addition to tar, this soap will contain jojoba oil, which is ideal for moisturizing and soothing young skin. Making tar soap will not be difficult for you.

You will need a third of a teaspoon of jojoba oil, one and a half teaspoons of birch tar and 100 grams of clear soap base.

To create glycerin soap, you will need 100 grams of clear soap base, half a teaspoon of glycerin, three drops of vitamin E, 2 drops of yellow gel food coloring and 10 drops of lemon essential oil.

If you want to learn how to make soap with your own hands, the recipes presented on our website will certainly come in handy.

The soap making recipes that exist today are striking in their diversity. However, this does not mean that all possible recipes have been thought up and invented. Soap makers still have unlimited creativity.

Natural homemade soap recipes are a unique opportunity:

• It is interesting to organize your leisure time and the leisure time of your child
• Please yourself and your loved ones with a high-quality and useful product
• Learn a new way to earn money.

the site offers you complete information support on this exciting path. Here you can get complete and comprehensive information about the basics of soap making, master the basic steps, and discover the secrets of the craft. On the site you will find a lot of recipes for soap made from soap base with a detailed, step-by-step description of the process.

Recipes for making soap at home vary. Some are very simple and can be mastered even by a child, others require certain skills and abilities. We tried to satisfy the interests of any visitor. Here, both a novice soap maker and a seasoned guru will be able to find interesting recipes for themselves.

Moreover! Soap recipes are not the only thing we offer you. Just a few clicks of the mouse, and you will receive any ingredients you need to use the most interesting and unusual recipes. This is facilitated by the wide range of products we sell, the convenient portal interface, and prompt order execution.

Handmade soap, recipes for which you will find on our website, will delight you with its quality and beauty. Whether you want to make unusual soap for a gift or you are more interested in the beneficial properties of the product, whether you are looking for recipes for “edible” soap or soap with attachments, here you will surely find what you need!

It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person without soap. It is necessary for hygiene, for doing laundry, and for washing kitchen utensils. A bar of scented soap is great for scenting clean linens and towels stored in your closet. High-quality soap will be a small but pleasant gift for a colleague or relative. Despite the fact that store shelves are replete with a wide selection of factory-made products, you should definitely try making fragrant soap with your own hands.

Homemade soap making is a fun activity for the whole family

In ancient times, in Russia, instead of soap, they used lye, which is a concentrated infusion of wood ash. They washed themselves with it and washed their clothes in it. Real soap was expensive and available only to wealthy people.

After the stove burned out, the wood ash was raked into a large vat and filled with water, and then left for a long time.

Later, the production of homemade soap became a dire necessity. It was made in large quantities, for the entire large family at once. Making soap on your own brought significant savings to the family budget.

Today, making fragrant and brightly designed soaps has turned into a useful and relevant hobby, and has become an opportunity to try your hand at a new creative activity. Even with a small investment in equipment, amazing masterpieces are created that amaze with their exquisite fragrance and varied design.

Required accessories

To create homemade soap with your own hands, you need to purchase some equipment and materials. Beginner soap makers can be advised not to get carried away with buying a large number of accessories; it is better to purchase the necessary components as they grow in skill and experience in soap making.

Consumables for soap making

These include:

the basis;
The soap base consists of oils, glycerin and surfactants

valuable plant bases;
Basic vegetable oils in soap making are used to provide additional healing or cosmetic measures that restore the health and appearance of the skin.

dyes and pigments;
Dyes are needed to give the soap individuality, originality and beauty.

fragrances;
Soap base has a special smell that not everyone will like, so to drown it out, manufacturers began to use fragrances based on synthetic and semi-synthetic substances

a means for imparting smoothness to the finished soap.
Bubble remover is the #1 solution if you're making multi-layer soaps, as it degreases the layers for better adhesion.

All consumables for home soap making can be purchased in specialized stores or online. There are also sites where soap makers share their experiences and practical advice regarding the purchase of certain products. Manufacturers of soap making components often place their advertisements on such resources.

Let's look at the items in the list of consumables in more detail.

Soap base

Soap base can be gel-like, creamy and hard.

The gel base is a thick liquid without a distinct odor. Valuable vegetable oils and caring components are added to it, and then used as a hair shampoo and a cleanser for hands and body.

Organic lovers prefer a base that does not contain sodium laureth sulfate.

The creamy soap base does not require heating, which makes it very popular with novice soap makers. It is easy to work with and is distinguished by the fact that it does not harden at room temperature. Soap made from this base feels like yogurt or thick sour cream.

Solid soap base can be matte, transparent, or soft cream. The transparency of the base is guaranteed by the large amount of glycerin included in its composition, due to which soap made from this material provides the skin with moisture and softness. Safe food coloring is added to the matte, which makes it white. The organic base has a higher cost and is considered the highest quality; it contains tropical oils and natural vegetable glycerin.

Experienced soap makers recommend purchasing soap base made in England, Belgium, Latvia and Germany. But it is not recommended to buy material made in China: soap made from such a base does not foam well and is very drying to the skin. Russian soap base is slightly better than Chinese, but mixes extremely poorly with vegetable oils and hardens unevenly.

Often, beginners in soap making use ordinary baby soap as a soap base. This method of making homemade soap is simple and safe, and the result obtained is no worse than the product obtained using special soap compositions.

Basic vegetable oils to give soap additional properties

It is best to choose natural unrefined oils for making homemade soap. This additive will allow you to get real cosmetic soap that cares for your skin. Any vegetable oil can be used as an additive to soap, but the most effective, according to soap makers, are the following bases:

olive fruit oil. Soap with this additive perfectly softens the skin, moisturizes rough areas and prevents flaking;
Olive soap is the most delicate of all, so soap for children is made from olive oil without additional additives

apricot kernel oil. Soap with this oil can be used for aging skin; it is perfect for cleansing facial skin;
This soap has a good, stable foam, and apricot kernel oil gives it a pleasant bitter aroma.

Coconut oil. Gives the finished soap hardness and whiteness, the bars turn out to be very beautiful in appearance and have a faint aroma of coconut;
When adding coconut oil in an amount of more than 30%, experienced soap makers recommend adding substances with moisturizing properties to it, since otherwise the finished soap can dry out the skin greatly

Argan oil. Recommended for aging skin with pronounced wrinkles. This soap gives the skin elasticity and does not dry it out;
Soap with argan oil lathers well, dissolves slowly in water and has a long shelf life due to the high content of phytosterols and vitamin E, which are natural antioxidants.

avocado oil This additive heals microcracks on the surface of the skin well, so this soap is often used in winter, when the skin is dried out by central heating and is exposed to temperature changes;
Soap made with the addition of avocado oil can be used to wash your hair, as it has an excellent effect on the condition of the hair, making it stronger, more vibrant and silky.

Palm oil. It contains a lot of organic fatty acids, due to which it has a rejuvenating and moisturizing effect on the skin;
Unrefined palm oil gives the soap a bright yellow color, which eliminates the need to use synthetic dyes

Castor oil. Viscous fatty oil is an excellent addition to homemade soap, as it perfectly restores the water-fat balance of the skin and slightly whitens age spots;
Castor oil helps increase foaming and gives the soap a creamy quality.

cacao butter. Soap makers like to add it when making soap to give the bars extra hardness. It is famous for its softening effect on dry and tired skin;
Cocoa butter imparts a light chocolate aroma to the finished soap.

