Essential oils and fragrance oils may be added for fragrance. Other additives such as nourishing vegetable oils, vegetable butters, colorants, herbs or clays may also be added for their nourishing or asthetic appeal. Melt and pour soap bases are available in transparent colors and also in opaque and clear varieties.
HOW TO USE MELT AND POUR SOAP
Begin by placing the chosen soap base on a clean cutting board and slicing the soap base into small chunks with the aid of a large, clean knife.
Next, place the chunks in a clean container that is heat-safe for use in a microwave or a double boiler. Heat the soap in short intervals of either 30 seconds or 1 minute at a time to prevent the base from overheating or boiling, stirring gently between intervals. Repeat this heating and stirring process until all the soap has liquified. For a two-pound brick of soap, the total melting time will take approximately 5 minutes. The final melted base will likely be more than 80 ᵒC (180 ᵒF) and thus must be handled with extra care.
Additives, such as scents, colors, and botanicals, can now be incorporated into the melted soap base (see chart below for suggested usage amounts). Again, it is important to stir them in gently to prevent excess bubbles, although these can be removed with a light spray of rubbing alcohol once the soap has been poured into the mold.
Once the desired additives have been thoroughly combined into the soap base, the mixture can be poured into silicone molds of personal preference. It is important to avoid using glass or metal molds, as these materials can make it difficult to remove the final products. After the mold has been filled, it can be left to begin cooling at room temperature.
Ideally, 4-6 hours will be enough for the soap in the molds to harden enough to be removed. If not, the molds can be placed in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to facilitate the hardening process, though this should be avoided if possible. Once unmolded, the soap bars will be ready to use. Any defects can be either smoothed down with a cloth or carefully and neatly sliced off with a knife. A large soap loaf can be further cut into smaller pieces by first turning the loaf onto its side – avoid cutting it from the top down – and using a large knife or soap cutter to slice the loaf vertically on its side.
Wrap the final Melt and Pour soap bars immediately in non-porous packaging, such as cling wrap/film. If a Glycerin soap bar is not wrapped, the soap will be susceptible to sweating and shrinkage.
Finally, before and after use in the shower, store Melt and Pour soaps in a cool, dry place.
Watch the video below to see how quickly and easily Melt and Pour soaps can be made:
HOW LONG DOES MELT AND POUR SOAP LAST?
Melt and Pour soaps will last approximately 4-6 weeks, depending on how often they are used and whether they are treated with the recommended suggestions for proper care; they should not remain exposed to air, as this will cause the water in the soap bar to continue evaporating, resulting in a shrunken or dissolving soap bar. For this reason, it is advisable to remove the soap from the shower after each use.
Guide to Melt & Pour Soap Making | Bramble Berry Basics of Soap Making
FAQ
What can I mix in melt and pour soap?
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ADDITIVE TYPE
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SUGGESTED USAGE AMOUNT
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Baking Soda
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N/A
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Humectants Raw Honey, Aloe Vera Gel
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½ teaspoon to 6 teaspoons
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Food Coloring
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N/A
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Vanilla Extract and Oils with Vanillin
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2% of formula
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What not to add to melt and pour soap?
What can I add into soap?
Do I need to add anything to melt and pour soap?
Can you add additional ingredients to a soap base?
Choosing unique, effective additives will set your handcrafted soaps apart. Crafter’s Choice Melt & Pour Soap Base accepts between 4% – 6% additional ingredients per one (1) ounce of soap. For example, if you have 2 pounds (32 oz) of soap base, you can add up to 2 oz of additional ingredients [2 oz is 6% of 32 oz].
What can I add to my soap?
You can also try bases with additives like shea butter, goat milk, or aloe vera. Find all the bases here, and learn more about them in this blog post. Fragrance: You can scent your soap with fragrance oils or essential oils. A general usage rate is about 0.3 oz. of scent per pound of soap.
What is MP soap base?
MP Soap Base stands for Melt and Pour Soap Base. This is a special type of soap that has been designed to be melted, crafted and formulated to accept water based additives. When it re-hardens it is ready to use. Some MP Soap Base formulas are all natural and meets the FDA and public definition of soap.
How much essential oil do you add to melt & pour soap?
Most melt and pour soap recipes use ~3% fragrance or essential oil, leaving room for 1-3% additional ingredients. Generally, you should add no more than 1% of each additional (non-fragrance/essential oil) ingredient. Our Tea Tree & Peppermint Melt and Pour Soap is made with awesome additives like tea tree essential oil and white kaolin clay.