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Technology for the production of laundry soap at home. Business idea for the production of homemade soap. Why is homemade soap better than store bought?

Soap making is one of the promising ideas, allowing you to establish a profitable business both on an industrial scale and in the "hand-made" mode in your own apartment.

A successful business project for the production of soap products includes several main stages:

Acquisition of equipment and inventory for the production process.
Procurement of quality raw materials and additional ingredients.
Establishment of an efficient and safe technology for soap production, its packaging and storage.
Organization of sales of products.

Industrial soap production

To organize a soap shop, an entrepreneur needs to equip the premises with special equipment. On the initial stage production, it is enough to have a plate, molds and several large metal containers. After the enterprise "gets on its feet" and there is a need to modernize production, it is necessary to purchase a specialized production line. Such equipment includes refrigerator, mixers, stamping machine, grinding, cutting and shaping machines. Innovations will help reduce the share of manual labor, increase the profitability of the process and the profitability of production.
To obtain industrial soap, they mainly use inexpensive available types of raw materials - coconut, palm oils, fatty acids produced from petroleum products and artificial flavors.

Technology of industrial soap making

The soap making process on an industrial scale can be divided into two stages:

Chemical stage of soap production. It consists in the treatment of fatty acids with aqueous solutions of sodium (potassium) and alkalis. The semi-finished product (“glue soap”) obtained during the chemical reaction is purified by electrolytes, stratifying into “soap cream” and waste (water, glycerin).

Mechanical stage of soap production. It consists in cooling the resulting "sound" soap, drying it and mixing it with various ingredients (perfumes, aromatic oils, dyes, etc.). Then the processes of cutting, pressing and shaping the finished product follow.

For the correct calculation of the soap production business plan, all costs of the activity should be predicted. These include:

rent of workshop premises and utility costs;
cost of equipment;
the cost of purchasing raw materials (to promote products on the market, it is better to launch the production of several varieties of soap at once);
costs for wages workers (3-4 workers are enough for the initial stage);
expenses for product promotion and packaging production (do not forget that branded packaging is the “face” of the enterprise!).

Soap sales can be established both through outlets, and through pharmacies and online commerce. With proper planning, marketing organization and optimal pricing policy economical effect You will be able to see the activities of the enterprise in a month.

Soap "exclusive" at home

For the manufacture of homemade soap only high-quality natural vegetable and animal fats, fragrances and essential oils are used. The result of the work of a craftsman-private trader is a hypoallergenic natural soap, which has an original appearance and high cost.

To organize the production of soap self made You will need large stainless steel pots, a refrigerator, measuring containers, a variety of shapes and scales. The components are mixed according to the recipe, saponified with an alkali solution. Further, hot or cold technologies are used to process the resulting semi-finished product.

Hot way (more cost effective) consists in heating the mass with all the additives in a water bath with stirring. After 3-4 hours (without allowing the product to cool), the product is poured into molds. The frozen soap is taken out, cut (if necessary) and defended for 2 weeks.

Cold process soap making at home consists in pouring the prepared mass into molds and "ripening" of the soap for 3-4 days. After removal from the molds, the product is kept until ready for another 1-12 months (depending on the composition of the soap).

The calculation of a business plan for home production is similar to an industrial estimate, taking into account a small scale technological process. When creating a natural high-quality product, the organization of the sale of goods comes to the fore. Expensive soap-making "masterpieces" are wonderful gifts for various holidays and optimal choice for people who prefer environmentally friendly products. When selling such soap, cooperation with pharmacies and cosmetic boutiques is necessary, as well as distribution of goods via the Internet.

Video about industrial and home production soap

Today there is simply great amount promising directions to start your own small business. At the initial stage, it is important to know that the business will not burn out, but will really make a profit. We will consider the production of laundry soap, liquid and toilet. All this item enjoys in great demand in the modern market.

Laundry soap production

It should be noted that the competition in this area is currently not so great, so the manufacture of soap is a very profitable business that does not require large investments both at the initial stage and in the future. In addition, funds are fully returned in the worst case after six months, and at best - after 3-4 months of active work.

As for profitability, it is about 40-55%, which is very good. Basically, the profit directly depends on the skill of the person making the soap. One way or another, you can start without even having the slightest idea about the technology of soap making, after a while both precious experience and skill will appear.

It should be noted that the more environmentally friendly products are used for production, the better sales will be, and this is a proven fact. Today, the market saturation with the product is only 50%, which is very small.

What is laundry soap and what are its benefits

If we talk about a natural product, then industrial laundry soap has a number of significant advantages:

both in hot and cold water copes well with stains of any kind;
they can wash children's clothes;
good for sanitary cleaning, washing dishes, etc.

But it also has its drawbacks:

has a specific smell;
dries out the skin.

It must be said right away that the unpleasant smell of laundry soap can be easily got rid of, especially if we are engaged in our own production. To do this, you will need to add special oils to its composition, but more on that later. Of course, the production of laundry soap is a rather laborious process. However, as a result, we get not only pure natural product but also a good profit.

How to make soap

The choice here is small. There are only a few ways in which you can make laundry soap at home. Of course, here it is desirable to have at least some knowledge in the field of chemical processes, since during cooking we will encounter alkali and vegetable or animal-based fats.

