This is not intended to be full instructions. Just a general idea supply list to see if you already have what you need at home before purchasing oils and lye.

Safety comes first:

·         Protective gloves, sleeves and eye wear. Look in your hardware drawer for the goggles and you may have gloves in a first aid kit! Or cleaning supplies.

·         Cover your work area in your kitchen with newspaper or paper towels in case of spills.

Mold:

·         Small cardboard box or large paper (no wax) cups for rounded soaps.

If using paper cups, fill the bottom 1 ½ inch to make a nice puck sized bar of soap. Once it hardens, just tear away the cup and your soap is unmolded.

Can also be a food container that is small in dimension.  You will line it with parchment or freezer paper so the soap can be unmolded.

Popular 2-3 lb molds are 10”l x 3.5”w x3” tall. You can just use what you have but make sure that it isn’t too big. You want your soaps to be at least an inch thick in depth.

Measuring:

·         Digital food scale. You need to have a fairly accurate way to measure out your lye, water and oils so that the chemistry is right. Do not guess using oz markings on measuring cups. It is NOT the same.

Mixing:

·         Plastic or stainless mixing bowls and spatulas for your lye water and soap batter. You can use wooden spoons also

·         Whisk or stick blender- Whisk can be used but takes a bit longer to reach trace. This is ok! Just keep stirring now and then until it starts reacting.

Do not use aluminum.

Cutting:

·         If you use a cardboard box, you will need a sharp knife to cut your soap into bars.

You will need your recipe or base oils, lye and distilled water.

Get your pre blended oils here: shopbeekeeperswife.com

Or you can use any tested and trusted recipe that you find.

Get your lye from any hardware store plumbing dept. Ace hardware carries it.

If you want to add any essential oils or fragrance, you can safely do that but be sure and use soap safe fragrances and do NOT use food extracts. Those are not the same and not safe for soap making.

Most of all, have fun!