Soap is a necessary household item, and making your own soap allows you to control the ingredients used. You can use fragrance oils, herbs, flowers, colorants, and exfoliants to create unique and personalized soaps. These can be great gifts sold as a side hustle or enjoyed for personal use. Here are seven soap making supplies every beginner should have:
1. Lye
Fats and oils cannot mix with water on their own because of their different chemical makeups. Lye, also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide, acts as a bridge between the oils and water to make soap. It breaks down the chemical bonds of fats and oils through a process called saponification, allowing it to mix with water and create soap. If you intend to make your products from scratch, lye is one of the soap making supplies to get. Handle it carefully because it’s a strong base and can cause burns and irritation if misused. Use protective eyewear, gloves, and an apron to protect yourself.
2. Soap Bases
As a beginner, you may not feel confident enough to handle lye, or you want an easier and safer soap making process. Soap bases are an ideal solution. These pre-made soaps only require melting and adding your desired additives before pouring them into molds. You can also choose between white, clear, or colored bases to achieve different results. Soap bases come in various sizes and types, like goat milk, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, oatmeal, hemp oil, and many others. You can experiment with different soap bases to find your preferred type.
3. Essential or Fragrance Oils
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts, while fragrance oils are synthetic scents that mimic natural ones. You can use either of these for scenting your soap. They come in different smells like lavender, peppermint, tea tree, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lemon. You can also combine different essential or fragrance oils to create unique scents. Understand how to calculate the right oil amount to prevent skin irritation or overpowering scents. Find a supplier that offers high-quality options with many oil varieties for the best results.
4. Colorants
Colorants help beautify your soap and make them more appealing. Mica colorants and coloring bars are two main types used for soap making. Mica colorants come in powder form and provide a natural shimmer to your soap. Coloring bars come in blocks; you melt them into your soap mixture to achieve the desired hue. Both options come in many shades, giving you a wide variety to choose from. Whether you want pastel, vibrant, or earthy tones, colorants can fulfill your needs.
5. Molds
Once your soap mixture is ready, you need molds to size and shape your soaps. You can find them in different shapes, including rectangles, circles, hearts, animals, and many others. Silicone molds are easy to use as they are flexible and allow you to remove the soap easily after hardening. Wooden or plastic molds require lining with parchment paper or wax for easy removal. Get different sizes and shapes for versatility.
6. Soap Making Books
Beginners need all the resources they can get to improve their craft, and soap making books are a great addition. These soap making supplies come in handy when you want to learn new techniques and recipes or troubleshoot problems. You can also find helpful tips and tricks from experienced authors. Look for books that offer step-by-step instructions, have detailed images or illustrations, and include a variety of recipes and techniques. As you gain experience, you can use these books for inspiration to create your own unique soap blends.
7. Additives
Additives add extra benefits to your soaps and make them more nourishing for the skin. You can use natural ingredients like herbs, flowers, or oats as additives in your soaps. For exfoliation, you can use different materials like poppy seeds, coffee grounds, etc. Other great additives include honey, coconut milk, clay, activated charcoal, and many others. Each additive offers unique benefits and can help your soap stand out.
Get Quality Soap Making Supplies
The quality of your soap making supplies can affect the outcome of your soaps. Invest in high-quality materials for safe and better results. Find a reputable supplier that offers a wide range of products to meet your needs. With the right supplies and knowledge, you can create beautiful and nourishing soaps that you and others will love.