For the first of them, we need 2 kilograms of caustic soda, which must be poured into water in a ratio of 1: 4, that is, 8 liters of water will be required. The mixture is heated to a temperature of +24 ... +27 degrees Celsius. In parallel with this, we melt the fat at a temperature of 50 degrees, and pour the solution of soda and water into it. The amount of fat is clearly fixed; if we talk about our case, then this is 12.8 kg.

The whole mixture must be thoroughly mixed until the mass becomes completely homogeneous. This is followed by bottling, here it is preferable to use wooden structures. It is necessary to wrap the boxes with felt and set to harden for 4-6 days. After complete hardening, our soap is ready for sale.

Another variant

The second way is to use an odorless base that has a transparent color. This mass is easy to buy in any specialized store at an affordable price.

It is difficult to say which of the methods for making soap is more effective. Both methods are good and popular.

There is a clear sequence according to which you need to make laundry soap. All work takes place in the following sequence:

The base is pre-crushed and placed in a special bowl. After that, it is melted on a stove or in a furnace.
After we have received the molten mass, it is necessary to add aromatic oils and essences.
We give color to the future soap - it all depends on the imagination of the master, but it is important not to overdo it.
We use other additives (sugar, poppy seeds).
Pour the liquid mass into pre-prepared molds.
After the soap has hardened, we take it out of the mold and admire the result.

If you strictly follow all the steps, then at the end we will get an exceptionally high-quality product that no longer has an unpleasant odor and does not dry the skin so much. It should be noted that laundry soap can not be packaged at all or wrapped in polyethylene or paper.

Liquid soap production

In parallel with the production of laundry soap, liquid hygiene products can also be sold. It should be noted that here you will need serious equipment for the production of soap, so the costs will be much higher.

However, such a business pays off much faster. If you plan to sell on an industrial scale, then after six months all the funds will be returned back.

There are a huge number of recipes that you can rely on in the process of making liquid soap. With enough knowledge, you can even develop your own unique product which will be in demand in the market.

It should be noted that the purchased equipment can be used without special training. Simply put, it is quite possible to do it on your own, but if the production of liquid soap is planned according to a modular system (increasing production capacity, expanding the sales market, etc.), then this is unlikely to succeed without specially trained people.

Equipment required for production

As noted above, we will need not only raw materials for the production of soap, but also special equipment:

two tanks (one for raw materials, the second for purified);
emulsifying and mixing engines;
feeding device and temperature sensor;
pump and gearbox.

In general, we have to create our own mini-workshop. Of course, it is advisable to turn to professionals to clarify prices. In many ways, the cost of equipment will depend on productivity, so the approach must be competent, there is no need to choose the cheapest equipment for the production of liquid soap.

With professional equipment, you can get a high quality product. Then it remains to find a wholesale point of sale, and the business will gradually go up. It should be noted that liquid soap will cook for a long time, because this is a complex chemical process, where all the elements must be mixed sequentially.

A little about the technology of production of liquid soap

First of all, wood ash dissolves in water. Potassium carbonate is boiled over low heat, after which an emulsion should form. After that it starts next stage- saponification. It is necessary to add a portion of lye to the previously obtained emulsion (proportion 1: 1), after which the mixture must be boiled until the finished soap is obtained.

To understand whether the product is ready or not yet, you need to take a sample. Do it in the following way. Take a few drops of liquid and pour onto a glass surface. If, after complete cooling, the color has not changed and remains light and transparent, this indicates that everything is ready.

You can often see that foreign substances are added to liquid soap, such as anise oil, soluble glass, etc. This is done solely to make the product heavier. It should be noted that this affects the quality of the product in the worst way. It is highly recommended not to use this method in own production, because the client will notice the catch sooner or later.

Preparing toilet soap

Any kind of greasy soap is taken as the basis for creating toilet soap. It should contain either lye or pork fat with coconut oil. All ingredients must be as fresh and of high quality as possible.

Fat can be cleaned on your own, which is much cheaper, or you can buy it already cleaned at the store. You should also strictly observe the proportions: for every 10 grams of fat, take 5-20 grams of coconut oil. As for the cooking process itself, it is exactly the same as for laundry soap.

It should be noted that the production of toilet soap is quite a profitable business. To create a pure and high-quality product, special equipment and knowledge are not required. It is only necessary to observe the proportions and constantly monitor the cooking process.

To always get a perfectly clean product, it is necessary to hang it during and after cooking. As a rule, the bottom contains soap with impurities, so it is recommended not to drain the liquid completely, but to leave a small residue.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, I would like to say that the production of laundry soap, liquid or toilet soap requires a large number time, but capital investment can be minimized in some cases.

In order to produce a product of average quality, 2-3 thousand dollars is enough at the first stage. Then you can buy equipment more modern and expensive.

It should be noted that the production of soap as a business is not only an income, but also the creation of hygiene products of excellent quality, this is a kind of art.

You can give the soap any shape you like, experiment with color and smell. In the end, you can get something special that people will like. The main thing is to work not for the purpose of cashing in on low-quality soap, but for pleasure, and, of course, not at a loss.

Handmade soap has many benefits. Unlike store-bought, it contains only natural ingredients that have a positive effect on the skin and the body as a whole. Moreover, the design of such products is limited only by the imagination of the master. People are happy to buy such soap as a gift or just for themselves, even though it costs more than non-natural store-bought counterparts. Of course, this trend could not go unnoticed, and the hobby has become a worthy and exciting way to earn a stable income. Such a business does not require significant investments (you can start trying yourself in this business by investing only 4 thousand rubles), or hiring employees, or renting space, or using special equipment. All you have to do is learn the process, stock up on the basic ingredients, and start making your own unique product.