Shea Butter. Moisturizes the skin, evens out its tone and eliminates the appearance of dermatitis of various origins. With this additive you can get a good dense soap that forms a dense porous foam.
Cosmetic soap containing shea butter has high nutritional and regenerating properties.

Dyes

This additional component is necessary when creating fantasy soap. Children especially love bright, colorful soaps. But you need to choose coloring pigments carefully, not forgetting about the safety of the skin.

It is best to choose natural dyes rather than synthetic ones. In addition, such additives give the finished soap caring properties. Among them are:

If you are still going to use synthetic dyes, then purchase food dyes. They are safe for the skin and do not cause allergies.

Flavors and fragrances

To give homemade soap a pleasant smell, natural and synthetic flavors are used. Natural esters include plant esters, which can be purchased in pharmacies and health food stores, while synthetic esters can be purchased in soap makers' stores.

Of course, if you are seriously concerned about the naturalness of your care products, then it makes sense to use natural essential oils for making soap. They have a diverse effect on the skin, and combining them with vegetable base oils can create a truly healthy product.

If you want to give your soap the aroma of your favorite perfumes and sweets, then synthetic fragrances will come to the rescue. When choosing, pay attention to the certificate of compliance with quality standards and carefully read the composition.

Liquid for eliminating bubbles on the surface of soap

When making soap, small bubbles often appear on the surface. If you want your soap bar to be completely transparent, then this liquid will be indispensable for you. In addition, when creating a multilayer structure, it allows you to glue together several soap plates. This liquid is sold in specialized stores for soap makers, but it can be replaced with ordinary medical alcohol or even vodka.

List of required equipment

The list of required accessories that a home soap maker cannot do without includes:

Thanks to soap molds, you can get original, beautiful, neat soap, which is perfect for a gift.

stamps for registration;
Soap stamps are a good opportunity to diversify the usual soap shapes

kitchen scales;
In order to measure the required amount of oils and water, a regular kitchen scale will do.

a set of measuring spoons;
Measuring spoons are very convenient for measuring liquid volumes when making cosmetics and soaps

special immersion blender;
Remember that we use different blenders for cooking and soap making

It is best to use soap stirrers made of glass.

Precise non-contact IR thermometer ensures safety when working with caustic and hot substances

gloves;
Protective gloves are a mandatory attribute of a soap maker’s equipment; they ensure the safety of the skin of your hands when working with hot soap components.

pipette;
A laboratory pipette with a rubber bulb at one end must have an elongated flask

beaker; A glass beaker allows you to measure the exact amount of each ingredient

water bath;
A small compact heater with a water bath effect is necessary to melt the soap base and heat the remaining soap components

respirator; A respirator that protects the respiratory tract is required when working with caustic alkali.

protective glasses;
Glasses with a transparent plastic screen will protect the eyes and the area around the eyes from splashes and drops of aggressive substances that are unsafe for the skin.

A small bottle with a spray bottle is useful for sprinkling the finished soap with a liquid that eliminates bubbles on its surface

The list of necessary equipment turned out to be quite impressive, but it is not at all necessary to purchase all the goods shown in it at once. For a novice soap maker, it will be enough to buy a small set of plastic soap molds, protective gloves, an immersion blender and a set of measuring spoons. If you do not work with lye and do not plan to make soap from scratch in the near future, then you may not need a respirator and safety glasses.

A laboratory water bath, of course, provides convenience and is indispensable in the work of a soap maker. However, even small devices cost a fairly decent amount. Such equipment can be replaced with a regular steam bath, constructed from two bowls or small pans of different diameters.

Basic methods for making homemade soap

For self-production, the following methods are used:

Let's take a closer look at each of these soap making methods.

Homemade soap from soap base

This method makes it easy and simple to get beautiful and fragrant homemade soap. This method of soap making is very suitable for children's master classes, since the process takes very little time, and the finished soap can be used within a day after its preparation.

If you are very unbearable, then you can use soap immediately after hardening, but then it can quickly become limp from water. It’s better to wait a day, wrapping the finished soap in parchment paper or cling film.

Algorithm of the soap maker’s action when working with soap base:

Processing of finished soap

A significant advantage of this method of soap making is the complete availability of all required ingredients. Therefore, beginners most often start making soap this way. Baby soap is best, but you can also use soap from old bars that are not used in everyday life.

How to make homemade soap from ready-made bars:

To make the soap melt faster, you can add a teaspoon of sugar to it. This technique will help make the soap mass more homogeneous and give the finished soap a harder structure.

Making soap from scratch

In soap making, there are two classic methods of making soap:

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In order to understand which method of creating soap is convenient for you, let’s consider them in more detail.

Homemade cold process soap

G The main advantage of this method of soap making is the speed of preparation of the soap composition. For experienced soap makers, the entire process can take no more than forty minutes. Cold process soap has a delicate, waxy texture and is highly lathering.

How to make cold process soap:

The very first thing you need to do is two solutions - hot oil (40–60°) and cold alkaline. As an oil base, use a mixture of animal fats (pork, lamb) or a mixture of vegetable oils (which is preferable for a more delicate finished product). And sodium hydroxide dissolved in the liquid is used as an alkaline solution. The proportions of these solutions must be observed with high precision; for this, soap makers use special soap calculators.
The principle of working with the calculator is this: you need to enter the amount of oils or fats, and the calculator will display the required amount of water and alkali in grams

According to reviews from experienced soap makers, the most suitable oils for creating cold process soap are palm, coconut, olive and castor. And for greater hardness of the finished soap, it is recommended to add a small percentage of beeswax.

Hot process soap from scratch

The hot method of making soap in the form in which we know it appeared in 1811 thanks to a chemist from France. Michel-Eugene Chevrolet calculated the exact amount of fat and alkali required for the saponification reaction.

The advantages of the hot method include the ability to use freshly prepared soap immediately after the soap mass has hardened. Although some experienced soap makers still recommend letting the soap sit in a dark place for about two days so that excess moisture evaporates and the soap becomes more economical to use.

To make homemade hot method soap you need:

Homemade Soap Recipes

By making soap yourself, you can be sure that it will contain natural ingredients. This soap will be a great gift for lovers of organic products.

Handmade lemon soap with castor oil

Soap made according to this recipe is very fragrant. It can be stored in a drawer with bed linen, this will give the textiles a smell of freshness and cleanliness. L lemon soap has good cleansing properties and produces a sufficient amount of foam.

Algorithm of actions:

Grate high-quality baby soap (two pieces weighing 90–100 g each).
Wear a protective mask while grinding soap to avoid inhaling soap dust.

Add cane sugar (1 tbsp) and vegetable glycerin (1 tbsp).
Cane sugar contains natural glycolic acids, which not only moisturize the skin, but also protect it from toxins.

Add ten drops of natural lemon essential oil to the mixture and stir with a glass rod.
Lemon oil is incredibly beneficial for the face, especially for aging skin, because it has intense regenerating properties and smoothes out wrinkles

To make baby soap grate faster and easier, keep it on a central heating radiator or dry it a little in the oven.

Caring soap “Chamomile and honey”, made from soap base

The rich composition of this soap, including macerate (oil infusion) of calendula, allows it to be used to care for problematic and sensitive skin. Children will especially like this soap, as it does not dry out the skin and has a sweet honey aroma. Choose special shapes for him with children's toys and bathing will become your baby's favorite pastime.

Soap is made according to the instructions below:

Cut the transparent soap base (0.5 kg) into small cubes and melt them in a steam bath.
The transparent soap base is pleasant to work with and can be easily cut with a regular knife.

