How to make soap at home. What do you need to make your own soap? All dyes are divided into food and pigments

Homemade soap from scratch is a fascinating creative process of creating soap masterpieces with your own hands. Soap makers who have long been familiar with this method note a lot of positive properties and advantages of such soap. After all, only well-known, completely natural ingredients are used for its production, which have such a beneficial effect on the skin of the face, hands, body, hair and scalp.

How to make soap from scratch

Making soap at home from scratch can seem like a super difficult process for beginners. However, there is nothing complicated about it. On the pages of our website we try to post exact soap recipes from scratch, with step-by-step instructions and mandatory safety measures.

In order to figure out how to make soap with your own hands from scratch, just carefully read several recipes. The main components for such soap are lye, water and base oil, such as olive. From the three listed ingredients you can already make soap with your own hands. This is perhaps the simplest recipe for beginners, which is also presented on our website. Having dealt with the nuances, you can proceed to other, no less interesting recipes.

Homemade soap from scratch

Various types of oils, scrubbing organic particles, herbal decoctions instead of water, etc. are added to soap. As a result, soap making will turn for you from an unknown form of creativity into an attractive world of soap making, constantly attracting with new recipes.

Soap recipes from scratch

The Do-It-Yourself website already contains a number of attractive instructions for making soap from scratch, and we don’t stop there. In the future we plan to look into other recipes, and we will definitely post the most interesting of them on the website.

Good days and nights to you, needlewomen and representatives of the crazy hands circle.

I have long noticed a great desire for creativity and handicrafts, which does not require talent, but only great desire and perseverance. Over the course of my long (or not so long) life, I have tried on various hobbies, some of which I became addicted to, while others did not touch my soul. I’ll write about my interests and handicraft experiences at the end of the review, so anyone who’s interested can read it. Recently I have become interested in soap making, the process reminds me of ancient alchemy, and the result is impossible to predict. Of course, I have just embarked on the path of a soap maker, and I don’t know all the intricacies and secrets, but I want to tell you about this fascinating and interesting activity.

In addition to the great desire to create and create, we will need a certain set for the creative process; I’m not ready to create soap from scratch yet, so we’ll take the simplified path.

What a beginner soap maker needs to buy.

✔soap base.

It comes in several types (to be honest, I haven’t had time to figure them all out yet), it can be roughly divided into white and transparent. To begin with, I purchased three different bases: white, transparent, and a base for squirls.

Swirls are a technique for creating beautiful stains and patterns in soap.

It was possible to get by with only one transparent base and add titanium dioxide to turn it white,

but I prefer opaque soaps, so when purchasing a foundation, I often opt for ready-made white ones. As a novice soap maker, I didn’t notice a significant difference between an expensive and cheaper base; now I have SOAPTIMA base in my creativity cabinet. When adding dioxide, the main thing is to stir it well, otherwise the result may look like this:

✔soap molds.

You can purchase ready-made molds or make them yourself from available materials. For example, a package of Pringles chips served me well in making round rainbow and sea soaps.

In my first order I purchased 3 soap molds, but they weren’t enough for me and I added a few more.

It is recommended to purchase silicone molds, but for me they are too expensive and I am quite satisfied with the quality of ordinary plastic molds. I don’t have any difficulties getting the soap out of the mold, you need to wait until the soap has completely hardened and knock on the back wall, you can try to carefully move the mold to the sides, sooner or later the soap will fall out)

✔dyes.

Of course, you want to make bright, multi-colored soap, so you can’t do without dyes, but to get started, just three colors are enough:

red
yellow
blue

By mixing them you can get any suitable shade, I purchased three basic shades and brown for men's soap with coffee and cinnamon.

And although many do not recommend purchasing food coloring because of its instability and ability to migrate in layers, I only use it.

✔ flavorings/fragrances

Soap shops have a huge selection of fragrances and fragrances to create fragrant masterpieces. I decided to use essential oils and perfumes for my creations in order to use the bottles that are stored in abundance at home. I bought only a few fragrances, the aromas of which make me euphoric.

✔base oils.

In order for the soap to have caring properties and take care of the skin of the hands, in the process of creating soap it is necessary to use base oils. You don’t have to buy them; you can use those you have at home. I use almond, olive, coconut, peach oil, you can also use regular sunflower oil.