Required Ingredients

The first thing that beginner soap makers should know is that there are two main ways to make soap: “from scratch” (completely natural soap made by yourself) and from a ready-made base purchased in specialized stores. Each of them involves the use of special ingredients.

solid oils. Olive, palm and coconut oils are traditionally used. They have optimal characteristics in order to create the right, balanced recipe. However, you can add many other oils such as avocado, grapeseed, jojoba, apricot, etc. Remember, you can not use essential oils as a base, as this simply will not allow the product to harden.
Alkali(in the form of flakes or small granules). It can also be purchased from specialized stores.
Water, milk or herbal infusion (used as a liquid base). Typically, the percentage of such a base is 30-35% of the total mass of the mixture.
Essential oils, fragrances. The choice of oils is not limited by anything - the vast majority of them have a positive effect on the human body. So, for example, jasmine improves mood, and lavender calms and helps to fall asleep easily.
Professional or natural dyes. The first can also be purchased in specialized stores. The main advantage of such dyes is their brightness and variety. If you want to use natural ingredients, pay attention to sandalwood powder - it will add redness, chlorovillipt - add a green tint, turmeric - will turn it orange. You can add chocolate, coffee, or cinnamon to your soap to get a brown color.

If you want to work with a ready-made soap base, you will need the following ingredients:

Soap base itself or baby soap. Some soap makers use baby soap as a base. If you are just starting to comprehend the basics of this activity, be sure to pay attention to the next point - avoid products with a smell (often manufacturers of children's products add specific ingredients to it), since it is almost impossible to neutralize. However, the simplest and at the same time convenient option will be the so-called soap base. These are sold in any specialized store. Its huge advantage is that you can choose from a clear or matte finish, depending on the design of the soap.
Alcohol or strong alcohol - it is used to spray the soap itself in liquid form and molds.
Essential oils and fragrances.
Dyes.
Various additives and decorative elements. Nuts, honey, flakes, cream, crushed pieces of other soap, grains, pieces of fruit, dried petals and flowers, coffee beans, sparkles (glitter), pictures, etc. You can add almost anything to homemade soap.

Ingredients cost:

Soap base - from 220 to 340 rubles. for 1 kg;
Essential oils - from 50 rubles. for a tube;
Base oils - from 80 to 200 rubles. per vial;
Dyes (special) - about 270 rubles. for 30 years

In general, the purchase of ingredients for 3 kg of soap will cost you about 4 thousand rubles. This amount is quite enough to try different techniques and produce enough products, including samples, to start selling and looking for suitable distribution channels.

Necessary equipment

To make soap at home, you do not need to buy expensive, specialized equipment. Simple items will suffice, most of which can be found in the kitchen of any housewife. But do not use the dishes in which you cook food for soap making - this is fraught with health problems.

To make soap from scratch, you will need:

Respirator, gloves and goggles;
Kitchen scales;
Bowls, pots;
Pipette;
A spoon;
Forms.

To make products from the finished base, you will need:

Electronic kitchen scales;
Bowls in which the soap will be mixed, a saucepan for a water bath (if you plan to melt the soap in this way);
Pipette;
Spoon (metal or plastic);
Pulverizer;
Kitchen thermometer;
Forms (special molds or ordinary plastic cups, candy boxes, ice molds, etc. can be used);
Microwave (if you do not plan to melt the base in a water bath).

Even if in your kitchen from this set, the purchase of such simple equipment will cost you about 4 thousand rubles.

Step by step production technology

As mentioned earlier, there are two main methods for the production of homemade soap: soap from scratch (divided into cold and hot methods) and a product from a finished base. Each of them has two advantages from a business point of view.

Soap "from scratch" is produced completely independently, i.e. the soap maker buys solid oils (olive, coconut, palm), lye and makes soap. Thus, the client knows that he is buying a completely natural, healthy product (base oils have a great effect on the skin, and the master himself can choose what effect this or that soap will have). Despite the fact that such products can be very pretty thanks to various additives and interesting techniques, it is still difficult for them to compare with products from the finished base.

Masters who prefer the second method rely on design. The bases purchased in specialized stores can be transparent and white, they are simply melted, painted, and then it all depends on the skill and imagination of the soap maker. So, soap made in this way can be with interesting pictures, various decorations, which are perfectly visible due to the transparent base. Moreover, this process is much easier and safer, because you do not have to deal with alkali.

Below you can find a detailed description of the cold and hot methods of making soap from scratch, learn how soap is made from the finished base, how to add pictures to it, and also how to make stamps on any soap.

Soap from scratch, cold way

The cold process for making homemade soap is detailed below. Beginners may have a completely logical question about the proportions of oils. The answer to it is quite simple - such products are prepared according to recipes that can be easily found on the net. If you want to create your own, original soap, use special online soap calculators. They have a fairly simple interface and with their help you can easily find the right proportions.

Measure the lye into a separate container. Remember, you need to work with alkali in a well-ventilated area, which means you need to open a window or at least turn on the kitchen hood.

Pour lye into water or ice, stirring it thoroughly. Important: it is worth pouring lye into water, and not vice versa. This process It is accompanied by an abundant release of heat, which means that in order for the water not to boil, it must be cooled in advance. The resulting solution must be left to cool.

