How to Make Homemade Bars of Soap

Make your own homemade soap bars at home with glycerin.

Instead of purchasing soap at the store, you can make your own glycerin soap bars at home. Making your own glycerin soaps will save you money, and you will not be using commercial soaps that contain chemicals that irritate sensitive skin. Glycerin soap allows the skin to absorb moisture so that it can remain soft. Glycerin soap also does not leave behind a film on your skin because it dissolves easily in water.

Things You'll Need

• 2 lbs. glycerin soap base
• Serrated knife
• Double boiler
• Digital thermometer
• Essential oil
• Soap dye
• Rubbing alcohol
• 9- by 11-inch glass pan
• Wax paper

Instructions

1. Cut 2 lbs. of glycerin into ½-inch pieces with a serrated knife.

2. Place the glycerin pieces into the top half of a double boiler. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with water. Place the double boiler over medium-high heat.

3. Heat the glycerin soap until it melts and reaches a temperature of 155 degrees F. Stir the soap occasionally while it melts, but do not stir too much to prevent air bubbles.

4. Add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil to the soap to give it a scent. You can also add a liquid soap dye to the soap to give it some color, but only use dyes approved for soapmaking. Stir the oil and soap dye to blend it well into the melted glycerin.

5. Spray rubbing alcohol into a 9- by 11-inch glass pan. This will help to reduce bubbles.

6. Pour the glycerin soap into the pan. Spray the top of the soap with rubbing alcohol to prevent any bubbles.

7. Allow the soap to cool and harden for 24 hours. Flip the container over onto wax paper to release the soap from the container. If it does not come out of the container, place it in the freezer for 10 minutes to shrink the glycerin.

8. Cut the glycerin into even soap bars with a knife. You can make even and straight lines by dipping the knife into hot water.

9. Allow the soap to cure on a wire rack for two to three days to ensure that it dries completely.

References

• Cranberry Lane: Natural Soap Making
• Target Women: Handmade Soap
• Miller Soap: Soapmaking: Most Frequently Asked Questions