✔alcohol.

To fix the layers of soap, to get rid of bubbles on the surface and to easily remove the finished soap, alcohol is needed. The question arises - where to get it? I use formic alcohol and buy it at the pharmacy, it is no worse than medical alcohol, and it is not difficult to find.

✔ dried flowers, mother of pearl, glitters.

At home there was lavender and dried flower buds, mother-of-pearl was replaced with permanent eyeshadow in golden and silver shades.

✔little things necessary for a quick and convenient soap making process: toothpicks, sushi sticks, containers for heating (I use old cups and a transparent thick glass with a gram), etc.

A step-by-step method for making soap from a base using a simple example.

1. you need to decide on the design of your creation, choose the appropriate shape, color and aroma of the future soap.

2. cut the required amount of soap base into small cubes

and put it in the microwave for a few seconds, the resulting liquid must be mixed well so that there are no lumps left, we get rid of the bubbles with alcohol.

3. add base oil, dye and fragrance (I do everything by eye, usually take about half a teaspoon of oil, 1-2 drops of dye and 3-4 drops of fragrance/essential oil).

4. Sprinkle the base with alcohol and pour in the soap, I never use one color in making soap, so you can pour the base part first, and then pour a soap base of a different color into the middle and mix lightly, this way you get fascinating patterns or different color levels.

Spray the top with alcohol to remove bubbles.

If we are making multi-layer soap, then each layer must also be sprayed with alcohol and grooves must be made with a toothpick for better bonding.

5. we leave the soap to harden, for me this is the most difficult step - to wait for the result, I put the soap in the refrigerator or in the winter on the balcony, when I don’t have the strength to wait at all, in the freezer, but this is not recommended.

6. We take the finished soap out of the mold and enjoy the result.

The cost of a new hobby.

Many of the ingredients for successfully making soap can be found at home, but you won’t be able to avoid the costs altogether. Making soap is not a cheap activity, but creative supplies are always expensive, and you can’t deny yourself creative outlets. For a basic soap making kit you will have to buy a heavy bag, let’s look at the price tags:

✨ base - from 230 rubles

✨ molds - from 60 rubles

✨ base oils - from 60 rubles (50 ml)

✨ fragrances/essential oils - from 60 rubles

✨ formic alcohol - from 10 rubles

✨ food colorings - from 30 rubles

✨ packaging of ready-made soap - from 25 rubles (buy the packaging immediately, otherwise you will spend a long time and painfully searching for suitable bags for your gifts,

Aliexpress saved me: I ordered such reliable soap bags)

As you can see, the amounts are not large, but as a result, quite serious costs accrue; in a couple of months I have already spent about 3,000 - 4,000 rubles on the necessary ingredients.

I like that the soap-making process can be safely called a waste-free production; if it doesn’t work out with a certain soap, you can melt it again or make soap shavings from it for an interesting version of soap.

Where to buy goods for soap making.

Although I live in the Moscow region, in our small town it is not possible to purchase art supplies at an adequate price, so I have to use the services of IM Moscow and go to the capital for the parcel. For myself, I found two stores with a good assortment, affordable prices and free pickup.

Why do I make soap?

Of course, the thought of soap making as an additional income slipped into my head, but I don’t yet know how to implement and organize this process and I don’t want to turn my hobby into an annoying job. I make soap for myself, my family, friends and colleagues, getting great pleasure from the process and the joy of small good deeds.

Natural soap has an expiration date, after a few 3-4 months the appearance of the soap will become unpresentable, this happened to me with sea soap, the blue food coloring turned out to be unreliable and slowly left the finished product, turning it into a faded yellow piece of who knows what.

The work of a beginning soap maker.

I have nothing to boast about yet: my works are simple and banal, but give me time and I will surprise you. Unfortunately, I was not in the habit of photographing finished works and I was able to capture only the remnants of the collection, but I will add to the gallery of works as new soaps are created.

