.jpg)
Making your own soap provides a wide array of benefits. By controlling the ingredient list, you can avoid allergens and irritants, tailoring it toward your health needs. Homemade soap also contains glycerin, an emollient that attracts moisture to your skin.
Making soaps provides a creative way to provide custom gifts for friends and family. By choosing your own fragrances, molds, and water soluble paper images, you can create one-of-a-kind soaps for gift giving and special events.
RELATED ARTICLE: 4 Things You Should Know About Printing on Water Soluble Paper
How to Make Your Own Soap
Digital design
Water soluble paper
Clear and white glycerin soap bases
Liquid blue non-bleeding colorant
Non-bleeding colorants
Fragrance or essential oils
Silicone molds
90% isopropyl alcohol in a small spray bottle
Microwavable containers to melt soap bases
Select a design. Size it to your mold specifications and print it on water soluble paper using either an ink or laserjet printer. Allow the finished print to cure for at least 24 hours. Cut the printed design to fit the dimensions of your soap.
Melt 6 or 7 ounces of the transparent base. Then add a small amount of liquid blue colorant to remove the yellow cast from the soap and reach the desired clarity. Do not add fragrance at this stage.
While fluid enough to spread easily, pour the melted soap to about 1/8-inch in the bottom of the mold. Spray with the alcohol to help it fill out into the edges.
Immediately place your water soluble paper design upside down on top of the base, and press down slightly until the paper appears wet. Lightly spray it with the alcohol.
Allow this layer to harden.
Melt the desired amount of white soap of your choice, adding any essential oils or fragrances. Using a white soap for this layer makes the image stand out.
Once this soap reaches 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, begin pouring. First, spray the bottom layer with a bit of alcohol. You can both fill the rest of the mold or pour as thick as you like and add more layers.
Repeat the process once the white layer is set. Remember to spray with alcohol before you pour and spray afterward to remove any air bubbles.
Adding color to a clear base will make a deeper color. The white base will result in a pastel shade.
Let the soap harden for a minimum of 4 hours. Remove from molds.