How to Make Natural or Vegetable Glycerine Soaps

Making vegetable glycerin soaps is a fun and easy way to keep your family clean without exposing them to the harmful chemical ingredients found in commercial soaps. While cold-pressed soaps are complicated to make, glycerin soaps are very easy and do not require any caustic ingredients, like lye. Because of this, handmade glycerin soaps are gentle and soothing to the skin. Since making glycerin soaps is so easy, you can clean your whole family with your natural, handmade glycerin soaps, or give them away as gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 16 oz. glycerin base
• glass measuring cup
• 1/4 ounce fragrance or essential oil
• 1 tsp dried flower blossoms
• soap molds
• double boiler
• empty coffee can
• natural pigment

1. Melt the glycerin. Place the glycerin into a clean, empty coffee can, and put the coffee can into the top part of a double boiler. Pour water halfway up the bottom portion of the double boiler, and place the top part into the bottom. Put the entire container onto the stove top. Heat the double boiler over medium-high heat, heating it slowly so that the glycerin melts completely, yet does not scorch. Stir the glycerin constantly until the solid glycerin turns into a clear, liquid form.

2. Add the fragrance, flowers, and coloring. Once the glycerin has melted, you can add the extra ingredients to customize your natural soap. This can include an essential oil, dried flower blossoms, such as lavender or chamomile, or natural mineral pigments that turn the soap a beautiful color.You can find essential oils, dried flower blossoms and natural mineral pigments at any crafts supply store, or through an online soap-making company. Each of these items are highly concentrated, so a small amount will go a long way. Add the chosen ingredients and mix well.

3. Pour the soap into the molds. You can use individual molds that have a design on one side, or a long, brick mold that will allow you to cut out bars of soap once the mixture cools. Pour the glycerin soap mixture into the molds carefully to avoid burns. Place the molds in an open area so they can cool down completely. Once cool, your handmade glycerin soap is ready to use.

References

• Glycerin Soap Recipe
• Glycerin Base