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

Components	Hands	Face: skin types				Body
Components	Hands	Normal	Dry	Fat	Problematic	Body
Base oils	olive cocoa Palm jojoba shea (shea) walnut	olive almond cocoa avocado	castor evening primrose shea (shea) wheat germ rosehip almond avocado	sweet almonds apricot kernels peach pits hazelnut	olive sea buckthorn	olive cocoa coconut shea (karite) almond sesame and etc.
	any	ylang-ylang lavender geranium jasmine chamomile	lavender palmarosa neroli ylang-ylang jasmine mint	lemon cypress geranium rosemary	juniper fir sandalwood tea tree eucalyptus	orange grapefruit eucalyptus tea tree and etc.
Fillers, including scrubbing	lanolin glycerol beeswax	cosmetic clay ground coffee chopped herbs milk	cosmetic clay powdered milk glycerol herbal decoctions chamomile extract, mint, coltsfoot, linden color	cosmetic clay Activated carbon camphor alcohol infusions and decoctions calendula and chamomile propolis tincture	cosmetic clay Activated carbon eucalyptus leaves infusions and decoctions of herbs	clay loofah honey sea salt ground coffee eucalyptus leaves tar seaweed

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:

Cut the base into small cubes and place in a suitable container.
The chopped soap base is placed in a glass container.
Melt in the microwave.
Add all the fillers to the melted mass.
This is what the melted base looks like after adding oils
Mix everything well.
Fill the molds with soap mass.
Eliminate air bubbles by sprinkling with alcohol.
Leave the soap to harden for 24 hours.
The soap should remain in the mold until it hardens completely.
Remove the soap from the molds after one day.
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

Measure out the required amount of lye.
Pour ice water into a special container.
Slowly pour the lye into the water and stir immediately.
The alkali is added to the liquid gradually, stirring gently
While the mixture is cooling, start adding oils.
Melt solid oils in a water bath or in the microwave.
Solid oils are heated in a water bath until they are completely melted.
Mix all the oils until smooth.
Measure the temperature of the lye and oils - one should be approximately the same and be 37–38 °C (use an electronic thermometer).
Add an alkaline solution to the oils, while straining it through a strainer.
Stir gently.
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
When the mixture becomes viscous, you can start adding various nutrients, dyes and flavors.
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
Pour the finished mixture into molds and leave to harden.
Remove the soap after 24 hours and remove from the mold.
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:

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.
Cook over low heat for 3-4 hours, covered.
The soap base is cooked under a closed lid over low heat.
Monitor the water level in the pan and stir every 30 minutes.
The mass should become gel-like and not stick to your fingers.
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.
We also add superfat at the very end.
The soap is poured into molds and allowed to thicken completely within 24 hours.
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:

Heat a saucepan with water for a water bath. Reduce heat when water boils.
Grate the soap remnants.
To make soap, you first need to grate the soap on a coarse grater.
Transfer the shavings to a suitable container.
Pour in water, glycerin and calendula tincture.
Mix everything and let it heat up.
Stir the soap and make sure it doesn't boil.
Remove the pan from the heat when most of the soap is completely melted.
Let the mixture cool slightly.
Add desired toppings.
Fill the molds with the prepared mixture.
Let the soap harden in a cool place for a day.
Remove the soap from the mold and let it dry for two more days.
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:

Grate the soap - the smaller the shavings, the faster it will dissolve.
Pour the shavings into a stainless steel pan and add water.
Mix the ingredients and cook over low heat until the chips are completely dissolved.
Finally, strain the mixture through a sieve and cool slightly.
Add about 20 drops of essential oil or fragrance.
Pour the finished liquid soap into a plastic bottle.
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!

Homemade soap making is another “handmade” hobby that has become so popular in recent years. This is not surprising, because now everything natural is in fashion, including organic cosmetics that do not contain substances harmful to the skin. But making handmade soap can become not only a useful hobby, but also a way to create a unique souvenir product for yourself and your loved ones.

How to make soap at home

Making homemade soap from scratch is not so easy, because in this case you will have to deal with lye and you will need to strictly follow the instructions, while observing safety precautions. But if you still decide to do this, then you will make one that is absolutely free of thickeners, preservatives and foaming agents, which are part of everyone’s favorite soap base.

There are two ways to make soap from scratch - cold and hot. The cold method is good for soaps with swirls (blurry swirls and patterns) and does not involve heating the components, but in both cases the alkali reacts with fatty acids and water.

