[ecstasia]

I'm a soapmaker and I was wondering if there were any others that made soap as well. I was thinking we could share ideas and even pics of our work.

I've been making soap for about 1 year now. I find it really relaxing. I usually make glycerin melt and pour soaps but make them so wondeful. I get tons of compliments. I specialize in clay and herbal soaps. I eventually want to make cold process soap but I'm a klutz so the lye scares me.

-- Lissi

[Little_Lisa]

I think that's awesome that you make your own soap! I have never done anything like that but would be interested in learning since all I use is natural soap.

[ecstasia]

Well I'm more than willing to share what I know =) Melt and Pour is the easiest. You purchase a glycerin base (and there are different types) and then you add all sorts of things to make it better. Herbs, colors, scents, glitter, etc. Then you place it all in a mold and wait til it hardens.

Cold Process is done from scratch. Lye is required. It's the chemical reaction that makes soap. I really want to do this, but as I said before I'm such a klutz that's I'm a bit paranoid. There's also Oven Hot Process which is made using the oven (it's also from scratch).

Anyway, feel free to ask any questions that you may have. I'll do my best to answer or point you in the right direction.

I also make bath salts, bath teas and roll-on perfumes.

-- Lissi

[Nox]

Soap making is fun. Basically, you can do a simple sopanification reaction with something hydrophobic and hydrophilic. I like to use orange oil, tea tree oil, and jasmine tea.

[Aquilah]

Making your own soap does sound like fun! Don't they have kits for doing that now?

[darkswan]

I've been making soap for about 12 years now. Primarily I make cold process soap. It's a very addicting hobby. I've done Melt and Pour before, but I'm really picky about the bases I use. Too many of them have harsh detergents and ingredients that can cause reactions in sensitive individuals. I prefer the SFIC bases since they are all natural and have fewer additives. They are a bit more tricky to work with.

[ecstasia]

Originally Posted by Aquilah

Making your own soap does sound like fun! Don't they have kits for doing that now?

Yes, but as darkswan said, many of the bases do have harsh detergents. I'm very picky about my bases as well and only purchase from reputable sellers who are upfront about what they use. I also go by reviews I've heard on the bases. I can't use the one's from Michael's and similar kits because I had a bad reaction to those bases and I do not have sensitive skin.

-- Lissi

[linda46125]

this sounds cool, where can i learn about it and get all the materials? it would be nice to make for gifts at christmas.