Add unrefined apricot kernel oil (3 tbsp) and heavy cream (100 ml).
Cream gives the skin rich hydration and nutrition due to the increased content of milk fats and proteins

Video: master class on making voluminous soap “Teddy Bear”

DIY mint liquid soap

Peppermint soap has a light refreshing aroma, and the sea buckthorn oil in its composition promotes the healing of minor scratches and cracks. It is perfect for hygiene in the autumn-winter period, when the skin is exposed to temperature changes.

So, the process of creating liquid soap requires the following steps:

Dry or fresh mint leaves (3 tbsp) pour boiling artesian water (300 ml) and cover with a lid. When the infusion reaches room temperature, strain it.
Soap with mint infusion has a pleasant summer aroma

Gently stir the mixture and add unrefined sea buckthorn oil (10 ml) and potassium sorbate (4 g) into it.
Potassium sorbate is a safe food preservative used for liquid detergents to increase their shelf life

Take a blender and blend until the preservative grains are visible, and then pour the mint soap into a bottle with a pump dispenser.
Natural liquid soap will last longer in a dark glass bottle than in a plastic one.

To prevent the soap from breaking up into layers, you can add a small amount of polysorbate (emulsifier) ​​to it.

Bubbling Balls

The presented recipe for bubbling bath balls is universal. Instead of these oils, you can use those you have on hand. It is very useful to make these “bombs” together with children, because the little helpers will then be happy to use the result of their labors and bathing will turn from a tedious task into a fun attraction.

Instructions for creating bath balls:

Mix baking soda (300 g) and citric acid (150 g) in a deep bowl.
Before mixing these ingredients, be sure to protect your airway with a gauze mask or respirator.

Form into balls using a special detachable sphere and dry on a wooden board in a dry place for three or four hours.
It is better to store the balls in cling film, this will protect them from moisture

Fragrant soap for dry skin from old soaps

Usually old remnants are thrown away, or they lie in the corners of the bathroom cabinets. They can no longer be used, and it can be a shame to throw away a quarter of a bar of soap. From such unruly debris you can make an excellent fragrant soap for skin prone to extreme dryness.

In the recipe, the amount of additional ingredients is indicated per 100 g of soap.

To make homemade soap you need:

Step-by-step instructions for making oatmeal soap:

Place it in a water bath and melt, stirring all the time.
The soap base must become soft to begin to absorb additional components.

Then add dry oatmeal (2 tbsp) and pink clay (3 tbsp) crushed in a blender into the base.
Pink clay is suitable for caring for any skin type; it has a rejuvenating effect and effectively moisturizes the epidermis

Stirring all the time, add an oil solution of retinol acetate (0.5 tsp) and unrefined wheat germ oil (2 tbsp) into the soap mass.
Wheat germ oil is a leading means of skin rejuvenation and maintaining its firmness and elasticity.

Thoroughly mix the oil into the thick soap mass and pour lavender hydrosol (50 ml) into it.
Lavender hydrolate - water remaining after distillation of essential oil, enriched with beneficial substances and a very small dose of essential oil - 0.1%

The main mistakes of beginner soap makers

Among the most common mistakes made by beginners in the soap making business are the following:

Safety regulations

Making soap with your own hands implies the same strict adherence to safety measures as making soap in a factory. Your health depends on how closely you adhere to the established rules.

Rule one: be sure to protect the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract from volatile compounds, hot steam and alkali (if you make soap using classical technology).

Rule two: do not add questionable substances into the soap mass that are not intended for contact with the skin. Also, you should not use oils that have expired.

Rule three: only special utensils can be used to make soap. Blenders, spoons, silicone molds, bowls and saucepans - no soap-making utensils should be used for preparing or storing food.

Rule four: do not allow children or animals into the room where you work with alkali or hot soapy mass. It happens that they move unpredictably, and any careless movement during the soap making process can be harmful to health.

Fifth rule: when making soap from scratch, the lye must be poured into the water in small portions. But on the contrary, that is, pouring water into alkali is absolutely forbidden! This can lead to a thermal explosion, during which large amounts of alkaline vapor are released along with intense heat.

Homemade soap making has long been my favorite hobby. All friends and relatives regularly receive small surprises from me, beautifully packaged in craft or suede paper. I often invite my older children to participate in the process, after explaining to them the safety rules when making soap. Of course, working with alkali in front of children is difficult and unsafe, so at master classes we make simple soap: we recycle soap soaps, create bright pearlescent liquids for washing hands.

The cutest thing about making soap with kids is making liquid soap. Working with liquid soap base does not require heating and is highly safe. We love adding poppy seeds, dry mother-of-pearl and shiny glitter (sparkles) to this soap. You shouldn’t use this soap on your face, so as not to cause an allergic reaction, but it’s a lot of fun to wash your hands with. My daughter loves to shake it before using it, admiring the dance of sparkles and swirls of mother-of-pearl.

To prevent cellulite, I give my friends anti-cellulite soap, which I make according to my own recipe. It includes: natural essential oil of sweet orange (12 drops), ground red pepper (1 tsp) and evening primrose oil (2 tbsp). For this amount of additional ingredients I take 400 g of soap base. You can choose any one - both transparent and matte, there is not much difference. From experience I can say that English, Belgian and German bases behave very well in the process of home soap making. Our Russian base is not suitable for such soap; it begins to crumble and become limp literally immediately after use. (Although I know people who have gotten used to working with our soap base, perhaps it’s all about the recipe).

The soap has a pronounced orange aroma, but it can only be used for areas of the body prone to the development of cellulite. Hips, buttocks, areas above the knees. It is better not to touch the stomach and back, as if ground red pepper gets on the mucous membrane along with water, it can cause a burn. And be sure to wash your hands after using soap so that the pepper does not get on your face or eyes.

The whole family loves strawberry soap, which I make according to the following recipe: I prepare an English base (450 g), add a concentrated infusion of beneficial plants of choice (for 75 g of dry raw materials I take 200 ml of liquid) and strawberry essential oil (15 drops). Sometimes I also add pink pigment to the soap mass. For molding I use my daughter’s favorite voluminous “strawberries”.

I haven’t tried working with sodium and potassium solutions yet, although the process seems to be fascinating. I am going to order on a specialized website for soap makers all the necessary accessories for the classical method of soap making. I plan to make real salt soap to exfoliate dead skin particles (this was used in Turkish harems to make the skin smooth and silky).

Making soap with your own hands is not at all as difficult as it seems at first. The main thing in this matter is to follow technology and use only natural ingredients. There are a great many homemade soap recipes, don’t be afraid to try new things and look for the most successful combinations of scents and fillers.

Making soap at home is of interest to most novice soap makers, as this useful activity is interesting and does not take much time.

Making soap at home is attractive for beginner soap makers due to a number of advantages:

• minimal investment for the purchase of cheap equipment;
• accessible product manufacturing technology;
• opportunities to enjoy the creative process;
• the ability to create an environmentally friendly and natural product, unique in content and form;
• an unlimited number of consumers of the finished product (adults and children, men and women of any profession and status in society);
• the opportunity to experiment and create something new;
• likelihood of receiving income from the sale of your products;
• lack of competition due to the uniqueness of each product.

Disadvantages of home soap making:

• the need to invest your own resources at the initial stage of work;
• search for sales points and buyers;
• risk of allergies (making soap involves working with essential oils and chemical elements, so it is not suitable for people with sensitive mucous membranes and skin).

Materials and accessories

Making soap at home for beginners at the initial stage of work involves costs for materials, equipment and tools. Their choice depends on the intended production technology of the product.

The basis

You can use the following as a soap base:

• a self-prepared mixture (the most labor-intensive method, which requires compliance with safety precautions and knowledge of chemistry);
• factory-made soap base;
• unscented baby soap;
• remnants and remnants from ordinary soap (the most economical method).

The bases from different industries differ in a number of characteristics:

• cost;
• hardness;
• cooling speed;
• degree of naturalness (there are completely natural base masses to create an environmentally friendly, safe product).

Most bases sold in specialized stores are glycerin, without alkalis in their composition, which is why they compare favorably with ready-made soap made in a factory. The glycerin base has a gentler effect on the skin and forms a large amount of foam.

English soap base is of high quality, but it is expensive and hardens very quickly after melting, which is why it is inferior in popularity to Russian raw materials. In addition to them, there are soap bases on the market from Belarus, Germany, China, and Bulgaria.

The “SLS-free” mark on raw materials guarantees the absence of surfactants (surfactants) that have a negative effect on the skin and mucous membranes.

For soap with a water-soluble image, it is advisable to choose an English base, the Belarusian product “Ideal” or the Russian base “Myloff” for the top layer, since in this way you can achieve maximum transparency of the product. The thinner the top layer, the more clearly the pattern underneath is visible.

There are 4 types of soap bases:

• Solid soap base. The most popular are classic white (including matte) and transparent base. The white base contains titanium dioxide pigment. If necessary, you can purchase it separately to create white soap from clear soap.

A transparent base allows you to create soaps of bright colors; a white base will give a pastel tone to any dye. Vegetable oils, milk (goat or cow), and mango butter can also be added to solid bases. There are also foundations on sale that are made only from natural raw materials.

• The basis for creating “swirls”. When heated, it acquires a viscous structure without turning into a liquid. Thanks to this property, it is possible to create soap with unique patterns and inclusions from it.

• Soft base. It is used when making scrub soap and soft soap (a product with a pleasant texture, reminiscent of ice cream).

• Liquid foundation. It is ready for use in everyday life, and also serves as a basis for creating new hygiene products.

Particularly popular is the liquid foundation from England “Liquid Crystal Concentrate”. It cannot be used in its pure form due to the high concentrations of active substances in the composition.

Making soap “from scratch” with the creation of a base yourself is a labor-intensive and harmful process due to the use of caustic alkalis, so it is advisable for novice soap makers to use a ready-made soap base at home.

To make transparent soap, you need a transparent base; to make a matte product, you should choose matte raw materials. The average cost of 1 kg of base mass is 300 rubles.

If baby soap is chosen as the base, it is worth buying options without fragrances, since it will be impossible to get rid of its original aroma.

To make your own soap base you will need 3 ingredients:

• alkaline base;
• liquid (herbal infusions, milk, purified water);
• special oils for saponification.

Caustic soda is required to produce solid soap. The alkali ensures saponification of fat, in this case, base oil (any vegetable oil, in rare cases, pork fat).

The liquid is necessary to pre-dissolve the alkali and prepare it for mixing with fat. If you use milk or decoctions of beneficial herbs as a liquid, the finished soap will become healthy, take on a natural color and acquire a natural smell.

Base oils

Base oils enrich the soap and give it the necessary properties (moisturizing the skin, softening it, nourishing it). Soap without base oils will dry out the skin, create a “drying” feeling, and lead to cracking and peeling. To enrich the product, you can also add cream, body milk, boiled milk and cream.

The main thing is not to get carried away with enriching substances, otherwise the soap will not foam well.

The most commonly used base oils are:

• for hands: cocoa butter, shea butter, olive, palm, walnut, jojoba;
• for normal facial skin: cocoa and avocado butter, olive and almond;
• for dry skin: shea butter, evening primrose, wheat germ, rose hips, avocado, almond, castor;
• for oily skin: apricot and peach kernel oil, sweet almond and hazelnut oil;
• for problem areas of facial skin: sea buckthorn or olive;
• for the body: sesame oil, shea butter, almond, coconut, cocoa, olive.

An oil is often chosen based on its effect on the skin:

• for wilting – wrinkle-smoothing geranium oil;
• for dryness – mint oil;
• for saturation with vitamins – juniper oil;
• for rough, dry skin – lanolin oil;
• to fight cellulite and add elasticity - orange oil, loofah oil, algae oil in combination with pieces of ground coffee.

Essential oils

Essential oils are used to give homemade soap a pleasant aroma. Instead, confectionery and cosmetic flavorings, coffee, chocolate, honey, dried fruit zest, and parts of dried flowers are also used. The disadvantage of essential oils is their rapid weathering. Therefore, they are added to soap at the end of preparation.

The choice of a specific oil depends on what healing effect is to be achieved. For example, lavender relieves headaches and has a calming effect; jasmine gives vigor and improves mood; Tea tree oil is effective in fighting bacteria.

You can select the necessary raw materials depending on the area of ​​application of the soap:

• Any essential oil can be used for the skin of the hands.
• For normal facial skin, chamomile, jasmine, geranium, and lavender oils are best suited.
• Essential oils of lavender, mint, jasmine, palmarosa and neroli will help dry skin.
• Lemon, rosemary, cypress and geranium oils can reduce skin oiliness.
• Essential oils of eucalyptus, tea tree, juniper, sandalwood and fir are effective in the fight against problematic facial skin.
• Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, as well as orange and grapefruit oil are beneficial for the body.

Dyes

Thanks to dyes, you can color your homemade soap in the desired shade.

The main features of using coloring pigments:

• in a transparent base the colors are saturated, in a white base they are delicate and muted (with the exception of neon dyes);
• Several colors can be mixed to obtain the desired shade.

All dyes are divided into food and pigments:

• Food colorings They leave the soap transparent, do not add cloudiness to its base and color it in rich, bright shades. However, with their help it is impossible to create multi-colored soap, since the colors easily transfer into other layers.

They are produced in the form of powders, gels and oils. They are highly concentrated. Dosage of food coloring: from 1 to 5 drops for 100 g of base.

Liquid dyes are more convenient to use. They are divided into classic colors and neon (more saturated and bright shades). Neon pigment allows you to get bright soap even when using a matte white soap base. The disadvantage of liquid dyes is that the base becomes cloudy. The dosage of liquid pigments is from 5 to 7 drops per 100 g of base.

Ready-made dyes, sold in specialized stores, will color soap in brighter colors than its natural counterparts.

However, natural dyes are safer:

1. For the red color of the soap, you need red pepper or red sandalwood powder.
2. The green color is obtained by adding chlorophyllipt (easily available at the pharmacy) or dried herbs to the soap.
3. To give the product an orange color, use turmeric powder.
4. For a brown tint, add chocolate, coffee or cinnamon to the soap.

• Pigments are more popular due to their versatility and wide range of colors. The main advantage of artificial dyes is the absence of color migration when making a multi-layer multi-colored product.

Dry pigments are presented as powders. They are not suitable for making soap, as they often settle in it without dissolving. They can only be used if the soap base is prepared independently, since alkali does not corrode such dye. The transparent base also becomes cloudy.

For 100 g of soap, 1/3 tsp is required. dry pigment pre-mixed with alcohol, oil or glycerin.