What you need to make cold soap from scratch:

kitchen scales;
utensils made of wood, glass or enamel;
measuring cup for determining the amount of oils;
large container, such as a saucepan;
stirring stick;
thermometer;
mixer;
means for measuring alkaline solution;
soap molds - you can choose a regular food container or homemade wooden molds;
sodium hydroxide (lye) for solid soap and potassium hydroxide for liquid substance;
vegetable or animal fats - it is better to purchase vegetable oils;
solid butters;
liquid - water, herbal decoction, etc.;
essential oils;
aromatic fragrances.

Using a soap calculator (available on the Internet), create a soap recipe that will determine the weight of all components.

Melt solid butters and waxes in a water bath, after cutting them into pieces. Weigh vegetable and solid oils and place in separate containers.

Wear protective equipment. Weigh sodium hydroxide and dissolve it little by little in any liquid, while stirring with a glass rod. Attention! Lye should be placed in water, and not vice versa, otherwise the container may burst or explode due to overheating.

After this, measure the temperature of each of the compositions, it should be approximately the same and pour the lye into the oils.

Blend the mixture using an immersion blender or mixer until thickened.

Pour the soap into molds, after adding dyes, fragrances or essential oils, wrap the container in a thick towel and put it in a dark place for several hours.

Then cut the resulting soap into pieces and leave it to “mature” in a well-ventilated place.

For multi-colored soap, one or more dyes are added to the base, which creates unusual swirls - swirls.

Sodium hydroxide is a dangerous and caustic chemical that can cause pain on contact, so be sure to take precautions when working with lye.

Store the lye in a place where children and animals cannot find it, and close the lid of the package tightly.
Wear safety glasses and a work coat when making soap. Getting crystals of a substance or its caustic vapors in high concentrations into the eyes leads to dire consequences, including blindness.
Use rubber gloves until all work is completed.
If lye gets on your skin, wash it off immediately with water.
All traces of sodium hydroxide must be carefully removed. It is desirable that the process takes place away from food products.

What is homemade soap made from?

Making soap from scratch often seems overwhelming for beginners. And not all experienced soap makers are ready to experiment with alkali. Still, the most popular base is considered to be:

Baby soap without a pronounced aroma is ideal for the first experience. It is cheap and already contains all the necessary components - lanolin, glycerin,...
The soap base is very easy to use, even children can handle it. It has different composition and manufacturers. Available in two types - white and transparent. The most famous are domestic (from 200 rubles per 1 kg) and English basics (from 400 rubles per 1 kg). Cut into pieces, melt in a water bath or in the microwave.

Main ingredients:

Base oils are natural vegetable fats that impart beneficial properties to the finished product. For example, castor oil is suitable for softening and nourishing. Grapeseed oil works well on skin, and olive oil restores the upper layer of the epidermis and heals wounds.
Essential oils serve as natural flavoring agents. Before using this component, it is necessary to study its therapeutic effect, as well as test for allergic reactions.
Food flavorings and cosmetic fragrances give the product a pleasant smell.
Coloring pigments or food dyes (they tend to migrate, that is, color adjacent layers).

Additional Ingredients:

sparkles and pearls;
natural fillers - ground coffee beans, honey, milk, clay, etc.;
herbs and dried flowers for decoration;
water-soluble paper with various pictures.

You will also need molds - special ones, for making soap there are plastic and silicone. In the absence of them, you can also use baking trays, ice trays, or even ordinary jars and containers.

Homemade Soap Recipes

Regardless of the specifics of the recipe, prepare your workplace and tools in advance:

a large saucepan for melting in a water bath or microwave;
a grater if you are making with baby soap;
kitchen scales to accurately measure the amount of base;
measuring cups;
spoons, wooden sticks;
pipettes for filling small parts;
knife and napkins for removing sagging;
molds for soap, baking or ice.

Soap-scrub from "Children's" - a simple master class

Take 4 pieces of soap without a strong aroma and rub them with a fine grater.

You can use anything you can find in the house as molds - containers, plastic cups, molds for baking and playing with sand. It is better to pre-lubricate them with oil.

Pour one tablespoon of base oil (sunflower, olive, peach, etc.) into a saucepan, put it on the fire and gradually add soap shavings. The process may take from 10 to 30 minutes.

