Things You'll Need:
- Recipe
- Ingredients
- Molds
- Packaging
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Step 1
Choose your soap-making recipe by looking online. There are numerous recipes available for both lye and non-lye soap and the equipment you need depends on the recipe you choose. Try looking at the recipe on the Italian Handmade Soap website or Ziggurat.org (see Resources below).
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Step 2
Decide whether you will use animal fats or natural oils to create the creaminess of your soap. Olive oil and canola oil create moisturize and soaps made with these oils can be used by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
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Step 3
Determine what additives you will use to enhance the basic recipe, realizing that different ingredients create different kinds of soap. Coconut oil will make soap harder whereas buttermilk will create a great lather.
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Step 4
Consider extra ingredients to enhance the fragrance or moisture content of the finished soap. Cocoa butter adds moisture, rose petals enhance fragrance and oatmeal is great for exfoliating the skin.
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Step 5
Pick the final form of your soap by choosing the shape of your molds. Bar soaps require only the basic rectangular mold but smaller decorative soaps offer a range of choices.
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Step 6
Think about packaging the soap in plastic, paper, wax paper or fabric and add this to your list.