Pearlescent pigment (mickey) is available in the form of powders. It does not need to be mixed with anything before use. Mother of pearl can only be used on a transparent soap base, as it will not be noticeable on a white surface. They often decorate finished soap using fingers or brushes. It can also take away the transparency of the soap. For 100 g of raw materials you need from 1/3 to 1/2 tsp. pigment.

Zenikolor pigments, available in paste form, are of high quality. They do not penetrate into different layers of soap and maintain its transparency.

Ordinary titanium dioxide, a white pigment, will allow, if necessary, to transform a transparent base into a matte one. It is also necessary for making a white base for swirls. For 100 g of soap base you need to take 1/3 tsp. titanium dioxide mixed with oil, alcohol or glycerin.

Decorative decorations, useful additives

For decorative purposes the following are used in soap:

• glitters (large multi-colored sparkles added to transparent soap);

• mother-of-pearl (a pigment with an iridescent color, used both for coloring soap and for decorating it after production);
• water-soluble pictures (for making soap with pictures and inscriptions);
• dried flowers and plants;
• texture sheets and stamps (for creating patterned designs and relief on the surface of the soap).

Soap is also supplemented with caring components to give it certain properties:

• to obtain scrub soap: oatmeal, poppy seeds, crushed herbs, sugar, nut shell crumbs, ground coffee or coffee beans;
• for medicinal effect: parts of medicinal plants and herbs;
• for a tonic effect: fruit zest, honey;
• for gentle skin care: skin milk, creams, cream, milk, propolis tincture;
• for nutrition and hydration: vegetable oil, honey, herbal decoction, glycerin.

It is advisable to choose fillers based on the characteristics of the skin:

• Lanolin, wax and glycerin are useful for the skin of your hands.
• Cosmetic clay, crushed coffee and herbs, and milk will help maintain the health of normal facial skin.
• Milk, glycerin, cosmetic clay, and herbal decoctions will help reduce dry skin.
• Activated carbon, cosmetic clay, camphor alcohol, calendula extract, chamomile, propolis will reduce the greasiness of oily facial skin.
• Using cosmetic clay, eucalyptus leaves, activated carbon, and herbal decoctions, you can reduce the number of skin rashes.
• Ground coffee, sea salt, clay, honey and tar can help maintain the beauty of your skin.

To improve the quality of soap, the following ingredients are used:

Fresh fruits, berries, vegetables, and plants cannot be used as useful ingredients, as they will quickly rot and spoil the soap. Instead, it is better to use dry fruits, leaves, herbs, petals, flowers, and ginger powder.

Molds, alcohol and accessories

Rubbing alcohol is often used to improve the appearance of soap.: it prevents the appearance of air bubbles on the surface of the product and allows layers of multi-colored soap to be held together. For this purpose, it is sprayed onto the soap after pouring into molds.

Making soap at home for beginners and experienced soap makers is impossible without the appropriate equipment:

• enamel and steel pans;
• pans for melting the soap base;
• plastic and glass containers for microwave ovens;
• spoon;
• corolla;

• measuring cups;
• kitchen electronic scales;
• a small spray bottle for spraying alcohol;
• soap molds.

You can use the following forms:

• special molds for soap;
• silicone baking molds;
• plastic forms for playing in the sandbox;
• plastic containers for fermented milk products;
• small plastic elastic containers.

The most convenient are flexible silicone molds, since it is easier to get hardened soap out of them. Containers and tools used to make soap should not be used for cooking.

Tips for home soap makers:

• When you start making soap, you need to prepare all the ingredients and tools: the product hardens quickly, and you need to work quickly.

• Dyes, additional components, flavors must be selected before production begins, and not during the process itself.
• Pigments and fragrances should be used minimally so as not to get too strong a smell or color the body of the soap.
• Baby soap will melt faster if you add sugar or honey to it.
• You can remove air bubbles from the surface of the product by spraying alcohol on it.
• 1 tsp. Glycerin, when added to 100 g of soap base, will eliminate excessive brittleness of soap.
• It is advisable to grease the molds with oil: then it will be easier to remove the soap from them.
• If the product turns out to be too soft, next time you should add less liquid when making it.
• The soap can be easily cut with any knife, previously soaked in hot water and dried dry.

A quick way to make soap for beginners

How to make soap with your own hands at home - for beginners, it is advisable to practice with the easiest recipes: this way you can understand the features of the preparation technology and methods of work.

Recipe:

1. The finely chopped base needs to be melted in a water bath.
2. Add base oil to the liquid hot mass in a dosage of 3 tsp. per 100 g of product.
3. Next, you need to add milk to the mixture to form the consistency of thick sour cream.
4. After complete melting, the liquid is removed from the heat. Essential oil (2-3 drops) is poured into it, 1 tsp. glycerin, pigments, flavors, useful components.
5. After adding all the components, the soap must be poured into molds, treated with alcohol and left until the mass hardens.
6. After 2 days the soap will harden. You can remove it from the container and start using it.

Honey soap

Components:

• base (matte or white) – 100 g;
• liquid honey - 2 tbsp. l.;
• flavoring "Honey" - 5 drops;
• yellow dye - 3 drops.

Preparation:

1. The crushed base must be melted.
2. After melting, pigment is added to it.
3. Then you need to cool the product a little and pour honey and flavoring into it. They should not be added to the hot mixture to preserve their beneficial properties.
4. The resulting mass must be quickly poured into a container. The product hardens within 1 hour.

Coconut

Components:

• soap base – 125 g;
• coconut oil – 1 tsp;
• coconut flakes – 12 g;
• almond oil – 7-8 g;
• sugar – ¾ tsp;
• lavender essential oil – 3 drops.

Only white ingredients are used for the product so that it resembles coconut in appearance.

Preparation:

1. It is necessary to melt the crushed soap base.
2. Add coconut oil to the melted mixture.
3. Almond oil, essential oil, and coconut flakes are added to the mixture.
4. At the end of the process, sugar is added, then everything must be quickly mixed and poured into molds.
5. Spilled soap will harden after 3 hours, after which it is ready for use.

Chocolate

Components:

• base – 100 g;
• ground coffee (not brewed) – 1 tsp;
• cocoa or chocolate – 1 tsp;
• milk - 1 tsp;
• avocado oil – 3-4 drops;
• fragrances - optional.

The soap will turn out to be three layers: for this, each layer must be poured separately. The first layer will be coffee, the second – chocolate, the third – with milk. The form for filling should be simple - in the form of a circle, square, triangle.

Preparation:

1. Melt the base in a water bath.
2. You need to add oil to it and mix until smooth.
3. Divide the resulting liquid into three equal parts, pouring into separate containers.
4. In the first bowl (the bottom layer of soap) you need to add coffee and add coffee or vanilla flavoring. After thorough mixing, pour into container. The soap should be allowed to harden slightly for 5-10 minutes.
5. Pour cocoa and chocolate flavor into the second bowl, stirring. After this, you need to sprinkle the first layer of soap with alcohol and pour in the second layer of soap mass.
6. The top milk layer is prepared in a similar way. It is possible to add flavors such as “Steam milk”, “Vanilla”, “Caramel” or “Coconut”.

Coffee soap-scrub

Components:

• base – 100 g;
• ground coffee – 1 tsp;
• fragrance “Vanilla” – 3 drops.

Preparation:

1. The crushed base is melted in a water bath.
2. You need to pour coffee into the liquid mass and mix.
3. After removing from heat, you need to add fragrance.
4. Pour the soap and sprinkle alcohol on top.
5. The soap will harden in 3 hours, after which it is ready.