Next, you need to measure the solid oils and mix them. Their choice will depend on the idea and preferences of the soap maker or on the chosen recipe. Coconut, olive, mango and many other solid oils (also known as butter butters) can be used as an oil base. Essential oil can only be used as a fragrance. If you decide to make an "essential base", the soap simply won't harden.

Then they are heated in a water bath or in the microwave.

Mix alkaline solution with oils. The temperature difference between these two liquids should not exceed 10 degrees Celsius. The optimum temperature is considered to be 42 degrees. Then start the saponification process by simply stirring the resulting mixture with a blender. It takes about 30 seconds to stir the soap.

Add colors and flavors. If you want to make two-color soap, the soap mass can be divided into two parts and dyed in separate containers. In addition, at this stage, some add the so-called "overfat" - an additional 3-4% oil. The fact is that any recipe involves the creation of a classic cleansing soap. By adding a little "fat" you are adding an extra "function" to your soap. So, for example, soap can be made moisturizing or soothing by choosing a specific oil.

Start pouring your soap into the mold. You can choose the method yourself, depending on the intended design of the product. Be sure to tamp any voids that form as soon as the soap thickens a little. You can knock the form a little on the table - so all the air will come out of it. Then leave the soap to dry.

Take the soap out of the mold and cut it. Remember, the gel stage of the product will end in about a month, which means that it must be put aside in a dark place and begin to be used after this period is over.

Soap from scratch, hot way

The hot method differs from the cold one in that oils to which an alkaline solution (lye and water) is added are additionally heated in a water bath to obtain a firmer consistency. This soap can be used immediately after hardening. Oils are also added according to the recipe.

Measure and pour solid oils according to the recipe into a pre-prepared container. Put it in a water bath or microwave (if the container is too large, you can simply put it in a sink filled with hot water).

Measure the right amount of lye and pour it into a container of water. As mentioned earlier, lye and water get very hot. That is why some soap makers use already chilled water, or, as shown in the picture, put a container in a sink with cold water.

Add lye to soap solution and mix with a blender until the “trace” state (after holding with a stick or spoon, a trace should remain on the surface of the soap).

Place the container in a water bath. It should thicken (roughly to the state of wax).

Then you can add overfat, essential oils, dyes as desired. The mass must be thoroughly mixed without removing it from the bath. Directly from the bath, it can be placed in molds. Leave the soap to cool.

Take the soap out of the mold. You can test it right away.

Soap from the finished base

As mentioned earlier, this method of making homemade soap is much easier than the previous ones. Such products are attractive precisely because of their design. The easiest way to make products from a finished base is described below.

Soap base or pre-purchased baby soap is cut into cubes or rubbed on a grater (usually a medium one is used).

A water bath is being prepared, in which the rubbed soap is melted. During the melting process, the liquid must be thoroughly stirred. However, most experienced soap makers simply heat the base in the microwave. If you choose this method, put a glass of water in the oven - this will help prevent the soapy mass from boiling.

The soap container is removed from the water bath or removed from the microwave oven, additional ingredients are added to the resulting liquid. These are dyes, essential oils, any vitamins, flavors, etc. However, remember that if you are making soap for sale, you need to avoid common allergens, as well as ingredients that you simply doubt. If you really want to experiment, it is always better to test a new product for yourself, and only then sell it to customers. In addition to a variety of natural decorative additives, soap makers use sequins (the so-called glitter), mother-of-pearl, etc.

The resulting mass is poured into pre-prepared molds. In order to avoid the appearance of bubbles, immediately after pouring, the soap is sprayed with alcohol or strong alcohol (a spray gun is used for this). It is also better to grease the mold with alcohol.

The soap then hardens. Remember, it must become completely solid. Of course, the consistency will depend in part on the ingredients used, but it should not be too soft. If you want to speed up the setting process, carefully place the soap in the refrigerator and wait 5-10 minutes.

Making soap with stamps

If you want to make your soap even more colorful and interesting, consider using stamps. These are original molds that are used to create imprints of words, drawings, patterns, etc. Main advantage this method is that it is relevant for completely self-made soap, and for products from the finished base.

How to make a product with a stamp?

Before pouring liquid soap into the mold, put a stamp on the bottom in the center.

Sprinkle the bottom of the mold with alcohol or strong alcohol.

Fill the mold with soap of the same color. In the pictures below, you can see that the soap maker is making a four-color soap by pouring around the mold, letting it cool, and then pouring the mold itself and adding another layer. You can do it easier by filling the mold with one color. Leave the mold to cool

If you are using two or more colors as shown in the pictures, let each one cool and be sure to spray the previous coat with alcohol before applying the next one. Otherwise, they simply won't stick together. Bay all the colors, leave the soap to cool.

Then you need to remove the product from the mold. You will see that the stamp remains in the soap. It must be carefully removed using a needle or any other sharp and thin object. After extraction, you will find a neat inscription or drawing that is imprinted on your product.

Making soap with pictures

This unique method of making soap is suitable for products from a ready-made base, because only this material is transparent. Pictures on water-soluble paper can be bought or printed on laser printer. Remember, under a layer of soap, the colors will look more faded, which means they need to be made as bright as possible.

Get your shapes and pictures ready.

The picture must be carefully cut out (the size of the image should be several millimeters smaller than the size of the form)

Cut the soap base for a transparent layer and melt it (in a water bath or in the microwave), sprinkle the liquid with alcohol.

