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How to make Cold process soap-Beginner friendly
How to make cold process soap
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Monthly tips and resources to help you with your soap making journey.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Unknown
JANUARY 2025
Beat the Winter Dryness
Combat the harsh effects of winter on your skin by adding extra moisturizing ingredients to your soaps. Try incorporating natural humectants like honey or aloe vera gel to attract and retain moisture. For an even creamier bar, increase your superfat percentage slightly or add shea butter or cocoa butter to your recipe.
Pro Tip: Pair your January soaps with warm, comforting essential oils like lavender or sweet orange to create a cozy, skin-soothing experience perfect for the chilly season.
FEBRUARY 2025
Keep Your Butters from Seizing in Cold Weather! ❄️🧼
Winter’s chill can make oils and butters like cocoa butter and shea butter harden quickly, leading to a thicker-than-usual trace or even seizing in cold process soap. To keep your batter smooth and workable:
✔️ Pre-warm your oils & butters before mixing with lye water. A gentle warm bath or a quick zap in the microwave helps keep them fluid.
✔️ Soap at a slightly higher temperature (around 100-110°F) to prevent premature thickening.
✔️ Increase liquid oils slightly if your formula allows—this helps maintain fluidity in colder conditions.
MARCH 2025
How to Make Your Soap Smell Stronger & Last Longer 🌿✨
Want a stronger scent in your soap? Follow these tips:
- Use 0.5 - 1 oz of essential/fragrance oil per pound of oils
- Add scent at thin trace to avoid evaporation
- Anchor your scent with kaolin clay (1 tsp per pound of oils) to help it last longer!
APRIL 2025
Use honey sparingly and soap cool to prevent overheating.
Why: Honey is a natural humectant (it attracts moisture to the skin!)—but it's also full of natural sugars, which can cause your soap to heat up quickly, leading to a volcano or partial gel if you’re not careful.
How to use it:
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Use 1 teaspoon per pound of oils to start.
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Dilute it in a small amount of warm water or mix it into your oils before adding lye.
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Stick to lower temperatures (90–100°F) when soaping to keep things under control.
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If you're insulating your mold, go light or skip it to avoid overheating.
Want to get that lovely warm color from honey? Let it gel just slightly—but keep a close eye on it!
MAY 2025
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OCTOBER 2025