After dissolving the soap base, we introduce all kinds of components - dyes, aromatic oils, cosmetic fragrances and dried flowers. In this case, we got coffee-cinnamon soap with grains. The base can be laid out in several layers, after sprinkling with alcohol. After hardening, the soap is removed from the mold; you need to lightly press on the edges and it will “pop out.”

Base soap with glitter - master class

To prepare soap with a light scrubbing effect we will need:

transparent soap base;
food colors - blue and pink;
carrier oil, such as calendula;
geranium oil as a flavoring agent;
ground grains for exfoliating effect;
multi-colored sparkles;
glass stirring rods;
Silicone forms.

We cut the base into small pieces for faster melting. Place the measuring cup in the microwave and make sure the base does not boil.

Stir the base and pour half of it into another glass.

Add 1/4 of the base oil, 4 drops of essential oil, a couple of drops of dye, scrub particles and glitter.

Pour the base into the molds and spray with alcohol to remove bubbles. As soon as our soap hardens a little, put it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

Soap making kits

In order to purchase all the necessary components for handmade soap, you don’t have to spend hours in online stores or run around the city looking for the right ingredients. For beginner soap makers, ready-made kits that include all the components are quite suitable. It will allow you to create and help avoid mistakes in the future.

It is included in the kit?

at least one type of base, sometimes 2 or 3 different types, differing in color and degree of transparency;
food dyes or pigments - 2 pieces;
flavorings or fragrances - 2 pieces;
one silicone or plastic mold;
detailed instructions.

This set is basic; some sets add a larger number of shapes, flavors and dyes, as well as sparkles, glitters and water-soluble pictures, and a liquid to remove bubbles.

Secrets of soap making

Like any other hobby, soap making has its secrets and nuances. The result of your work directly depends on compliance with certain rules, so do not neglect them.

When melting baby soap, do not stir vigorously, this will lead to saturation with air, the appearance of many bubbles and loss of softness.
When heating in the microwave, be careful not to allow the soap base to boil; this will significantly degrade the quality of the finished product. The remaining base should melt when stirring.
For 100 grams of base you can add: half a teaspoon, 1 spoon of glycerin, 1-6 drops of food coloring, one-third teaspoon of dry pigment or mother-of-pearl, 1 spoon of herbal decoction, 3-5 drops of flavoring or fragrance.
Essential oils should not be mixed with food flavorings.
Air bubbles can be easily removed by spraying them with alcohol from a spray bottle. It is also used for gluing individual layers.
To make the soap cool faster, you can place it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
You can put ground coffee or grains, sugar or other abrasive particles in the soap that perform the function. Do not add salt, it will not bring any scrubbing effect.
Clay, as a rule, settles in soap in one layer. A more suitable option is to use a base for swirls; it takes longer to harden.
Fresh fruits or vegetables, insufficiently dried flowers and herbs will quickly deteriorate and the soap will develop an unpleasant odor.
Soap tends to dry out, so it should be stored for no more than 6 months in a dark place.

How to make soap: video

We spend a lot of time on bath procedures. Because taking care of personal hygiene is very good and it undoubtedly has a positive effect on your health.

When taking a bath or shower, be sure to take your favorite scented soap with you. Many people don’t even think about what it consists of. But everything is simpler than that. Just today I will tell you how to cook this hygiene product at home.

Even a child can cope with this simple task. For some, having tried to make it once turns into a hobby, because it is not only pleasant to wash with your own product, but also safe. Because nowadays, due to the huge selection of products on the market, manufacturers are negligent in the manufacture of this product. Thus stuffing it with all sorts of harmful and, God forbid, prohibited chemicals in order to reduce the price of the product.

Once you master the soap-making procedure, you will be able to add only those ingredients that you like. You can impart an incomparable aroma. Having beautifully decorated it and made an original shape, it will not be a bad gift for various holidays, be it a birthday or March 8th. By doing this, you will undoubtedly surprise the person, because this gift is primarily made with your own hands.

Some people for whom soap making has become a hobby begin to slowly sell it, and therefore increase their budget.

First, you need to go to a specialized store and purchase a soap base. You can replace it with baby soap.

History of soap making

So let's begin our soap story, not just any soap opera, but the true story of soap.

It is believed that this hygiene product appeared around three millennia BC. The first time it was written about was 2200 BC. It was then that the Sumerians wrote about it on clay tablets, or rather about its production. Despite the fact that so many millennia have passed and similar manufacturing technology is used today.