Pour the first layer into the mold. Do not add fragrances or oils to the liquid, because it should be completely transparent.

While the first one hardens, prepare another transparent layer (a little more soapy liquid using the same technology).

To prevent the soap from exfoliating, sprinkle the first layer already in the mold and the picture itself. Pour a little base into the mold, immerse the picture in it, gently smoothing it over the surface of the 1st layer. Wait until everything cools down. If there are bumps around the edges, carefully remove them with a sharp object.

Add the next layer (white) and leave to cool.

Add the last color layer.

Leave the product to cool.

Sales directions

Before you can brew a huge batch of soap, you need to determine your home sales lines. If you change the order of these steps, you may have problems with the implementation. Below you can find a list of all the most relevant distribution channels.

Social networks. The main advantage of such sites is that registration there is free. Moreover, you can find many of your potential buyers there. To do this, just register, open your Vkontakte or Odnoklassniki group, create an Instagram page and come up with an original name for your “shop”. In order for customers to start visiting your page, it must be properly formatted, place the necessary information and be sure to add a photo. the best works. Of course, it will need to be promoted - so, for example, on Instagram you will need to follow people who may be interested in your product. As for Odnoklassniki and Vkontakte, there you will need to advertise in large city communities or thematic groups.
Shops for flowers, gifts, souvenirs. Surely in your city there are popular shops where you can buy handmade products, gifts, etc. Try to negotiate with the owner - as a rule, they are always interested in expanding the range. If you produce truly original products, the probability of failure will be minimal. However, make sure that the margin on the goods does not exceed 50-70%.
Holiday companies. Such organizations may also be interested in cooperation, because homemade soap can be put into a variety of gift sets.
Hairdressers and beauty salons. It is unlikely that you can sell soap there, but representatives of your target audience. By agreeing with the owner, you can leave your catalogs there for a reasonable percentage.
Fairs of handmade products. If your city hosts such events, be sure to participate in them. This is where you can find your client.
Boards of declarations, forums. Focus on your city's resources, see where your posts will be most relevant. Offer promotions, discounts - this will help attract the first customers.
Word of mouth radio. The world-old way of selling goods and promoting services can help a soap maker find its customers. Give soap to your friends, perhaps they will recommend you to their friends, and you will gradually expand your customer base.

Conclusion

Anyone who wants to make soap at home can do it. Such a business does not require investment (dishes and ingredients are inexpensive), special skills, special equipment and a separate room. At the same time, its profitability reaches 50%. Many soap makers, who have solid experience and a wide clientele, are already starting to think about their own soap and souvenir shops. What's more, you don't have to attend special courses - a lot of recipes, original designs and special features can be found on the net. If you are interested in this business, this is already a kind of signal showing that in order to open your own small home business, you only need to take the first step.

It would seem that the need to make soap at home has disappeared thanks to the huge selection of this cosmetic product in stores. But soap making is gaining more and more popularity. Soap makers show off their own masterpieces to one another, invent new recipes, conduct master classes, and even earn good money from their hobby. There are also special departments and shops for soap making, which once again proves the growing need for soap making. Is it easy to make soap with your own hands?

Why is homemade soap better than store bought?

Soap sold in regular stores household chemicals and supermarkets, does not contain natural ingredients. In fact, it is difficult to call it soap, since soap is saponified vegetable fats, and not processed petroleum products. A store-bought product often dries the skin and can cause allergic reactions.

When making at home, you can use only natural ingredients that are suitable for your skin type. And if now it's just a hobby, then later it can become a profitable business.

Handmade soap can be of different colors, with beautiful streaks and splashes of scrubbing elements

What ingredients are used

You can make soap from scratch, or from a ready-made purchased base. As the latter, you can also use natural, fragrance-free baby soap. And for the thrifty, there are ways to digest remnants and turn "waste" into fragrant soap.

It is much easier to work with a ready-made base. It is transparent and white. Also commercially available are organic bases for making natural soaps. You can buy them at soap shops. Working with the base is not difficult, but some skills will still be required. As for making soap from scratch, in this case you will also need knowledge in the field of chemistry, since you will have to work with alkali. Before you start making soap, be sure to familiarize yourself with the safety precautions when working with alkali.

The amount of ingredients will depend on how the soap is made and the recipe. Consider the list of necessary components for each case.

Soap base ingredients

All the main ingredients can be bought in a specialized store, and additional ones in a regular supermarket. Some are sure to be in your home. You will need:

finished base;
base vegetable oils;
dyes;
flavors;
essential oils;
herbs, petals, honey, ground coffee - optional;
medical alcohol.

Bases from different manufacturers differ in price, hardness, hardening speed and other characteristics. There are organic bases that are used to make all-natural soaps.

A transparent soap is made from a transparent base.

Base oils are used to enrich the soap, they give it such beneficial properties as moisturizing, nourishing and softening. Without them, the product dries the skin, and also quickly “dries out”, cracks and exfoliates. For the same purpose, you can add body cream or milk, cream or pasteurized milk.

Important! Do not overdo it with moisturizers and oils. If you decide to add full fat milk, reduce the amount. Soaps that are oversaturated with fats don't lather well.

Dyes come in liquid and dry form. It is most convenient to use liquid ones, since it is very easy to measure the right number of drops. Dry dyes are pre-mixed with oils or liquids and only then introduced into the finished mass. Try not to overdo it with dyes, because because of this, the lather will also be colored when lathering. To get started, it will be enough to purchase three basic colors: red, yellow and blue. By mixing them, you can achieve almost any shade.

