How to Make Handmade Cold Process Soaps

Handmade soap is gentler on skin because it's made with natural ingredients, not synthetic ingredients found in most commercial soaps whose sole purpose is to create a foam or lather. Because of this many individuals who can't use commercial soap, and have turned to using only handmade soaps. I first got into soapmaking because I was buying handmade soaps on a regular basis to satisfy my finicky skin. I soon discovered that soapmaking is quite addictive. Though it has grown more costly over the years since I first started making soap - I founded Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen in 2001 - if you don't mind making soap in bulk, you'll find it's worth the expense for the sake of your skin. Plus, you can save money by using your handmade soaps to create your own laundry detergent.

Making soap with lye can be a little scary at first. I know it took me over a year to get up the nerve to try my first batch of cold process soap. But once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you ever worried in the first place! Because it's been such a long time - over two years - since I posted my Cold Process Soapmaking Tutorial and Handmade Soap Recipes I thought I'd share them with you again in one collective post. Don't stop here though. Remember, research is the key to not only making soap properly, but to creating your own custom recipes as well. And, if you're looking for a great place to buy organic soapmaking oils and ingredients, I highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs.

Getting started.

• Let's Make Soap - A Cold Process Soapmaking Tutorial
• Rendering Tallow for Soapmaking
• Hot Process Soapmaking - A Step by Step Tutorial

Cold Process Soap Recipes.

• Peppermint Patty Cold Process Soap
• Lavender and Cream Cold Process Soap
• Goat Buttermilk and Honey Soap
• Vanilla Kitchen Soap
• Basic Cold Process Beer Soap
• Chamomile Cold Process Soap
• Rosemary Dill Hand Soap
• Dog Shampoo Bar
• Lime Margarita Cold Process Soap
• Lemongrass, