Soap Making is one of those skills that I had been wanting to learn for a VERY long time but I was always so intimidated by the process. This was the year of learning new things, thanks to my friend over at MyshireFarm. I am such a hands on learner that I needed some encouragement.
I have made a few batches of soap now and I honestly feel a lot more confident in the process (it wasn't nearly as scary and difficult as I had thought). So, here is a roundup of some great tutorials and recipes out there, I know what I will be busy doing all winter!
Let's talk vocabulary first, there are two MAIN types of soap making:
COLD PROCESS: Cold Process soapmaking is the act of mixing fixed oils (common oils include Olive, Coconut and Palm) with an alkali (Sodium Hydroxide or Lye). The result is a chemical process called saponification, where the composition of the oils change with the help of the lye to create a bar of soap
HOT PROCESS: Hot Process soapmaking is very similar, however, it is called hot because during the saponification process heat is added, usually in the form of a crockpot or double broiler. There really is no one way that is better, it is simply a matter of preference and also based on the type of recipe you use.
If you feel still a little lost when looking at soap recipes, this Glossary of terms may prove helpful to you. (though it is admittedly pretty technical).
What do you even need to begin? Here is a great tutorial post from Oak Hill Homestead on just that.
LET'S Begin....
Starting here with a FREE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO SOAP MAKING
Oh, and just in case you need some supplies before you get started, here are a few to consider. (yes there are affiliate links in here)
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This is the first soap recipe I ever tried, it wasn't too bad at all, and it made some wonderfully creamy bars of soap that I shared as Christmas gifts. Coconut Oil Soap, so easy!
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Calendula is a beautiful flower often used in medicinals and soap making, check this one outNatural Calendula Soap |
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I know summer is winding to a close but if you are going to miss those fresh smells like I am, here is a great one to add to your repertoire Coconut Lime Soap... makes me think of the islands! |
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Anything coffee related makes me happy, here is a great one for Coffee Scrub Soap, exfoliate while you clean! |
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Charcoal and Peppermint? Yes please, and bonus, I love this company! |
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More Charcoal, this time in a facial soap. Charcoal & Clay. If you are not familiar with charcoal and its many benefits, read here. |
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Want some additional nutritive value? How about scrubbing down with this Orange Flax Seed soap. |
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Here is one for Oatmeal, Milk and Honey...sounds good enough to eat! bonus too, using a pringles can as a mold, genius! |
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Lemongrass is one of my favorite scents, I use it in my soaps and homemade deodorant, adding coconut milk never crossed my mind. Lemongrass & Coconut Milk Soap...yes! |
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I love goat's milk soaps because of their rich and creamy lather as well as fantastic skin soothing properties. Check out this great tutorial using frozen goats milk. |
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This would be a perfect pairing to the cranberry recipe above for a hostess basket at Thanksgiving...I can taste the Turkey dinner now. Pumpkin Soap sounds delish, I mean wonderful! |
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Who says dandelions are nothing but weeds? They have nutritional value, medicinal value, and obviously value to your skin as well! How about some Honey Dandelion Soap? |
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The fall lends itself well to apples, cinnamon and of course, cider and what better way than to make Apple Cider Soap? |
There, now that you have some amazing recipes to try, are you the scientific type, want to know more about the science behind the soap? Check this out:
The Science of Soap
The Science of Soap
If you thought that there were only a few ways to make soap, boy were you wrong, here is a post on 23 ways to make soap! Who knew???
If you are scenting your soaps, you should also check this out:
How to prevent the scent from fading in your soaps
How to prevent the scent from fading in your soaps
Still concerned about using lye? You really shouldn't be, but just in case, here is a post for you: How to make lye free soap
Lastly, here are some great free resources for printing labels for your newly found hobby. FREE FREE FREE, I love that word. Free Printable labels:
#1 Here
#2 Here
#3 Here
#4 Here
#1 Here
#2 Here
#3 Here
#4 Here
Do you feel sufficiently educated yet? Will you try at least one? Remember my post on the Lost Art of Homemaking Skills? Soapmaking was one of those skills. Also, if you have a recipe to share, leave me a comment with the link and maybe I will add it in too!
This post was shared on the following AWESOME blog hops!
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