In addition to purchased artificial dyes, natural dyes can also be used. These can be spices (turmeric, curry), the same base oils (sea buckthorn, pumpkin), different fillers (colored clays, ground coffee, cocoa, strong decoctions of herbs). Of course, with their help it will not be possible to achieve bright, saturated colors, but the soap will be as environmentally friendly and natural as possible.

For decoration, you can also use mother-of-pearl pigments, sparkles and various decors.

With the help of special dyes, you can give the soap any shade

Fragrances are responsible for the beautiful aroma. You can use confectionery fragrances, or you can look for special flavors for home cosmetics. Instead of artificial fragrances, essential oils, honey, chocolate, coffee, dried zest, herbs, flowers and petals are used. The disadvantage of essential oils is that they fade faster. They are usually added at the very end.

Alcohol is also used in soap making. It eliminates air bubbles from the surface of the soap and connects the layers in a multilayer colored soap. To do this, alcohol is poured into a fine spray and sprayed onto the surface of the product.

You can add a decoction of medicinal herbs, dried chamomile flowers and natural essential oils to homemade soap.

In order for soap to acquire such properties as scrubbing, anti-cellulite effect, smoothing wrinkles, etc., various fillers are added to it. These are ground coffee, nutshell powder, clay, oatmeal, crushed sea salt and much more. All these are additional caring elements that will give the soap the desired useful properties.

Do not use fresh fruits, berries, cucumbers, ginger root and similar ingredients. They will rot and quickly render your enriched soap unusable. Instead, use dry herbs and leaves, petals and small dried flowers, ginger powder, dried fruits.

Tools and devices

You will also need:

saucepan enameled or of stainless steel;
any other saucepan for a water bath;
plastic or glass microwave container;
a spoon;
whisk;
measuring cup;
kitchen electronic scales;
spray for alcohol;
soap molds.

Forms can be bought in the same specialized stores or you can use confectionery silicone molds. Also suitable are children's plastic molds for playing with sand, containers for yogurt or sour cream, and other small containers made of flexible plastic. Purchased molds are made of plastic or silicone. For beginners, it is best to use the latter, since they are the easiest to get ready-made soap from.

Soap molds are available in plastic and silicone.

As for dishes, you can not use aluminum pans, cast iron dishes. For these purposes, stainless steel containers with enamel coating, as well as heat-resistant glass and plastic containers for use in a microwave oven, are suitable. For the exact amount of ingredients, you will need a measuring cup and scales.

What ingredients are used to make soap from scratch?

The soap base is prepared independently, using only three components:

alkali;
oils for saponification;
liquid - distilled water, herbal decoction, milk.

To make hard soap, you need caustic soda (NaOH). It is sold in the form of flakes or small crystals. Alkali is needed for saponification of fats, namely base oils.

Caustic soda is also called caustic soda.

Making soap from scratch great importance has a so-called overgrowth. Since fats cease to be useful after reacting with alkali, it is recommended to add more oils at the end of cooking. This will be overkill. As a rule, valuable and expensive oils are used for it.

Vegetable oils use any. Rarely add pork fat. The liquid is needed in order to pre-dissolve the alkali and prepare it for combination with fats. Using decoctions of medicinal herbs, you will give the soap useful properties, as well as a natural aroma and shade.

To improve the soap, its coloring and aromatization, the following components are used:

plasticizers - sugar, sorbitol, fructose, honey;
acids - lactic, succinic, stearic, citric;
lanolin;
glycerol;
oils for enrichment (overfat);
dyes;
flavors;
various useful supplements.

Dyes, flavors and fillers use the same ones. Plasticizers are needed in order to make soap more plastic, as well as improve foaming. The acids will harden the soap and give it bactericidal properties. Lanolin will have a softening effect on too dry and rough skin.

With the help of different base oils, you can give soap caring, beneficial properties.

Auxiliary tools

You will need:

two pans (one can be made of heat-resistant glass);
hand blender;
measuring cup;
a glass stirring rod or a regular spoon;
container for working with alkali;
forms.

Important! Tools that were used to make soap should never be used for cooking!

When working with alkali, great attention is paid to safety measures.

Ingredients for different types of soap: for face, hands and body

To give the soap of different qualities, you will need the appropriate components. Some of them have emollient properties, others are moisturizing and nourishing, and others are bactericidal and drying. It is worth noting that it is better to use the appropriate soap for each part of the body. Washing your face with body or hand soap is not recommended. Also, not all components are suitable for every skin type.

Table: Recommended Soap Ingredients Based on Use

Components	Arms	Face: skin types				Body
Components	Arms	Normal	Dry	Oily	problematic	Body
base oils	olive cocoa Palm jojoba shea (shea) walnut	olive almond cocoa avocado	castor evening primrose shea (shea) wheat germ wild rose almond avocado	sweet almond apricot kernels peach pits hazelnut	olive sea buckthorn	olive cocoa coconut shi (karite) almond sesame and etc.
	any	ylang-ylang lavender geranium jasmine chamomile	lavender palmarosa neroli ylang-ylang jasmine mint	lemon cypress geranium rosemary	juniper fir sandalwood tea tree eucalyptus	orange grapefruit eucalyptus tea tree and etc.
fillers, including scrubbing	lanolin glycerol beeswax	cosmetic clay ground coffee crushed herbs milk	cosmetic clay powdered milk glycerol decoctions of herbs chamomile extract, mint, coltsfoot, lime blossom	cosmetic clay Activated carbon camphor alcohol infusions and decoctions calendula and chamomile propolis tincture	cosmetic clay Activated carbon eucalyptus leaves herbal infusions and decoctions	clay loofah honey sea salt ground coffee eucalyptus leaves tar seaweed

For aging skin, geranium oil is recommended because it helps to smooth out wrinkles. Mint will save you from dryness, and juniper will saturate the skin with useful substances. For rough, overdried skin, it is recommended to use lanolin. Orange oil, algae, loofah and ground coffee have an anti-cellulite effect and make the skin supple.