Coniferous

Components:

• base – 100 g;
• spruce essential oil – 6 drops;
• green pigment – ​​3 drops;
• chamomile grass or pine needles, crushed to a powdery state - 1 tsp;
• fir oil – 1 drop;
• alcohol.

Preparation:

1. The base needs to be melted.
2. After melting, add chamomile or pine needles and stir until smooth.
3. Next, you need to remove the soap from the heat, add dye, essential oils and stir.
4. Soap can be poured into molds by sprinkling the surface with alcohol.
5. After 3 hours the product is ready for use.

Lemon

Components:

• base – 100 g;
• essential lemon oil – 5-6 drops;
• dried lemon zest – 1 tbsp.

Preparation:

1. The crushed base must be melted in a water bath.
2. Add lemon zest to the liquid mass and mix thoroughly. Do not stir quickly to avoid bubbles.
3. Remove the mixture from heat and add essential oil to it.
4. Next, you need to pour the product into the container and let it harden for 4 hours.

Degtyarnoe

Components:

• natural base – 100 g;
• calendula oil extract – 1/3 tsp;
• birch tar (sold in any pharmacies) - 1.5 tsp;
• essential peppermint oil – 5-8 drops;
• formic alcohol (for spraying).

Preparation:

1. The base is crushed and melted in a water bath.
2. Calendula extract is added to the liquid mass. The mixture should not be hot, otherwise the beneficial properties of calendula will disappear.
3. Tar is added, the mass must then be thoroughly mixed until smooth.
4. After the mixture has cooled, you need to add mint essential oil to soften the pungent smell of tar.
5. The finished mixture is poured into molds and sprinkled with alcohol to remove bubbles from the surface.
6. Tar soap takes a long time to cool, so you can keep it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to speed up the process.

Lavender

Components:

• soap base – 100 g;
• lavender essential oil – 4-6 drops;
• dried lavender flowers - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation:

1. The base is melted in a water bath.
2. When the base becomes liquid, essential oil is added to it - 4-6 drops and dried flowers.
3. The product is placed in the container for 4 hours until hardened.

Soap making is a fascinating process, which results in a beautiful and useful product that is constantly in demand. Therefore, novice soap makers, even those preparing soap at home, should think about how to turn this hobby into an exciting income-generating project.

Article format: Natalie Podolskaya

Video about home soap making

How to make soap with your own hands:

It would seem that the need to make soap at home has disappeared thanks to the huge selection of this cosmetic product in stores. But soap making is gaining more and more popularity. Soap makers brag to each other about their own masterpieces, invent new recipes, conduct master classes and even earn good money from their hobby. There are also special departments and shops for soap making, which further proves the growing need for soap making. Is it so easy to make soap with your own hands?

How is homemade soap better than store-bought soap?

Soap, which is sold in regular household chemical stores and supermarkets, does not contain natural ingredients. In fact, it is difficult to call it soap, since soap is saponified vegetable fats, and not processed petroleum products. Store-bought products often dry out the skin and can cause allergic reactions.

When making at home, you can use only natural ingredients that are suitable for your skin type. And if now it’s just a hobby, then later it can become a profitable business.

Handmade soap can be of different colors, with beautiful stains and inclusions of scrubbing elements

What ingredients are used

You can make soap from scratch or from a ready-made base. As the latter, you can also use natural, fragrance-free baby soap. And for the budget conscious, there are ways to digest soap and turn “waste” into aromatic soap.

It is much easier to work with a ready-made base. It can be transparent and white. Organic bases for making natural soap are also available for sale. You can buy them in soap making stores. Working with the base is not difficult, but it still requires some skills. As for making soap from scratch, in this case you will also need knowledge in the field of chemistry, since you will have to work with alkali. Before you start making soap, be sure to familiarize yourself with safety precautions when working with alkali.

The amount of ingredients will depend on the method of making the soap and the recipe. Let's look at the list of necessary components for each case.

Ingredients for ready-made soap

All the main ingredients can be bought in a specialty store, and additional ones in a regular supermarket. You'll probably find some in your home. You will need:

• ready base;
• base vegetable oils;
• dyes;
• flavorings;
• essential oils;
• herbs, petals, honey, ground coffee - optional;
• medical alcohol.

Bases from different manufacturers differ in price, hardness, hardening speed and other characteristics. There are organic bases that are used to make all-natural soaps.

Transparent soap is prepared from a transparent base

Base oils are used to enrich soap; they give it beneficial properties such as moisturizing, nourishing and softening. Without them, the product dries out the skin, and also quickly “dries out,” cracking and flaking. For the same purpose, you can add cream or body milk, cream or pasteurized milk.

Important! Don't overdo it with moisturizing ingredients and oils. If you decide to add fat milk, reduce the amount. Soap oversaturated with fats does not foam well.

Dyes come in liquid and dry form. It is most convenient to use liquid ones, since it is very easy to measure the required number of drops. Dry dyes are pre-mixed with oils or liquid and only then added to the finished mass. Try not to overdo it with dyes, as this will cause the foam to be colored when soaping. To begin with, it will be enough to purchase three basic colors: red, yellow and blue. By mixing them, you can achieve almost any shade.

In addition to purchased artificial dyes, you can also use natural ones. These can be spices (turmeric, curry), the same base oils (sea buckthorn, pumpkin), various fillers (colored clays, ground coffee, cocoa, strong herbal decoctions). Of course, with their help you won’t be able to achieve bright, saturated colors, but the soap will be as environmentally friendly and natural as possible.

For decoration, you can also use pearlescent pigments, glitter and various decor.

Using special dyes you can give soap any shade.

Flavoring agents are responsible for the beautiful aroma. You can use confectionery fragrances, or you can look for special fragrances for home cosmetics. Instead of artificial aromas, essential oils, honey, chocolate, coffee, dried zest, herbs, flowers and petals are used. The disadvantage of essential oils is that they disappear faster. They are usually added at the very end.

Alcohol is also used in soap making. It is used to remove air bubbles from the surface of the soap and connect the layers in multi-layer colored soap. To do this, pour alcohol into a fine spray bottle and spray the surface of the product.

You can add a decoction of medicinal herbs, dried chamomile flowers and natural essential oils to your homemade soap.

In order for the soap to acquire properties such as scrubbing, anti-cellulite effect, smoothing wrinkles, etc., various fillers are added to it. These are ground coffee, nut shell powder, clay, oatmeal, crushed sea salt and much more. All these are additional caring elements that will give the soap the desired beneficial properties.

Do not use fresh fruits, berries, cucumbers, ginger root and similar ingredients. They will rot and quickly render your “enriched” soap unusable. Instead, use dry herbs and leaves, petals and small dried flowers, ginger powder, dried fruits.

Tools and devices

You will also need:

• enameled or stainless steel pan;
• any other saucepan for a water bath;
• plastic or glass container for microwave oven;
• spoon;
• whisk;
• measuring cup;
• kitchen electronic scales;
• alcohol spray;
• soap molds.

You can buy molds in the same specialized stores or use confectionery silicone molds. Children's plastic molds for playing with sand, containers for yogurt or sour cream, and other small containers made of flexible plastic are also suitable. Purchased molds are made of plastic or silicone. For beginners, it is best to use the latter, since they are the easiest to get ready-made soap from.

