Soap makers of BYC!

[Peaches Lee]

I've just tooled around with melt and pour so far, but I do have a cold process kit waiting for me! I figured I should start with a kit to just get the hang of cold process. I'm really excited but a little nervous too.

I really do enjoy melt and pour. Especially when you can do see-through designs, swirls and vivid glittery pigments.

 

[kcan2]

From you soap-making vets to a newbie, where is a good place to start learning about how to make soap?

I'm most interested in making designer-type soaps as pictured here:

Any ideas on how you got started/and what kind of equipment is required for soap making?

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

Hi! I recommend having stainless steel pots with no aluminum, a food scale, a stick blender, and a stove available. If you want, you can start with melt and pour soap kits to start with. I’m sure Amazon has some good ones. Good luck!

 

[Duckduckchicken32]

I just made a bath of cold process coffee soap. We will see how it turns out! Coffee soaps always take a long time to get to a medium trace

 

[saysfaa]

Anne L Watson's books. I looked at a lot of books and websites and her's have been the most helpful by far.

 

[Peaches Lee]

From you soap-making vets to a newbie, where is a good place to start learning about how to make soap?

I'm most interested in making designer-type soaps as pictured here:
View attachment 3251937
Any ideas on how you got started/and what kind of equipment is required for soap making?

I've really enjoyed the Youtube channels of Royalty Soaps and Brambleberry. They're educational and just plain fun to watch!

 

[McChooky]

My favorite soap is a basic hot process lard soap using herbal tea or water. Its easy to make!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Any ideas on how you got started/and what kind of equipment is required for soap making?

I started out watching youtube videos and reading various tutorials, mostly Bramble Berry / Soap Queen (they're both from the same people). They also talk about the equipment and safety and such, and have several tutorials on how to make specific designs and different types of soaps as well!

For me, the first batch of cold process was definitely the hardest. I got everything together and ready, and then I put it off for a couple weeks because I was just so daunted by it all... but once you do it, it's really quite simple and a lot of fun! You can always start on melt and pour and work your way up, too, as Duckduckchicken pointed out! You can make some really beautiful designs with MP, just look at Peaches Lee's post at the top of the page!

 

[kcan2]

I just made a bath of cold process coffee soap. We will see how it turns out! Coffee soaps always take a long time to get to a medium trace

Coffee soap sounds so cool... I hope you share some pics of the finished product!
Many thanks to all for the soap making tips! I hope to give it a shot soon, after I have done some research using all the great recommendations! @Duckduckchicken32 @saysfaa @Peaches Lee @ChickensComeHome2Roost @pipdzipdnreadytogo

 

[kcan2]

Weird question - early May of this year I was out in the woods and found some bubbles forming at the base of this tree. Has anyone ever seen this happen before? Natural lye? It reminded me of soap making!