There is one of the oldest documents, the Ebers Papyrus, which says that in ancient Rome they used a substance made from ash and fat to wash their hands. In order to improve the cleaning properties of soap, they began to add soda, or rather mix it with ash.

For a long time it was believed that soap came to us from Rome. Because the first soap factory was found precisely on the ruins of Pompeii. Quite a lot of time passed after people discovered the catch. The version they put forward turned out to be wrong. In fact, it was not a soap factory, but a so-called laundry (fullonika).

There is a belief in the world that the word soap originated from Mount Sapo located in Ancient Rome. In fact, this is nothing more than a legend, because such a mountain does not exist.

Soap was not always used for its intended purpose. For example, the Arab physician Avicenna prescribed this procedure to his patients when a person developed a rash or various skin diseases. He advised healthy people to use clay to cleanse their bodies.

In fact, what is produced now in factories can hardly be called soap, since synthetic additives are used in its production. And plant ash is almost never used today, because the purity of the product (ash) cannot be guaranteed. Also, the technology that was used before is very complex and takes a lot of time. Therefore, now, instead of ash, alkali is used.

Many people, when making soap, begin to abandon animal fats. They use components that have appeared not so long ago: for example CO2, silk, floral waxes and essential oils. Despite this, soap, which has been known to mankind for many thousands of years, remains to perform the same skin cleansing functions as before.

Essential Ingredients for Making Soap from Scratch

Probably almost every person who is going to learn soap making has thoughts running through their heads that it should not only be fragrant, but also have an original, unique shape.

In fact, it is so, because when cooking, you can use various molds in the shape of hearts, favorite flowers or exotic animals. If you have specialized stores, you can even buy multilayer molds there, with which you can combine several colors in one blank.

Many people start using children's sandbox molds at the beginning. If you love baking, you probably have silicone molds; they are perfect for cooking.

You will also need two saucepans: a large and a small one to create a water bath. You will pour water into the large one and place it on the stove, and put the soap itself into the small one. By placing one inside the other, you can easily melt the workpiece. In general, you can use various devices for making a water bath. You can also melt the soap base in a regular microwave oven by placing the mixture in a plastic bucket or glass.

You will also need several plastic cups, toothpicks, a spoon or wooden stirring stick, an ordinary grater, a spray bottle of alcohol, and any paper towels or napkins.

We're done with the inventory, let's move on to the ingredients.

1.Essential oil.

If you want to give your soap a fragrant aroma and soften your skin, you cannot do without it. There are various scents on the shelves, it’s up to you to choose.

2. Dyes.

To dye your soap your favorite color, you need special dyes. They can also be replaced with natural ones, using vegetable or fruit juices. Personally, I used grapes, or rather their juice, but it’s up to you to choose.

3.Additives.

In addition to your favorite scent and color, you can include so-called additives in your soap. For example, to make a scrub, you can use crushed oatmeal, coffee beans or walnut shells. One of the popular additives is coconut flakes.

You can also use honey, lemon or cream. Various healthy herbs or berries dried from summer. In general, it all depends on your imagination.

4.Loofah (optional)

Using this ingredient you can make soap with a washcloth, so let's say 2 in 1.

I think we’ve sorted out the inventory, now let’s move on directly to the process itself.

How to make soap from soap remnants

Making soap from debris is very easy. It will take you very little time to make it. Today we will look at two product options - liquid and regular toilet.

For normal, you will need

Pieces of old soap
Molds
Essential oil
Vegetable oil

Preparation

1.Take the soap shards and collect them in a separate bowl.

3.The third step is to pour some water into the pan and put it on the fire. You will need to take one part water to one part soap.

4.After heating the water, pour our ingredient into the pan.

5. Stirring constantly, cook until it is completely dissolved in water.

6. Take vegetable oil out of the refrigerator and grease the molds with it.

7.Remove the pan from the heat and add a little essential oil to it for scent. Then we immediately pour it into molds.

8. Let the soap cool slightly and place it in the refrigerator until it hardens completely.

Your handmade scented personal care product is ready.

You can watch the video in more detail:

Good luck in your endeavors!

