HOW TO MAKE LUXURIOUS SOAPS
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. You can visit our shop to check what soaps we have available there, or try to make them yourself with our instructions.
WHAT IS MELT AND POUR SOAP BASE?
Melt and pour soap base is a ready-to-use soap base that has been through 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 come in a creamy colour, which may indicate that the base 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 with zinc oxide. Without these two ingredients, the soap base will appear translucent.
DO MELT AND POUR SOAPS 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, in order 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 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.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
featured AUTHENTIC EASTER RECIPES FROM THE BALKAN CUISINES:
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Greek Easter Koulourakia Cookies
Equipment
- Baking sheet or tray
- Parchment paper
- A stand mixer or a hand mixer
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 -4 cups plain flour
- 11/2 teaspoon baking ammonia or baking powder
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 medium-size orange zest and juice
- 1/2 cup baking or unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon ouzo or brandy
- sesame seeds for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F.
- Grate the zest of one orange and squeeze the juice into a bowl.
- Place the sugar and the orange zest in the mixer bowl. Rub the orange zest and the sugar with your fingers until the sugar absorbs the essential oil of the orange zest. It will become orange in colour and will have a fantastic orange scent.
- Cut the soft butter into small pieces. Add it to the bowl with the sugar and whisk with the paddle attachment on your mixer for 2-3 minutes at low speed. Scrape the walls of the mixer dish with a spatula and continue whisking the butter and the sugar for another 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy.
- Separate the yolk from one of the eggs and place it in a small bowl to make the yolk wash with it. Add the two eggs and the leftover egg white to the bowl with the butter mixture. Whisk with your mixer at low speed until the ingredients are combined and the mixture is light in texture.
- Add the milk, orange juice, vanilla and brandy or ouzo. Continue whisking until the liquids are blended and the mixture curdles.
- Stir the flour and the baking powder to combine.
- Gradually add 3 1/2 cups of flour to the mixer bowl while mixing the mixture at low speed. You will see a sticky dough forming. Replace the attachment on your mixer with the kneading attachment and continue kneading the dough with it. Add small quantities of flour and knead until the dough is no longer sticking to the walls of the mixer bowl. Take the silky dough out of the mixer bowl and knead it by hand for a few minutes to ensure it has the right consistency. The dough must be soft, elastic and light.
- Use a scale and cut the dough into 25g pieces, or use an ice cream scoop to portion the dough. Roll the piece of dough between your palms to shape into a ball, then pull and roll the ball into a long rope. Cut 1/3 off the dough rope, place the longer piece horizontally on your working surface, and position the top end of the shorter dough piece in the middle of the long horizontal dough rope to touch. Take the left end of the horizontal dough rope and pull it over the top of the vertical rope. Then, place the right end of the horizontal dough rope on top of the folded dough pieces to form a braid. Continue to weave the dough until the braid is completed. Place the ready dough braids on a lined baking tray about an inch apart to allow room for them to rise.
- Prepare a yolk wash and brush the braids with it. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
- Bake the cookies in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes or until they are golden in colour. Take the sheet with the cookies out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes, then transfer the cookies to a baking grid. Leave the cookies on the baking grid until they are completely cool.
- Store Koulourakia cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and consume them within two weeks. You can also store koulourakia in the freezer.
HOW TO MAKE LUXURIOUS SOAPS
Materials
- 1 kg organic melt and pour soap base (SLS and SLES free)
- 1 tablespoon organic cocunut butter
- 1 teaspoon argon oil
- 2 teaspoon essencial rose oil or rose perfume
- 1 bottle red soap colorant (use as much as needed to achieve the colour you want)
- Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle
Instructions
- Using a soap cutter or a sharp knife, cut the large chunk of melt and pour soap base into small cubes. Place the soap cubes in a crockpot or in a large glass bowl in the microwave. Melt the soap into liquid.
- Add the solid oils to the hot base and mix them with the hot soap base to melt. Add the liquid oils last. Remove the crockpot from the heat.
- Disperse the colourant in 2-3 tablespoons of melted soap or glycerin and add small amounts to the soap until you achieve the desired colour. Add the essence. Stir gently to mix well. Pour the soap into the mould/s.
- If you are decorating your soap with dry rose petals, wait until skin forms on top of the soap. Sprinkle the dry petals over the skin of the soup. Push them gently with the tip of your finger through the skin into the soup. If you do not do that the petals will not get attached to the soap and will fall when you take the soap out of the mould.
- When the soap is completely cold ( that will take at least 2 hours ), take it out of the mould/s. If you are using a loaf mould, cut the loaf into individual soaps.
