Soap Making Methods

Aromatherapy, being one of the oldest and most unique approaches to treating diseases had experienced incessant growth of demands in the market over the years. Now that more and more patrons are hooked to the holistic and eclectic approaches to attaining good health, aromatherapy is growing in popularity and gaining fans worldwide.

Soap making, is now one of the many facets of aromatherapy. Many homemakers are now learning the different methods of soap which are melt and pour, cold process, and hot process. As in any soap making methods, a soap-making project will require the use of goggles and gloves for safety purposes. Double boiler is must because it can prevent the fire from getting in contact with the fats. If possible an electric generated stove should be used again for precautionary measures.

Cold Process

The cold process soap making method, which is more popularly known as CP among soapers, is done through combining the fats and sodium hydroxide or the lye. There are different types fats that can be used like beef tallow, hemp oil, vegetable oil, and olive oil. The olive oil is perhaps the most expensive among the fats and oils that can be used in any soap making method.

According to soap makers, the cold process soap making method is both a science and art rolled into one. Science because to a certain extent saponification, process that makes the mixture turn into soap still takes place after several days. It is also an Art because the soap makers can infuse their own artistry as with the choice of different scents, essential oils, colors, and the shape of the finished products. Cold process soap making recipes are available online like the From Nature With Love Company.

Rebatching

Rebatching, a method of making soap is more generally considered under the cold process method. In rebatching, unused soaps, which can be a combination of any, are grated or shredded and melted. Choices of fragrant oils and soap coloring are added to make a new finished product. The finished products can be placed in a freezer to let take its own shape. Once the soap has compacted it is taken out from the freezer and then let it stay for how many days before it is used.

Melt And Pour

The other soap making process is the melt and pour method, which is also one of the most popular and perhaps easy to follow too. In the melt and pour soap making method, which is also known as soap casting, is more generally used in glycerin soap making. A clear bar of soap that can be bought in huge block is cut into halves and is melted down. Once the bar soap is thoroughly melted, a choice of essential oil with fragrance and soap coloring are added and then mixed. The new mixture is then poured into a soap mold and let it stay for how many hours before the soap is taken from the mold.

The melt and pour method like the cold process method needs careful steps in making sure that the necessary safety measures are followed. Soap making can be enjoyed by the whole family but care and safely measures must be taken. Remember this activity is fun and can also be done by children, but with the supervision of adults. Melt and pour soap making recipes are available in Great Candle and Teach Soap.

Another soap making method is the hot process, which as the name suggest could be the complete opposite of the cold process. This method, like the other methods is easy to do, and perhaps the easiest. In this method all the necessary ingredients like the lye, fats, fragrant oils, colorants are mixed together over a heat source. Once the water content has totally evaporated, the mixture is taken from the heat to settle down after two days the most. The soap should have been ready for use by then.

Soap making is really easy. Just get the soap making recipe and the kind of method that you want and you’re on your way to a wonderful and fulfilling activity.