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1) Melt the soap over a double boiler. Keep it covered with a lid so as to avoid loss of moisture. Bulk soap usually has around 12%-13% water in it, and the process of melting evaporates that water out. If you were to melt the soap, let it harden, remelt it, let it harden again, and so on, eventually the soap would loose its moisture become flaky or waxy.  Some people use a microwave with success.  The trick is to not let the soap get too hot.  (If you don't have an "official" double boiler, just create one by putting some forks in the bottom of a big pot, filling it part way with water, and then setting a smaller pot inside).

Tip: To avoid excess bubbles in your soap, don't stir it like crazy, just lift the lid and nudge it once or twice during the melting process. 

2) Add color. You can use food color, but only for lighter shades.  Too much food color results in a soap which will stain your hands or washcloth.  We sell many varieties of colors -- powders, nuggets and gels.   Visit our Supplies page for detailed information on these products.  Other options: spices like turmeric (yellow) or paprika (pink).

Tip: When you add a powdered or ground colorant, think of it like making gravy. Don't add it directly to the entire batch of soap or you will get clumps of color. Rather, separate a small amount of soap out into a dish, add the colorant until it is like a paste, and then stir this paste back into the main soap pot.

3) Add scents. Because you are working with pre-made bulk soap, you can scent it with just about anything. Your favorite perfume, for example, or a pure essential oil.  You can visit our Supplies page to view our scents for sale.  How much to add depends on your preference. We recommend about a tablespoon per pound of soap.

Tip: The color of your scent will effect the color of your soap. A clear essential oil like lavender will not color the soap. A yellow oil like lemon will give a yellow hue.

4) Add other additives. You can customize your soap with small amounts of skin-loving ingredients such as almond oil, aloe vera and vitamin E.

Tip: As with scents, your additive will effect the final appearance of the bar in terms of clarity and color.

5) Pour into molds. You can use many things for molds. Cookie cutters, candy molds, Tupperware, yogurt containers, PVC pipe. Visit our Supplies pages for a variety of formal "soap molds".  Once you pour the soap into the mold, air bubbles will tend to rise to the top.  You can overpour and then shave the aerated surface off (keep these shavings to melt down for another bar!).  Or, what we like to do is have a spritzer of rubbing alcohol which we immediately spray on freshly poured soap.   Bubbles instantly disappear.  If you have any trouble releasing the soap from the mold, you can put the mold and soap into the freezer, take it out a half an hour later, let it set on your counter for a while until you see water beading up on the mold. Then pop the soap out. The beads of water help release the soap.   

Tip: If you are using a mold that's open on top and bottom (like a cookie cutter), you will need to "seal the edges" so the liquid soap doesn't run out of the mold. One technique is to take a plate, pour a little soap on it (about 1/16th inch thick) and place the mold into the soap. Let this soap seal harden before you pour your liquid soap into the mold.

6) Use and enjoy. Your soap is ready to use as soon as it hardens. To speed up the process, stick it in the freezer.  If you want to sell your soap, you will have to wrap and label it. Because your soap is high in emollient glycerin, it is best to wrap it in plastic wrap (like saran wrap). 

Now that you have the basics down, click here to go to the more Melt and Pour advanced tips.