Soap Making

If you love the good things in life, you are sure to love good soap. Whatever your preference, there is nothing like the texture and fragrance of a hand-made soap to give that luxurious bathing experience. Did you know that you can begin to make your own soap at home for very little cost? It could be the start of a whole new washing experience!

Soap making is the everyday name for the chemical procedure of saponification. Soap is made using raw materials such as fats or oils and lye, though there are many variations possible in these basics. There are many soaps made nowadays using only natural or plant-based ingredients.

Soap making has been practised for millennia. Recipes from 2800BC have been found, although throughout much of history, soap was a privilege afforded to the more wealthy members of society. It was not until the 1800s in Europe when the mass production of soap really took off, that soap was freely available in some form to the common man on the street. There were, of course, always the special soaps, for those who could afford to have the best.

These days, we don’t have to look too hard to find a soap that suits our needs and our budget. If you visit markets, you will have seen the luscious soap stalls, enticing you with their mouth-watering scents and glorious colours. These are the sort of soaps that you could make yourself, at home. You could choose what ingredients you used, decide on the colour and the fragrance. It is not difficult if you spend a little bit of time and money to start off. It is a fun activity to do with your children, and provides endless present-making opportunities.

Go to your local craft store and look for soap making kits. These are often a great way to start and give you a taste for the craft. You might find out about classes here, or try your library for information about council-run courses. There are plenty of great books and websites with step-by-step instructions for you to follow, also look for craft publications in the newsagent.

Once you have got started, you can begin to improvise. Soaps can be made in different shaped moulds, using bands of contrasting colours. You can have lots of fun with children’s soaps, and you have the advantage of being the creator. In this way, you can screen the ingredients and tailor-make a soap to suit anyone with allergies.

Soap making is such a fun hobby that is gaining popularity, and we look forward to hearing from all the experienced soap makers out there with your tips and ideas. Please use this space as a forum to ask questions, we will do our best to keep up. Come back for more of the good clean fun that is soap making!