Soap molds come in plastic and silicone

As for cookware, you cannot use aluminum pans or cast iron cookware. Stainless steel containers with enamel coating, as well as heat-resistant glass and plastic containers for use in a microwave oven, are suitable for these purposes. To accurately measure the ingredients, you will need a measuring cup and a scale.

What ingredients are used to make soap from scratch?

The soap base is prepared independently using only three components:

• alkali;
• saponification oils;
• liquid - distilled water, herbal decoction, milk.

To make solid soap you will need caustic soda (NaOH). It is sold in the form of flakes or small crystals. Alkali is needed to saponify fats, namely base oils.

Caustic soda is also called caustic soda

When making soap from scratch, the so-called superfat is of great importance. Since fats cease to be healthy after reacting with alkali, it is recommended to add additional oils at the end of cooking. This will be overfat. As a rule, valuable and expensive oils are used for it.

Any vegetable oils can be used. Pork fat is added rarely. The liquid is needed to pre-dissolve the alkali and prepare it for combining with fats. Using decoctions of medicinal herbs, you will give the soap beneficial properties, as well as a natural aroma and shade.

To improve soap, its coloring and flavoring, the following components are used:

• plasticizers - sugar, sorbitol, fructose, honey;
• acids - lactic, succinic, stearic, citric;
• lanolin;
• glycerol;
• oils for enrichment (superfat);
• dyes;
• flavorings;
• various useful fillers.

The same dyes, flavors and fillers are used. Plasticizers are needed to make soap more plastic and also improve foaming. Acids will make the soap harder and give it bactericidal properties. Lanolin will have a softening effect on too dry and rough skin.

Using different base oils you can give soap caring, beneficial properties.

Auxiliary Tools

You will need:

• two pans (one can be made of heat-resistant glass);
• hand blender;
• measuring cup;
• glass stirring rod or regular spoon;
• container for working with alkali;
• forms.

Important! Tools that were used to make soap cannot then be used for cooking!

When working with alkali, great attention is paid to safety measures.

Ingredients for different types of soap: for face, hands and body

To give soap different qualities, you will need the appropriate components. Some of them have softening properties, others have moisturizing and nourishing properties, and others are bactericidal and drying. It is worth noting that it is better to use the appropriate soap for each part of the body. It is not recommended to wash your face with body or hand soap. Also, not all components are suitable for every skin type.

Table: Recommended ingredients for making soap depending on its use

Geranium oil is recommended for aging skin as it helps smooth out wrinkles. Mint will save you from dryness, and juniper will saturate your skin with useful substances. For rough, dry skin, it is recommended to use lanolin. Orange oil, seaweed, loofah and ground coffee have an anti-cellulite effect and make the skin elastic.

Essential oils add a beautiful aroma and also “enrich” soap with beneficial properties.

Making solid soap at home

First, the base is melted in a water bath or in a microwave oven. With the first method, the base takes longer to melt, but the result is an evenly melted mass. In addition, you will be able to independently control the entire melting process. When heated in an oven there is a risk of the base boiling. Therefore, set the power to the very minimum and heat for 1 minute, checking the condition of the base every 5-10 seconds.

From soap base

Having prepared all the necessary ingredients and equipment, do the following:

1. Cut the base into small cubes and place in a suitable container.
   

   The chopped soap base is placed in a glass container.

2. Melt in the microwave.
3. Add all the fillers to the melted mass.
   

   This is what the melted base looks like after adding oils

4. Mix everything well.
5. Fill the molds with soap mass.
6. Eliminate air bubbles by sprinkling with alcohol.
7. Leave the soap to harden for 24 hours.
   

   The soap should remain in the mold until it hardens completely.

8. Remove the soap from the molds after one day.
9. Wrap in film or use immediately.

   This beautiful soap can be made from a ready-made base, oils and pigments

This is a standard algorithm of actions. The amount of ingredients and fillers mainly depends on the recipe.

• base oils - 1/3 tsp;
• essential oils - 3–7 drops;
• flavoring - 3–4 drops;
• liquid dye - 1–7 drops;
• dry pigment - 1/3 tsp.

You can add other additives (herbs, clay, scrubbing components) as desired, as well as in accordance with the recipe.

Important! Esters are added at the very end to the warm, but not hot, “soapy” mass. They are quite volatile, evaporate quickly, and their properties are lost.

Video: How to make soap from ready-made soap base

Cold and hot production from scratch

This is real soap making. You can prepare only the base and use it in the future as a ready-made purchase.

Making soap from scratch is not the safest activity. You have to work with alkali, and as you know, it can leave burns on the body. Therefore, much attention is paid to protective equipment and familiarization with the properties of alkali, its reaction with water, as well as the chemical reactions that occur during the saponification of fats and their transformation into soap.

Alkali, when reacting with water, emits a pungent odor and is very harmful to mucous membranes. Contact of alkali on the skin causes severe burns, so be extremely careful when working with this substance.

Safety rules when working with alkali

• Be sure to use protective equipment: goggles, respirator, rubber gloves.
• Clothes and shoes should be as closed as possible.
• Dishes and tools that are used for making soap are not used for cooking.
• It is best to work with alkali outdoors. If this is not possible, open the windows and turn on the hood.
• Food should not be prepared in the kitchen. Children and animals should also not be present.
• When reacting with water, the alkali becomes very hot as a violent reaction occurs. Make sure the water is as cold as possible, or better yet, with ice cubes.
• The container should be glass, ideally a special container for working with alkali.

This is the minimum list of requirements to keep you safe while preparing your soap base. Next, follow the general rules for making soap from scratch.

Another important point. An alkaline solution is poured into liquid oils and not vice versa! You also need to strain the solution to avoid the inclusion of whole soda crystals.

To make sure that the oils and lye have worked completely and the soap is absolutely safe for the skin, we recommend using special indicator strips (litmus papers). Just dip the tip of the strip into the soap and wait for the reaction. Next, compare the color of the paper with the color chart on the packaging. The darker the shade, the higher the pH level. Soap with a pH level above 10 is considered immature and not ready for use.

To prepare the base, they use ready-made recipes or develop their own using a special soap calculator. The latter can be found on the Internet on many soap-making sites. The trick is that you have to calculate the amount of oils and lye for the correct ratio. This is difficult for beginners to do, so we recommend using ready-made recipes from the Internet.

This is what an online calculator looks like for calculating the amount of ingredients for soap

Soap base is prepared in two ways:

• Cold way. Simpler, but it takes a long time for the soap to “ripen”.
• Hot method. More complicated at first, but the soap is ready to use within 24 hours.

Let's look at each of them.

Cold way

1. Measure out the required amount of lye.
2. Pour ice water into a special container.
3. Slowly pour the lye into the water and stir immediately.

   The alkali is added to the liquid gradually, stirring gently

4. While the mixture is cooling, start adding oils.
5. Melt solid oils in a water bath or in the microwave.

   Solid oils are heated in a water bath until they are completely melted.

6. Mix all the oils until smooth.
7. Measure the temperature of the lye and oils - one should be approximately the same and be 37–38 °C (use an electronic thermometer).
8. Add an alkaline solution to the oils, while straining it through a strainer.
9. Stir gently.
10. Turn on the blender and start blending the oil and lye mixture. Alternate beating and stirring in the off mode.

    Beat the oils with an alkali solution using a hand blender

11. When the mixture becomes viscous, you can start adding various nutrients, dyes and flavors.
12. At this stage, superfat, essential oils, and other natural ingredients are added.

