New to Soap Making? Here's help!

Just this morning, I received an email from a customer that read:

"Started to place an order but do not know what to order. This is the first try. What all would I need to make soap? Realized that I should not order without some kind of direction."

I often forget that some of my customers are truly "green" about soap making and have absolutely no idea on how to get started (what I endearingly call "greenbies"). So, this blog post is for all of you greenbies. It's the same info sent to my customer. It provides you with the links to materials needed to get started. We include an instruction sheet with our soap bases which is ideal for beginner's. And, don't forget, we are only an email or phone call away. If you get stuck, we're here for yah'!

2-lb clear and 2-lb white soapbase

http://www.goplanetearth.com/bases_melt_pour_soap.html

Neon Color 6-pack
http://www.goplanetearth.com/colors.html)

2-3 fragrances of your choice
http://www.goplanetearth.com/fragrance.html

Soap molds, I recommend the Mold Market brand. They are durable and well-made. However, any of our molds will work.
http://www.goplanetearth.com/molds_sheets_goplanetearth.html

That's pretty much it. You can use a large glass measuring cup to melt your soap (the larger 4-6 cup size works best). Just cut the soap into smaller chunks and melt what you need. Color and scent as given in the directions included. Pour in molds, let set up, and pop out! Once you get the hang of it, you can try other advanced techniques, like our Soap Curl Kit, or Loaf Soap Kit.

NOTE: When coloring white and clear base you get two entirely different color shades. Example: You will never turn white soap red no matter how much red color you add. It will always be pink. Add red to clear base and BINGO BABY, you've got red. Using orange in white soap base gives a cantaloupe melon color, but in clear base you get a true orange.

Make sure you wrap your finished melt and pour soaps. If you don't, you may end up with what is called"glycerin dew" on the surface of the finished soaps. Glycerin dew is little beads of water that form as the glycerin extracts moisture from the air. It doesn't hurt the soap, but it isn't exactly pretty. What do I use to wrap soaps? Well, my favorite is the Saran brand of stretch wrap (the red box, not the blue box). Tear off or cut the size needed for your soap. Stretch wrap over the face of soap and pull edges towards the back. Tape or put a label over the stretched ends. The beauty of stretch wrap is you can still smell the scented soap.