How To Make Glycerin Soap 11 Steps With Pictures

Essential oils. Craft stores sell essential oils meant for use in glycerin soap. You’ll only need a few drops to scent an entire batch of soap, so you can buy a small bottle. Choose lemon verbena oil, rose oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, or another oil you’d like to use to scent your soap. Soap molds. [2] X Research source Craft stores sell many different types of molds, ranging from very small to very large in size. Be sure to get a type of mold that is usable for glycerin soap, which will pop right out of the mold as soon as it has set. Rubbing alcohol. If you don’t already have some in your medicine cabinet, pick up a bottle at the drugstore. Pour some into a clean spray bottle; you’ll need it to remove bubbles from the glycerin before it sets.

If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make one. Find two pots, a large one and a smaller one that fits inside. [3] X Research source Fill the larger pot with a few inches of water. Set the smaller pot inside the larger pot so that it floats on the water. Place the pots on a burner over medium heat. Put the glycerin chunks into the dry, smaller pot and allow them to melt. You can also melt the glycerin in the microwave. Place the chunks in a microwave safe bowl and heat them in 30 second increments until they are entirely melted. [4] X Research source You can melt the entire block of glycerin or just cut off a little at a time until you’ve melted an amount that seems suitable for your soap-making project. [5] X Research source The finished soaps will have the same mass and volume as the glycerin chunks, they’ll just be reformed into pretty shapes.

If the soap is tricky to pour using your double boiler, use a funnel to pour it into a bottle or pitcher with a spout, then transfer the liquid to the soap molds. You’ll have to do this quickly, though, so the soap doesn’t get too cool before it makes it to the molds. If necessary, reheat the soap before you pour it. Heat it back up in the double boiler or place it in the microwave for a few more short bursts of heat to make it easier to pour.

Tap the back of the mold gently if the soap does not come out right away. Store the soaps in an air-tight container until you are ready to use them.

Get creative with the material you use for your rope. Rather than dipping a straight length of rope into the glycerin, try tying it into a loop or a knot to create soap in different shapes. Hang the rope from your shower head so it’s handy to use each time you take a shower. [8] X Research source

Make floral soaps by suspending dried flower petals in the liquid glycerin before you pour it into the molds. Make birthday party soaps by filling the molds halfway and then inserting a small toy, like a tiny plastic animal or other gadget, in the center of the soap. Pour more liquid soap over the toy to cover it completely. Make baby shower soaps by pouring soap into the molds and then inserting small plastic rattles or other baby items into the soap.

Ice cube trays make excellent soap molds. Use simple square trays or buy trays with interesting shapes, like fish, shells or skulls. To make larger soaps, use small plastic bowls or cups. You could also use a recycled plastic container, like a yogurt cup.