    When the soap base becomes viscous, you can start adding various fillers and benefits

13. Pour the finished mixture into molds and leave to harden.
14. Remove the soap after 24 hours and remove from the mold.
15. Wrap in film and leave to ripen for at least 4 weeks.

A long maturation stage is necessary for the soap to move from the “trace” stage to the “gel” stage. In simple words, during this time it will become what it should be.

Video: Cold process soap from scratch

At the “trace” stage, when the mass begins to thicken, you can stop and leave everything as it is. The frozen mass will become a soap base, which can then be melted and made into aromatic homemade soap.

Hot way

Until the “trace” stage, the soap is prepared in the same way as with the cold method. The fun begins later.

So, the viscous base is ready. Let's proceed to its next processing:

1. Place the container with the soap mixture in a water bath. The water level in the pan should reach the level of the mass in the container.
2. Cook over low heat for 3-4 hours, covered.

   The soap base is cooked under a closed lid over low heat.

3. Monitor the water level in the pan and stir every 30 minutes.
4. The mass should become gel-like and not stick to your fingers.
5. When the base is ready, you can safely start “filling” it.

   Litmus paper (pH indicator) will help determine the alkalinity of the finished soap base.

6. We also add superfat at the very end.
7. The soap is poured into molds and allowed to thicken completely within 24 hours.
8. Your homemade, natural soap is ready to use.

Video: Hot process soap from scratch

As you can see, the hot method is much more complicated, but has the advantage: the soap can be used almost immediately after its preparation.

Soap recipes

There are a huge number of recipes for making different types of soap, differing in their purpose, properties, fillers and appearance. Let's look at several recipes using the base, but if desired, they can also be used when making soap from scratch.

Children's

• organic base - 250 g;
• carrot juice - 1/2 tsp;
• decoction of string and chamomile - 1 tsp;
• almond oil - 8 drops;
• tangerine oil - 1–2 drops;
• funny children's silicone molds in the form of little animals.

It's very simple: melt the base, mix with the rest of the ingredients, pour into molds and leave for 24 hours for the soap to harden.

These cute little bears can be made from soap base and other ingredients

Degtyarnoe

• transparent base - 100 g;
• calendula oil extract - 1/3 tsp;
• birch tar - 1.5 tsp. (sold in a pharmacy);
• mint essential oil - 6–8 drops.

Add the ingredients to the melted and slightly cooled base in the following order: oil extract, tar and finally essential oil. Mix everything thoroughly and pour into molds.

Birch tar has antiseptic and antifungal properties, so this soap will be useful for problem skin.

This is what tar soap made from an opaque natural base will look like

Two-layer colored soap with honey

Using this recipe, you can make beautiful decorative soap from layers of different colors.

First layer:

• transparent base - 50 g;
• yellow food coloring - 3 drops;
• flavoring “Honey” - 10 drops;
• natural honey - 1 tsp;
• grape seed oil - 1/3 tsp.

Second layer:

• white base - 100 g;
• avocado oil - 1/2 tsp;
• pasteurized milk - 2 tsp;
• pearlescent pigment - 1/2 tsp;
• honeycomb shape.

First, prepare the first layer of transparent base, pour it into the mold and sprinkle with alcohol. When the layer has cooled, sprinkle it again with alcohol and cover the prepared white base.

This yellow-white soap has a unique honey aroma.

Using remnants

Agree, sometimes it’s a shame to throw away leftover soap or so-called soap remnants. We offer a simple way to “reanimate” soap remnants and prepare soap from them, which in the end result can even surpass its “original source.” From “soap” residues you can make both solid and liquid soap.

In addition to soap, you will need the following ingredients and equipment:

• soap remnants - 200 g;
• water - 5 tbsp. l.;
• glycerin - 2 tbsp. l.;
• alcohol tincture of calendula - 2 tbsp. l.;
• essential oils and flavorings for fragrance - optional;
• grater for rubbing soap;
• containers for a water bath;
• spoon;
• forms.

You can use a variety of soaps, except, of course, leftovers from laundry soap and various stain removers. You can use any fillers and fragrances. With their help, you will “enrich” the soap, giving it new beneficial properties and aromas.

You can make wonderful soap from colored soaps.

Glycerin is needed to obtain a more viscous consistency, it helps the components dissolve faster and maintains the required moisture. Instead of calendula alcohol tincture, you can use medical alcohol.

You will need to melt the soap in a water bath. This way the contents will heat evenly and melt to the desired consistency.

So, having prepared all the necessary ingredients and tools, get to work:

1. Heat a saucepan with water for a water bath. Reduce heat when water boils.
2. Grate the soap remnants.

   To make soap, you first need to grate the soap on a coarse grater.

3. Transfer the shavings to a suitable container.
4. Pour in water, glycerin and calendula tincture.
5. Mix everything and let it heat up.
6. Stir the soap and make sure it doesn't boil.
7. Remove the pan from the heat when most of the soap is completely melted.
8. Let the mixture cool slightly.
9. Add desired toppings.
10. Fill the molds with the prepared mixture.
11. Let the soap harden in a cool place for a day.
12. Remove the soap from the mold and let it dry for two more days.
13. The finished product is stored wrapped in cling film or used immediately.

    From unevenly melted colored pieces you can make so-called “marbled” soap

Using the same method, you can make soap from leftover soap base and baby soap.

Video: How to make solid soap from soap remnants

How to make liquid soap

To prepare liquid soap from scratch, another type of alkali is used, namely KOH (potassium hydroxide). This type of soap is also called potassium soap. Liquid soap can be made from the same soap remnants, from baby soap, from the remnants of a soap base, or from any solid soap. Let's look at the cooking process.

From remnants

To prepare 1 liter of liquid soap you will need:

• soap remnants - 50 g;
• distilled water - 1 l;
• calendula tincture or medical alcohol - 2 tbsp. l.;
• essential oil - 3 drops;
• liquid food coloring - 3 drops;
• glycerin - 4 tbsp. l.

Place a pan of water on the fire and do the following:

Video: how to make liquid soap from soap remnants

Liquid laundry soap

It is used for washing clothes and washing dishes. You will need one bar of laundry soap (200 g), 1 liter of water, essential oils and fragrances - optional. How to cook:

1. Grate the soap - the smaller the shavings, the faster it will dissolve.
2. Pour the shavings into a stainless steel pan and add water.
3. Mix the ingredients and cook over low heat until the chips are completely dissolved.
4. Finally, strain the mixture through a sieve and cool slightly.
5. Add about 20 drops of essential oil or fragrance.
6. Pour the finished liquid soap into a plastic bottle.
7. The concentrated washing gel is ready.

The finished product is stored in a closed container.

Photo gallery: beautiful handmade soap

Soap with loofah has a scrubbing and anti-cellulite effect on the skin Soap made with a decoction of herbs is always pleasant to use. Pine soap has extraordinary healing properties and a beautiful aroma. Soap in the form of a jelly dessert looks very appetizing This soap is almost indistinguishable from a natural mineral. This soap not only looks beautiful, but also smells delicious. The main thing is not to confuse this soap with a real cake! Natural soap without artificial dyes and additives that is most beneficial for the skin Soap in the shape of a snowflake will be a great gift for the New Year Homemade colored soap with various additives will decorate your bathroom Handmade soap can come in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

My name is Olya, I am 29 years old. I like to write articles and create artistic descriptions of products for websites. The priority topics are: jewelry, clothing, interior items, cooking, as well as useful tips (everyday life). It is very important for me that my texts are liked by readers, customers and, of course, myself!