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Natural Soap Colorants

There are many natural options for coloring your soap. Photo courtesy of Flickr user jules-stonesoup
There are many natural options for coloring your soap. Photo courtesy of Flickr user jules-stonesoup. There are many options when it comes to coloring your homemade soap. Artificial colorants are often more vibrant than natural colorants, but many people like the idea of using all-natural ingredients in their soap. This post focusses on natural soap colorants, but you can read more about the various soap colorant options in our comprehensive post by clicking here. There are also safety concerns Read more
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Synthetic Soap Colorant Options

Synthetic soap colorants can be used to great effect. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Horia Varlan
Synthetic soap colorants can be used to great effect. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Horia Varlan. Many soap makers prefer to use natural soap making colorants for their soaps, as opposed to synthetic ones. However, if the natural colorants don't work for you, or are too expensive or unpredictable, there are a variety of synthetic colorants that can be used. This post focusses on synthetic soap colorants, but you can read more about the various soap colorant options in our comprehensive post Read more
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Soap Making Method: Precautions For Working With Lye

Lye is an essential ingredient in soap making but it can be quite dangerous. Photo courtesy of Flickr user maoquai
Lye is an essential ingredient in soap making but it can be quite dangerous. Photo courtesy of Flickr user maoquai In Lye Soap Making Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH), commonly known as lye, are essential ingredients for making soap. However, lye in all its forms can be quite dangerous, and there are certain precautions which must be taken when working with lye. Lye is very dangerous if spilled. It is a corrosive material, and can burn skin, or any other surface it comes Read more
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The history of soap making: taking a closer look

photo courtesy of flickr user aussiegall
In today's germ conscious society, it's hard to imagine what life would be like without soap. In prehistoric times, before the invention of soap, people bathed themselves with only water, and used flowing water, such as rivers and streams, to clean their clothes. However, the practice of soap making was discovered almost three thousand years ago, and has become an indispensable part of modern civilized society. The earliest evidence of soap making is a soap-like material found in the bottoms Read more
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How To Make Soap At Home: Learning The Soap Making Methods

There are various methods which can be used to make soap at home. Photo courtesy of flickr user trenttsd
There are various methods which can be used to make soap at home. Photo courtesy of flickr user trenttsd. In our last post, we explained some of the basic foundations for soap making, including ingredients, equipment and method. We have previously gone into detail on soap making ingredients and soap making equipment, so now it is time to expand on the soap making process. There are various methods which can be used to make soap at home. The basic process for making bars of solid soap is Read more
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Soap Making Basics – How to Make Homemade Soap

Lye is one of the fundamental ingredients of soap making, so it's important to understand how to use it properly
Lye is one of the fundamental ingredients of soap making, so it's important to understand how to use it properly. Photo courtesy of flickr user maoquai. Soap making is not only a hobby, it can also be an addiction. You will no doubt be hooked once you start making that first batch of soap (here's our free suggested recipe). Whether you choose to make soap for personal use or for holiday gifts, it is always better to be knowledgeable of the general process. This post outlines the basics Read more
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Making Your Own Herbal Soap With A Free Soap Recipe!

Anyone can make herbal soap at home, with ingredients that are readily available in any grocery store or supermarket. Photo courtesy of flickr user nico paix.
Anyone can make herbal soap at home, with ingredients that are readily available in any grocery store or supermarket. Photo courtesy of flickr user nico paix. Herbal Soap Making has become very popular in recent times, although herbal soaps have been pushed out of the spotlight somewhat since the invention of synthetic soap making processes, which tend to yield a more consistent and cheaper product. However, there are still many reasons to make your own herbal soap. You have control over the Read more
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Soap Making For the Holidays, And A Free Recipe!

Photo courtesy of Flickr user theogeo Christmas is just around the corner! Have you found the perfect Christmas gifts yet? Why not make your own gift with elegant soaps your family and friends will love and cherish. With simple soap making recipe you can easily create elegant soaps. Here is a simple soap making recipe for those of you who haven't tried making soap yet. A lovely gift idea for friends and family would be to make your own homemade soap. A personalized gift that you made Read more
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Scenting Your Soap – Fragrance Oils And Essential Oils

Fragrance oils are a great way to add a personal touch to your homemade soap. Flickr Markhillary
Fragrance oils are a great way to add a personal touch to your homemade soap. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Markhillary. Scenting your homemade soaps is a great way to personalise your soaps, but with such a wide variety of options is a matter of personal preference. There are two varieties of oils that can be used to scent soap: fragrance oils, and essential oils. Either can be used, according to the preferences of the soap maker. This article will give an idea of the benefits of each type Read more
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Troubleshooting Your Soap Making Process

Making homemade soap is a challenging yet rewarding hobby. Flickr Slam Szapucki
Making homemade soap is a challenging yet rewarding hobby. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Slam Szapucki. Producing your own homemade soaps is a fantastic hobby with a great range of healthy benefits. As with anything however, the process is vulnerable to a number of difficulties, which can affect the outcome of the final product. Recently, a reader contacted us on Facebook with an issue on how to stop white bubbles appearing in her soap. Following on from this, we thought it would be a good Read more