Soap Making

Soap making is not at all a difficult process. Once one knows how to make soap, one only needs the correct ingredients. Of course, the technique is very important. This is because soap results from a specific interaction of chemicals. It is important to put the ingredients together in the correct amounts and in the right sequence. We can do this at home, since people had manufactured soap long before special machines for its manufacture came into being. There is evidence that the ancient Babylonians first made soap, using a combination of water cassia oil and alkali. The people of ancient Egypt used soap made from animal fats, vegetable oils and alkaline salts for bathing and for cleaning wool. Archeologists have discovered a full-fledged soap factory, complete with a fragrant inventory of ready soap, in the ruins of Pompeii. We have no record of what the ancients called these types of soaps. Pliny the Elder first mentioned it by name in his work Historia Naturalis. At the time of this historical author, natural philosopher and naval and military commander, soap containing animal fat and ashes was popular. Even the ancient Arabs used soap from various vegetable and aromatic oils.

The point is simply this - it is easy to make homemade soap, even without specialized equipment. One can make use the time-honored cold process, which does not require heating of the ingredients. Homemade soap makers using this process mix lye and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide with measured quantities of fats or oils. They 'personalize' their homemade soap by adding essential oils, herbs, and fragrances. They then allow the mixture to cool in molds overnight.

The hot process of homemade soap making entails boiling lye solution with fats and oils, stirring continuously. An infusion of salt then ensures that the soap component of this mixture solidifies. This produces usable high quality soap. A very popular method of homemade soap making is the 'melt and pour' system, in which one melts a ready soap mix and adds certain other ingredients according to requirement. The base mix is available in most handicraft goods outlets and is very cost-effective. It is easy to add beneficial and fragrant ingredients such as moisturizing oils, milk or spices. After melting the treated soap base in a microwave oven or a double boiler pan, one must cover the bowl to prevent the moisture from escaping. Then one can pour it into any chosen mold, which can even be ice-cube trays if noting else is available. One can buy various attractive homemade soap molds in arts and crafts stores, too.

There are various advantages to using homemade soap. Firstly, it is extremely cost-effective. Secondly, homemade soap is far more skin-friendly than industrial soap. This is because it has a higher fat content than industrially manufactured soap. This ensures that the skin does not dry out, as often happens with certain manufactured soaps. One can customize one's homemade soap by including emollients such as jojoba oil, shea butter or glycerin. Such soap is excellent for various dry skin disorders. One can add special ingredients that no commercially available soap contains. This is very useful when the treatment of a certain skin disorder calls for the application of special herbs.

Thirdly and importantly, it is an intensely interesting process, and it offers an enormous amount of satisfaction. It is therefore no wonder that an increasing number of people prefer to make their own homemade soap rather than buying it commercially.

Homemade Bubble Bath for Kids
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Homemade Baby Soap
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A Brief Soap History
When has soap been discovered and how back in history can we find proofs of its existence, see for yourself in the article below!

How to Make Soap on a Rope
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Goat Milk Soap Benefits
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Soap Making Business
Soap making is a simple business, which if you do everything right, may offer decent returns. Here is how you should go about soap making businesses.

Patchouli Soap
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Goat Milk Soap Recipe
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Melt and Pour Soap Recipes
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Making Natural Soap
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How to Make Soap at Home
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Homemade Soap Recipes
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Coconut Soap
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Lye Soap
With the festive season around the corner, you want to gift your loved ones something you have made yourself? Lye soap is what you have on your mind? I will say that is a great idea. It will be one of the best gift your loved ones will get.

Liquid Soap Recipe
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Bubble Soap Recipe
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Making Homemade Soap
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Foaming Hand Soap
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Acid in Soap
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Lye for Soap Making
Lye is one of the most important ingredients used for soap making. Hence, if you are interested in learning the process of soap making, it is important for you to understand what is lye and how it is used to make soap.

Making Your Own Soaps
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Homemade Dish Soap
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Handmade Soap Recipes
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How to Make Liquid Soap
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Shaving Soap Recipe
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Lye Soap Recipe
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Dead Sea Salt Soap
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Dead Sea Mud Soap
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Almond Oil Soap
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Handmade Soap Ingredients
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Handmade Soap Packaging
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Soap Making Process
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Easy Soap Making Recipes for Kids
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How to Make Homemade Soap
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Soap Making Molds
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Homemade Laundry Soap: How to Make Laundry Soap
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Ideas for Homemade Soap Additives
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Homemade Lye Soap Recipe: How to Make Lye Soap
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Homemade Soap Recipes: How to Make Homemade Soap
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Natural Soap
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Lather Up in Style With Your Own Custom-Made Soap
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