Essential oils give a beautiful aroma, and also “enrich” the soap with useful properties.

Making solid soap at home

First, the base is melted in a water bath or in a microwave oven. With the first method, the base melts longer, but a uniformly melted mass is obtained. In addition, you will be able to independently control the entire melting process. When heated in an oven, there is a risk of the base boiling. Therefore, set the power to the very minimum and heat for 1 minute, checking the condition of the base every 5-10 seconds.

Soap base

Having prepared all the necessary ingredients and appliances, do the following:

This is the standard algorithm of actions. The amount of ingredients and fillers mainly depend on the recipe.

base oils - 1/3 tsp;
essential oils - 3-7 drops;
flavor - 3-4 drops;
liquid dye - 1–7 drops;
dry pigment - 1/3 tsp.

Other additives (herbs, clay, scrub components) can be added at will, as well as in accordance with the recipe.

Important! Esters are added at the very end to a warm, but not hot, “soapy” mass. They are quite volatile, evaporate quickly, and their properties are lost.

Video: How to make soap from a finished soap base

Cold and hot manufacturing from scratch

This is the real soap making. You can only prepare the base and use it in the future as a ready-made purchase.

Soap making from scratch is not the safest activity. You have to work with alkali, and, as you know, it is capable of leaving burns on the body. Therefore, much attention is paid to the means of protection and familiarization with the properties of alkali, its reaction with water, as well as the chemical reactions that occur during the saponification of fats and their transformation into the same soap.

Alkali, reacting with water, emits a pungent odor and is very harmful to the mucous membranes. Contact with alkali on the skin causes severe burns, so be extremely careful when working with this substance.

Safety rules for working with alkali

Be sure to use protective equipment: goggles, a respirator, rubber gloves.
Clothing and shoes should be as closed as possible.
Utensils and tools that are used for making soap are not used for cooking.
It is best to work with alkali on outdoors. If this is not possible, open the windows and turn on the hood.
Food should not be prepared in the kitchen. Children and animals should also not be present.
Reacting with water, the alkali heats up very much, as a violent reaction occurs. Make sure that the water is as chilled as possible, and preferably with ice cubes.
The container should be glass, ideally a special container for working with alkali.

This is the minimum list of requirements to keep you safe while cooking. soap base. Next follow general rules making soap from scratch.

Another important point. An alkaline solution is poured into liquid oils and not vice versa! You also need to strain the solution to avoid getting whole soda crystals.

To make sure that the oils and lye have fully worked and that the soap is absolutely safe for the skin, we recommend using special indicator strips (litmus papers). Just dip the tip of the strip into the soap and wait for the reaction. Next, compare the color of the paper with the color chart on the package. The darker the shade, the higher the pH level. Soap with a pH level above 10 is considered immature and not ready for use.

To prepare the base, they use ready-made recipes or develop their own using a special soap calculator. The latter can be found on the Internet at many soap making sites. The trick is that you have to calculate the amount of oils and alkalis for the correct ratio. It is difficult for beginners to do this, so we recommend using ready-made recipes from the Internet.

This is how an online calculator for calculating the amount of ingredients for soap looks like

Soap base is prepared in two ways:

Cold way. More simple, but it takes a long time for the "ripening" of soap.
Hot way. More difficult at first, but the soap is ready for use within a day.

Let's consider each of them.

cold way

Measure the correct amount of alkali.
Pour ice water into a special container.
Slowly pour the lye into the water and stir immediately.
Alkali is added to the liquid gradually, gently stirring
While the mixture is cooling, proceed to the oils.
Melt solid oils in a water bath or in a microwave.
Solid oils are heated in a water bath until they are completely melted.
Blend all oils until smooth.
Measure the temperature of the alkali and oils - one should be approximately the same and be 37-38 ° C (use an electronic thermometer).
Add the alkaline solution to the oils while straining it through a strainer.
Stir gently.
Turn on the blender and start whipping the mixture of oils and lye. Alternate beating and stirring in the off mode.
The oils are whipped with an alkali solution using a hand blender.
When the mixture becomes viscous, you can start adding various benefits, colors and flavors.
At this stage, fat, essential oils, and other natural ingredients are added.
When the soap base becomes viscous, you can start adding various fillers and utilities.
Pour the finished mixture into molds and leave to harden.
Remove soap after 24 hours and remove from mold.
Wrap in cling film and leave to ripen for at least 4 weeks.

A long maturation stage is needed in order for the soap to pass from the “trace” stage to the “gel” stage. If to speak in simple words, then during this time it will become what it should be.

