How to Make Hand Made Soap: A Complete Guide for Beginners
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There’s something deeply satisfying about learning how to make hand made soap from scratch. Not only is it a fun and creative craft, but it also allows you to control exactly what ingredients go into your skincare products—perfect for those who value natural, eco-friendly alternatives to commercial soaps.
In this ultimate guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about making handmade soap, including ingredients, methods, tips, and even how you can draw inspiration from luxury soaps like those from the Highland Soap Company.
Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your skills, this guide will help you understand how to create beautiful, fragrant, and nourishing bars of soap right in your kitchen.
Why Make Handmade Soap?
Before we dive into the details of how to make hand made soap, let’s explore why it’s worth doing:
- Natural ingredients: Commercial soaps often contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives. Handmade soap allows you to choose gentle, skin-loving ingredients.
- Sustainability: By making your own soap, you can reduce plastic waste and minimise your carbon footprint.
- Customisation: Pick your favourite scents, colours, and textures. You can even design soaps for different skin types.
- Creativity & Gifting: Handmade soap is a great creative outlet and makes for thoughtful gifts.
The Basic Science Behind Soap Making
Soap is made through a chemical reaction called saponification. This occurs when a fat or oil reacts with an alkali (usually sodium hydroxide, also known as lye). The result is soap and glycerin, a natural humectant that helps keep your skin moisturised.
Equipment You’ll Need
Making soap at home doesn’t require fancy tools. You’ll need:
- Stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic mixing bowls
- A digital kitchen scale
- Immersion blender (hand blender)
- Silicone soap moulds
- Measuring spoons
- Thermometer
- Spatula
- Safety gear: goggles, gloves, long sleeves
Important: Always use dedicated equipment for soap making—don’t reuse them for cooking afterward.
Key Ingredients
To learn how to make hand made soap, start with these essential ingredients:
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) – Necessary for saponification. Handle with care.
- Distilled Water – Regular tap water may contain minerals that affect the process.
- Oils & Butters – Common choices include:
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- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Shea butter
- Palm oil (sustainably sourced)
- Essential Oils or Natural Fragrances – For scent.
- Natural Colorants – Like clays, activated charcoal, turmeric, or mica powders.
- Botanicals & Exfoliants – Dried lavender, oats, coffee grounds, etc.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Hand Made Soap (Cold Process Method)
The cold process is the most popular method for beginners. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Prepare Your Work Area
Soap making can get messy and involves working with lye, so make sure your space is well-ventilated. Wear gloves and safety goggles, and keep pets and kids away.
Step 2: Measure Ingredients
Use a digital scale for accuracy. Measure oils, butters, water, and lye separately.
Step 3: Mix the Lye Solution
Warning: Always add lye to water, never water to lye—it can cause a dangerous reaction.
Slowly pour the lye into the water while stirring. It will heat up quickly. Set it aside to cool to about 100–110°F (38–43°C).
Step 4: Heat and Combine Oils
Gently heat your oils and butters until melted and mixed. Let them cool to the same temperature range as your lye solution.
Step 5: Combine Lye and Oils
Slowly pour the lye solution into the oils while using your immersion blender. Blend until you reach “trace”—when the mixture thickens and leaves a line when drizzled.
Step 6: Add Fragrance, Colour, and Additives
Once at trace, add your essential oils, natural colorants, and exfoliants or botanicals. Stir gently to combine.
Step 7: Pour into Moulds
Pour the mixture into your moulds, tap to remove air bubbles, and cover with a towel or lid.
Step 8: Cure the Soap
Let your soap harden for 24–48 hours, then remove it from the mould. Cut it into bars if necessary. Allow it to cure for 4–6 weeks in a cool, dry place. This lets excess water evaporate and completes saponification.
Inspiration from Highland Soap Company
If you want to skip the DIY route or look for inspiration on fragrance blends, textures, and presentation, the Highland Soap Company offers exquisite examples of handcrafted, organic soap. Here are three standout bars available at SOHO Brands:
Whisky & Honey Soap
Crafted with a unique blend of Scottish whisky and sweet honey, this luxurious soap has a warm, rich scent and deep moisturising qualities. It’s ideal for dry or mature skin types and gives a nod to traditional Scottish culture—perfect inspiration if you're creating a rustic, earthy bar.
Wild Scottish Raspberry Soap
This soap is bursting with sweet, fruity notes and the antioxidant benefits of raspberries. Its vibrant colour and scent are a reminder that soap can be both fun and functional. Try incorporating fruit purees or seed exfoliants to mimic this fresh, juicy bar.
Lemongrass & Ginger Soap
Zesty and energising, this blend is perfect for morning showers. Lemongrass essential oil is a natural astringent, while ginger adds warmth and a mild exfoliating quality. Consider replicating this invigorating combo in your homemade soaps.
Tips for Better Soap Making
Now that you understand how to make hand made soap, here are some expert tips to ensure success:
- Use a Lye Calculator: Always double-check your oil and lye ratios using online tools like SoapCalc or Bramble Berry’s lye calculator.
- Test Fragrance Compatibility: Not all essential oils behave well in cold process soap. Some may accelerate trace or discolour the soap.
- Avoid Overheating Oils: Let oils cool to below 120°F to prevent separation or overheating.
- Use Silicone Moulds: They're flexible and easy to unmould.
- Experiment with Layers and Swirls: Try different pouring techniques to create visually stunning soap designs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced soap makers run into issues. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Not Wearing Safety Gear: Lye burns are no joke.
- Incorrect Measurements: Always use a scale, not volume measurements.
- Rushing Trace: Blend slowly. Over-mixing can cause soap to seize.
- Uncured Soap Use: Never use cold process soap before the full curing period—it may still be caustic.
How to Store and Gift Handmade Soap
Once your soap has cured:
- Store it in a cool, dry, and dark place.
- Wrap it in wax paper, kraft paper, or eco-friendly packaging.
- Add labels detailing ingredients and scent for a professional touch.
- Consider using reusable tins or boxes for gifting.
Selling Your Handmade Soap
If you decide to turn your hobby into a business, here are a few tips:
- Follow local regulations for cosmetics production.
- Invest in branding and packaging that reflect your soap’s values.
- Consider selling on platforms like Etsy or local craft fairs.
- Use SEO-driven content marketing to build an audience (like this article!).
You can also consider becoming a stockist for established brands like Highland Soap Company to offer a wider variety to your customers. Explore our curated collection here.
Final Thoughts: Why Learn How to Make Hand Made Soap?
Learning how to make hand made soap is more than just a creative project—it's a meaningful step toward a more sustainable and intentional lifestyle. From choosing your own ingredients to experimenting with natural scents and colours, handmade soap empowers you to take control of what goes on your skin.
Whether you're inspired by the luxurious Whisky & Honey Soap, the fruity charm of Wild Scottish Raspberry, or the revitalising Lemongrass & Ginger, handmade soap offers endless possibilities.
So go ahead—gather your ingredients, get creative, and enjoy the process. You might just discover your new favourite hobby—or even a new business venture.
