Today I will show you how to make these luxurious soaps at home with a melt-and-pour soap base. They do not contain preservatives and have wonderful moisturising and soothing properties. I love creating these gorgeous soaps as much as I love cooking. They make pretty little gifts for family and friends.

WHAT IS MELT AND POUR SOAP BASE?

Melt-and-pour soap base is a ready-to-use soap base that has undergone a complete saponification process. Saponification is the chemical reaction that makes lye safe to use on the skin, and the process usually takes 4-5 weeks. You can use melt-and-pour soaps straight away because they do not need curing.

All melt-and-pour soap bases consist typically of coconut oil, palm oil, safflower or olive oil, glycerin, water, and sodium hydroxide (lye). 

Soap bases are widely available online. Using organic SLS and SLES-free soap base reduces the risk of allergic reactions from the soap.

There are three colours of melt-and-pour soap base – clear, translucent and white.

However, the soap base can sometimes be creamy, which may indicate that it contains lye, is a combination of different M&P soap bases, or has added extra carrier oils.

A clear soap base is usually made with propylene glycol and the white opaque soap base is made with zinc oxide. Without these two ingredients, the soap base will appear translucent.

DO MELT AND POUR SOAP SWEAT?

All melt-and-pour soap bases sweat in a humid environment because they are rich in glycerin. That is why you must always keep your soap in airtight containers.

VARIATION OF INGREDIENTS:

You can add a variety of products to melt and pour soap base, to enrich and make your soaps more luxurious:

ADDING EXTRA PLANT OILS TO THE SOAPS:

Adding natural plant oils can make the soap richer and beneficial to different types of skin. Here are some examples:

1. Argon oil:

A plant oil, rich in essential fatty acids, omega 6, vitamin E and antioxidants. Aragon oil has exceptional repairing properties because it contributes to the regeneration of dermal tissues. It has a hydrating action, acts against hair loss and prevents the appearance of wrinkles and lines.

2. Coconut oil:

Rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and saturated fats. Products with coconut oil are suitable for people with acne and skin problems due to their anti-inflammatory and hypoallergenic properties.

3. Jojoba oil:

Promotes collagen synthesis and has anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties. It also helps to control sebum production in human cells.

4. Hemp seed oil :

The fatty acids in the hemp seed oil are essential in maintaining moisture in the skin. Hemp soaps create an excellent lather.

These are only a few of the popular plant oils used in soap making. The list is very long – olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil, shea butter, and many more.

USE OF NATURAL ESSENCE OR PERFUME IN YOUR LUXURIOUS SOUPS.

Adding natural essences and perfumes will make your soap smell nice.

USE COLOURANTS & DYES IN YOUR SOAPS.

Adding colour to your soap is fun and will make your soap more interesting. Liquid soap colourants are available on Amazon and are the easiest to use, as they do not normally leave sediment. 

If you use cosmetic grade powders, make sure they are dissolved well in a cup of glycerin, distilled water or melted base, before you add them to the soap.

TYPES OF DYES IN SOAP MAKING:

There are 3 main types of dyes used in the soap-making process:

1. FD&C colourants are synthetically produced dyes. They are approved for food and cosmetics and come in a wide range of colours. FD&C colourants are available in liquid and powdered form and are used commonly in melt and pour soaps.  

2. Soap-making pigments: they consist of oxides and ultramarines. They are quite stable when it comes to soap making and are ideal for almost any soap-making process, including the hot process, cold process and melt and pour.

3. Cosmetic micas can be used as dyes in the soap-making process. Mica colourants have a glittering effect when they are subjected to appropriate lighting. Their glitter is best noticed in soaps with a clear melt-and-pour base. Although micas are available in a variety of colours, they are not entirely natural.  

OTHER WAYS TO ADD COLOUR TO YOUR LUXURIOUS SOAPS:

Many natural colourants can be used to add colour to soap. Adding ground coffee to the soap will result in the exfoliating properties of the soup, but it will also give a pretty brown colour to the soap. Spices are great to use for adding colour to soap. Paprika gives a salmon hue, crushed basil adds a soft green with speckles of green, and a pinch of turmeric creates a muted yellow. Some soap-makers also use scrapings of crayons to add colour to soap. 

WHAT ADDITIVES TO ADD TO YOUR SOUPS?

That will depend on the amount of soap base you are using. Here are some guidelines.

ADDING SCENT TO YOUR LUXURIOUS SOAPS.

Depending on how strong you like the scented soap to be, a general rule of thumb or guideline is roughly 1 teaspoon (or more) per pound of soap. If using essential oils or fragrance oils – the strength of the scents varies from oil to oil. Try starting with 1 teaspoon per pound of soap base and work your way up.

ADDING OPTIONAL CARRIER OILS, LIQUIDS OR FATS TO YOUR SOAP.

When using carrier oils or liquids, the general rule is 1 – 2 teaspoons of optional carrier oils (cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba, hemp oil, vitamin E, honey, almond oil, etc.) or 1 teaspoon of any liquid (coffees, cream, milk, herbal teas, etc.) to a pound of soup base. 

ADDING COLOUR TO YOUR LUXURIOUS SOAPS.

If you are using cosmetic powder for colouring the soap, mix 1 teaspoon of powder with 1 tablespoon of glycerin or 3 teaspoons of the liquid soap in a small bowl. Add ¼ teaspoon of dispersed colour to the melted soap and check the result. Continue adding small amounts of dispersed colour until you get a colour you like.

TOOLS YOU NEED TO MAKE LUXURIOUS SOAP:

To melt the soap base, you can use either an old crockpot or a microwave-safe bowl and a microwave.

A list of tools needed for the job:

• Spoons or spatulas for mixing ( 1 large one and 1 small one)
• A small bowl or cup to mix the colourant
• Spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol
• Measuring spoons
• Moulds for making soap
• Soap cutter 
• Measuring jag
• A larger bowl ( if you are melting the base in the microwave)

HOW TO MAKE LUXURIOUS SOAPS AT HOME?

Cut the melt and pour the base into small pieces, it will melt faster. 

USING A MICROWAVE TO MELT THE SOAP BASE

Place your soap pieces in a bowl in the microwave and heat for 45 seconds. Stir your soap. Continue melting your soap in 15-second intervals, stirring in between each time, until your soap base is completely melted. Then add the solid oils and mix with the soap. They will melt in the hot soap base almost immediately. 

USING A CROCKPOT TO MELT THE SOAP BASE

Place the soap base pieces in the crackpot and leave the soap to melt completely, which may take up to an hour. Add the solid oils to the crockpot. Stir the ingredients gently when melted. Tip: Do not stir the soap too often because more bubbles form every time you stir.

Add as much as needed colourant to achieve the desired colour. Add the fragrance. Stir gently.

Pour the soap into individual moulds or in a soap loaf mould. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to remove bubbles.

If you are using dry petals, wait until the soap forms a thin skin on the top. Sprinkle the petals on top of the soap in the mould. Push the dry petals gently through the formed skin on the liquid soap to make sure their base is inside the soap. That will ensure the petals are attached to the soap later. 

Leave the soap to cool for at least two hours. When the soap is hard, take it out of the moulds. 

If you are using a loaf mould, cut the loaf into individual soaps. You can also use all kinds of moulds for making soap. You can use the soaps straight away now.