Soap Making
Melt & Pour
This method is considered the easiest of the four while being very similar to the Re-batch method. Instead of making the soap base from scratch you will purchase a large quantity of unscented soap base and melt it down to add your own scents, lotions, and dyes. Then pouring it into a mold allowing the base to cool back into bar form. Click the picture to the right for easy to understand written instructions from CandleScience.com
Cold Process
This is a more advanced process of making soap. It includes the making of the base and then adding fragrances, additives, and colors all during this one process while using lower temperatures than the hot process. You will be combining fats or oils (animal or plant based) with sodium hydroxide lye then blending to create the base. This treatment causes a chemical reaction called saponification. It usually takes 4 - 6 weeks for full saponification to occur. So it is suggested to wait that time until using your soap. It is important to weigh all your ingredients to the specific weights required. There are many lye per fat calculators on the web and here is a link to the one I use: Lye Calculator. Click the picture to the left for full beginners guide on how to start.
Hot Process
Also a more advanced process. Hot process soaps are made using a method that involves making soap from scratch by combining a lye mixture with oils and/or fats. The soap mixture is heated to speed up the saponification process. The application of heat means hot process soap bars are ready to use sooner. You should be able to use the bars after a 24 hr. cooling period although some people like to wait at least one week. It is important to weigh all your ingredients to the specific weights required. There are many lye per fat calculators on the web and here is a link to the one I use: Lye Calculator. Click the picture to the right for full beginners guide on how to start.