How to Make Glycerin Tea Soap
Melt and pour soap bases make soap-making fun for all ages. Melt the glycerin soap bases in the microwave, stir in your desired additives, and pour into a mold for setting. Teas make a wonderful natural additive. Try the loose leaf teas (or tea powders) of black tea, green tea, oolong tea, or rooibos tea to make glycerin tea soap.
Things You'll Need
- 1 lb. block glycerin melt-and-pour soap base, white
- Soap cutter
- Large measuring cup
- Microwave
- Fragrance oil (optional)
- Mica coloring powder (optional)
- Tea
- Soap molds
Instructions
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Cube the block of glycerin melt and pour base using the soap cutter. Put the cubes into a large, microwave-safe measuring cup. Place in microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds. Check to see if the cubes melted. If mostly melted, stir vigorously to help the few remaining cubes melt. If whole cubes remain, put back in microwave and cook in 10-second intervals, checking for total melt.
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Remove the melted soap from the microwave. Add in any fragrance oil, if desired. You only need a few small drops to scent a pound of base. Stir thoroughly.
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Stir in a small pinch of mica coloring powder, if desired. Combine thoroughly. Add more powder if you want a darker color. Keep in mind that the color of the tea you're going to add will change the color of lighter soaps.
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Stir in a pinch of tea. Combine and add a bit more tea, to your liking. Less is more when it comes to soap additives.
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Pour the still melted soap into your waiting soap molds. Allow to sit until the soap hardens. Remove the soaps from the mold. If the soaps seem stuck, place the molds in the freezer for half an hour and try again. They should pop right out.
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Tips & Warnings
If your soap starts to harden before you've finished stirring in additives, pop it back in the microwave for a quick burst of heat.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit soap image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
