Soap Making Ingredients
Soap making ingredients are only limited by the number of different types of soap that you want to make. Most likely you are going to start with the basics if you are a beginner. Some of the basic supplies you will need are plastic gloves, wooden spoons, something to protect your eyes in case you are using lye and water. You will need some kind of mold to pour the soap into, but there are many things around your kitchen that you will be able to use. Just make sure they are not metal. Plastic containers work great.
Once you move away from basic recipes you’ll find that you want to get into using soap making ingredients such as essential oils. These are probably the most important ingredient that you will be using and it’s also the one you have to use with the most care. You will literally have hundreds to choose from and once you have become a bit more accomplished you will even start to mix different scents together.
One of the most common oils used for soap is olive oil. Using olive oil in soap gives it a moisturizing effect. Another oil choice that a number of soap makers use is coconut oil. If you want your soaps to have a lot of lather then coconut oil is what you need to choose. Another standard oil is almond oil. Almond oil for soap making is easy to use, great for soap moisturizing and absorbs well. Another favorite is canola oil. It can be used as a substitute for olive oil and also has moisturizing properties as well as producing a good lather.
Some other additives you might like to try are things such as aloe vera juice, beeswax and honey, clays, coffee, different fruits and vegetables as well as herbs and flowers.
Next you want to look at ways to color your soap. One of the most common things to use to color your soap is to use crayons. You do have to be careful, as crayons contain wax and may not be the best choice for a beginner. Advanced soap makers will know how to use crayons as a color additive. Different herbs can be used for natural coloring. For instance if you use dill in your soap you will find that is will give you an excellent green hue. Other natural plants will also allow you to add color to your soap. Another thing to try is glycerin colorant chips. They are easy to find and usually have a very intense pigmentation.
Molds are you next most important soap making ingredient. Soap making molds are relatively inexpensive and if you do some searching around your house you can probably come up with many ideas right from your own home. They should be made of plastic but if you want more fancy molds most hobby stores or craft shops carry a large variety of plastic and wood molds. Some people like to use silicone molds and these too come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. You might also want to check out candle molds as they often make excellent molds for soaps. One last thought if you want to get very creative is to use polystyrene. It can be used for basic molds but you will be able to create patterns in the bottom of your mold to make your soap making more creative.
Lye for soap. Where to buy lye for soap has become a challenge since the standard Red Devil Lye was removed from grocery shelves. There are still a number of suppliers of lye and you will find a complete list in our Ebook, Soapmaking Made Easy. This is probably the one soap making ingredient that you must be very careful with. It can do a lot of damage and that is why it is recommended to use rubber gloves and eye protection.
All of the above should get you off to a good start in finding and using different soap making ingredients. We do go into it in more depth in our book, but you now have some of the basics to work with.