Video: Soap "from scratch" in a cold way

At the “trace” stage, when the mass begins to thicken, you can stop and leave everything as it is. The frozen mass will be the soap base, which can then be melted and made into fragrant homemade soap.

hot way

Up to the “trace” stage, soap is prepared in the same way as with the cold method. The most interesting begins later.

So, the viscous base is ready. Let's move on to the next step:

Video: Hot soap from scratch

As you can see, the hot method is much more complicated, but it has the advantage that soap can be used almost immediately after it is made.

Soap Recipes

There are a huge number of cooking recipes different types soaps, differing in their purpose, properties, fillers and appearance. Let's consider several recipes using the base, but if desired, they can also be used in the manufacture of soap from scratch.

baby

organic base - 250 g;
carrot juice - 1/2 tsp;
a decoction of string and chamomile - 1 tsp;
almond oil - 8 drops;
tangerine oil - 1-2 drops;
funny baby molds made of silicone in the form of animals.

It's very simple: melt the base, mix with the rest of the ingredients, pour into molds and leave for 24 hours to harden the soap.

These cute teddy bears can be made from a soap base and other ingredients.

Tar

transparent base - 100 g;
calendula oil extract - 1/3 tsp;
birch tar - 1.5 tsp (sold in a pharmacy);
mint essential oil - 6-8 drops.

In a melted and slightly cooled base, add the ingredients in the following sequence: oil extract, tar and finally essential oil. Mix everything thoroughly and pour into molds.

Birch tar has antiseptic and antifungal properties, so this soap will be useful for problem skin.

It will look like tar soap from an opaque natural base

Two-layer colored soap with honey

According to this recipe, you can make a beautiful decorative soap from layers of different colors.

First layer:

transparent base - 50 g;
yellow food coloring - 3 drops;
flavor "Honey" - 10 drops;
natural honey - 1 tsp;
grape seed oil - 1/3 tsp

Second layer:

white base - 100 g;
avocado oil - 1/2 tsp;
pasteurized milk - 2 tsp;
pearlescent pigment - 1/2 tsp;
honeycomb shape.

First, prepare the first layer of a transparent base, pour it into a mold and sprinkle with alcohol. When the layer has cooled, sprinkle it again with alcohol and cover the prepared white base.

This yellow-white soap has a unique aroma of honey.

The use of remnants

Agree, sometimes it is a pity to throw away the remnants of soap or the so-called remnants. We offer a simple way to "resuscitate" remnants and make soap from them, which in end result may even surpass its "original source". From the "soap" residues, you can make both solid and liquid soap.

In addition to remnants, you will need the following ingredients and tools:

remnants - 200 g;
water - 5 tbsp. l.;
glycerin - 2 tbsp. l.;
alcohol tincture of calendula - 2 tbsp. l.;
essential oils and fragrances for fragrance - optional;
grater for rubbing remnants;
containers for a water bath;
a spoon;
forms.

Remnants can be used in a variety of ways, except, of course, the remains of laundry soap for washing and various stain removers. Fillers and fragrances can take any. With their help, you "enrich" the soap, give it new useful properties and flavors.

From colored remnants you can make wonderful soap

Glycerin is needed to obtain a more viscous consistency, it helps the components dissolve faster and retains the desired moisture. Instead of alcohol tincture of calendula, you can use medical alcohol.

The remnants will need to be melted in a water bath. Thus, the contents will be evenly heated and melted to the desired consistency.

So, having prepared all the necessary ingredients and tools, get to work:

In the same way, soap can be made from the remains of a soap base and baby soap.

Video: How to make solid soap from remnants

How to make liquid soap

To prepare liquid soap from scratch, another type of alkali is used, namely KOH (potassium hydroxide). This type of soap is also called potassium soap. Liquid soap can be made from the same remnants, from baby soap, from the remnants of a soap base, or from any solid soap. Consider the cooking process.

From remnants

To prepare 1 liter of liquid soap you will need:

remnants - 50 g;
distilled water - 1 l;
tincture of calendula or medical alcohol - 2 tbsp. l.;
essential oil - 3 drops;
liquid food dye - 3 drops;
glycerin - 4 tbsp. l.

Put a pot of water on the fire and do the following:

Video: how to make liquid soap from remnants

Liquid laundry soap

It is used for washing clothes and washing dishes. You will need one bar of laundry soap (200 g), 1 liter of water, essential oils and fragrances - optional. How to cook:

Rub the soap on a grater - the finer the chips, the faster it will dissolve.
Pour the shavings into a stainless steel saucepan and add water.
Mix the ingredients and cook over low heat until the chips are completely dissolved.
At the end, strain the mass through a sieve and cool slightly.
Add about 20 drops of essential oil or fragrance.
Pour the finished liquid soap into a plastic bottle.
Concentrated washing gel is ready.

The finished product is stored in a closed container.

Photo gallery: beautiful handmade soap

Loofah soap has a scrubbing and anti-cellulite effect on the skin Soap brewed with a decoction of herbs is always a pleasure to use. Coniferous soap has extraordinary healing properties and a beautiful aroma. Soap in the form of a jelly dessert looks very appetizing This soap is almost indistinguishable from a natural mineral This soap not only looks beautiful, but also smells delicious. The main thing is not to confuse such soap with a real cake! Natural soap without artificial dyes and additives, the most beneficial for the skin Soap in the form of a snowflake will be a great gift for the New Year Homemade colored soap with various additives will decorate the bathroom Handmade soap can have a wide variety of shapes and colors.