Liquid soap made from soap

A lot of soap remnants that have probably accumulated in your kitchen can be successfully turned into liquid soap. A small handful is enough to get about 1 liter of product. Can you imagine how much savings this is? So start immediately.

Ingredients

Remnants
Tincture of calendula
Food coloring
Glycerol

Preparation

1. First of all, put the water on the stove, it will boil and here we will arrange a water bath to melt the soap.

2. While the water is boiling, grate the soap. We need 50 grams per liter portion.

3.Add 1 liter of water to them and place in a water bath. You need to be prepared that the soap will not dissolve completely. There's nothing wrong with that.

4.When the main ingredients have dissolved, remove from the water bath.

5.The next step is to add calendula tincture, two tablespoons. If there is none, anything that contains alcohol will do, because that is what we need.

7.To make the color of the soap uniform and beautiful, add a little food coloring. A couple of drops will be enough.

8.Now pour in 4 tablespoons of glycerin. Its role is to increase viscosity and maintain the necessary moisture content of the soap. Our soaps are different in composition, but thanks to glycerin everything will mix.

9. Mix the resulting mass thoroughly. After the reaction has occurred, it is necessary to strain everything, because there are large pieces that have not dissolved. For this we use a sieve.

10.Pour the finished raw material into a bottle. It must be allowed to cool before use.

After the soap has cooled, a natural pearl will appear, it will be no worse than store-bought soap. More than that is even better.

This detergent can be used to wash not only your hands, but also dishes. And your mother and grandmother will be grateful to this.

A liter of liquid soap is ready, which we made from practically nothing.

Enjoy it for your health.

How to make soap from soap base

Above we looked at simpler cooking options. If you want to do this on a professional level, turn it into a hobby, or surprise your friends and acquaintances, then this article is just for you.

Today I'll show you how I pour small pieces of soap base into molds. This applies to plastic forms that have convex elements. They can be decorated with different colors.

Everyone does it differently, so my method is not the only correct one. I will pour soap with a snowflake.

You will need

Plastic molds
Soap base
Dye
Alcohol
Fragrance

Let's move on to cooking

1. Melt the soap base in a water bath or in the microwave. Be sure to make sure the base doesn't boil.

2.After the base has become liquid, it can be painted with white dye. Make sure that it is not very hot, because many molds cannot withstand temperatures above 70 degrees.

3.You can use a food container to ensure that the mold stands up straight. Place a mold on top of it.

4.In order for the base to flow into small elements, the mold must be sprinkled with alcohol. After this, carefully pour the base so that it fills the snowflake. The excess can be removed with a toothpick after hardening, this will happen within 10 minutes.

5.Prepare a soap base for the main layer, we will make it blue. I will paint with a special dye purchased at the store.

6.When the resulting liquid has cooled, you can add fragrance to it and pour it into the mold.

7.In order to ensure good adhesion, you need to scratch our snowflake with a toothpick. Sprinkle with alcohol and pour. Spray with alcohol again to remove bubbles.

Well, that's all, you can wait until the soap hardens and you can take it out.

How to make soap from baby soap

Many people want to try to start making soap, but buying bases and other things is problematic. So if you want to do something useful for yourself, you can use children's.

You'll need

Baby soap (without fragrances or dyes)
Olive oil (can be sunflower)
Pink clay (you can take a dried flower and grind it finely)
Milk

Preparation

1.Grate the soap and place the plate in a water bath.

3.Pour one tablespoon of oil and mix.

4.Add pink clay, diluting it with water in advance. It will add color and better hold the consistency together. You can also use cocoa, turmeric, orange zest, etc. for color.

5.The next step will be flavoring, no more than 10 drops. You can use essential oil.

6. Take children's sandbox molds and put the resulting mixture into them. To get rid of voids, shake the mold a little.

7.Be patient and leave to dry. After a day, you can carefully remove it and leave it until completely dry for 1-2 days.

Well, that's all. I hope you liked the article. You can leave your questions and suggestions in the comments.

Secrets of soap making

If you heat the base in the microwave, be sure to make sure it does not boil.
Food flavorings should not be used together with essential oils.
To prevent small air bubbles from appearing, spray the mold with alcohol.
If you make soap in winter, take it outside to cool quickly.
Add ground coffee beans or sugar to the product to create a scrub.
The finished product should be stored for no more than six months to prevent it from drying out.