Make your own soaps—easy instructions to craft gifts for yourself and others!
Making soap is quick and easy: just melt the base and pour it into molds. Coloring the soap base with natural ingredients gives you beautiful colors and a satisfying experience. Surprise your friends, family, and teachers with handmade soaps!
Soap making supplies
- 500 grams of clear soap base
- Natural fragrance oils (this recipe uses cranberry, apricot and, apricot compote)
- Natural colorants (this recipe uses beetroot powder, turmeric powder, and spirulina)
- Silicone molds
- A saucepan and a heat-resistant container that fits inside
- Optional: printable decorative labels from the internet and letter stamps.
Soap making instructions
1. Melt the soap base in a double boiler on the stove. The water doesn’t need to boil, but hot water will help the soap base melt faster. If you want to try different colors and scents, start by using only part of the base.
2. Add 3–5 drops of fragrance oil to the melted soap.
3. Add the natural colorant. Since they are powders, you’ll need to stir thoroughly to achieve an even color. Avoid whisking motions to prevent air bubbles forming in the soap, as they are difficult to remove later.
4. Once the color is even, pour the melted soap base into molds. You can use soap molds or silicone baking molds. Let the soap cool on a flat surface, either outdoors or in the refrigerator, until it has solidified.
5. If you like, you can package the soaps in paper sleeves. Print labels and stamp the names of your soaps on them.
Tips!
- Soap base comes in both clear and white varieties. The brightness and opacity of the final soap’s color depend on this.
- There are colors and scents for every taste. How about cotton candy scented oil and red hibiscus powder for coloring?
- Your mold can be a classic rectangular bar or shaped like a rose, fruit, or heart—anything you’d like it to be.
