BK Silicone Mold Blog

Cold Process Soap - Starting From Scratch If making melt and pour soap is akin to using a cake mix, "cold process" is making your cake from scratch. You control everything that goes into the pot, and you can make it as "natural" as you want. However, your setup is a little more complicated, and you’ll need to learn a few techniques of the craft first. To make cold process soap, you heat the oils in your soap pot until they’re approximately 100 degrees. Slowly add the lye-water mixture and blend the soap until it thickens to “trace”. After the mixture reaches trace, you add your fragrance, color, and additives and pour it into the mold. The raw soap will take about 24 hours to harden, and about four weeks to cure before it’s ready to use. To get started making cold process soap, you’ll need: A flat, uncluttered workspace with a heat source and access to water Some animal fats or vegetable oils A pitcher of lye-water A soap pot and some other easily found ...

Melt and Pour Soap Making melt pre-made blocks of soap and add your own fragrance Making soap with a "melt and pour" base is sort of like making a cake with a cake mix. What you lose in control of your ingredients and customization of your recipe, you make up for in safety, ease, and convenience. With melt and pour soap making, you buy pre-made blocks of uncolored, unscented soap “base” from a craft store or soap supplier. You melt the soap base in the microwave or a double boiler. When the soap is fully melted, you add your fragrance, color and/or additives. Put it in a mold, and voila, you’re done. The soap is ready to use as soon as it hardens. To get started making melt and pour soap you only need: A counter top or other clean workspace with a microwave or double boiler A heat resistant bowl for the microwave A couple of spoons or whisks Some melt and pour soap base A set of measuring spoons Fragrance, color, or additives, as desired Something to mold the...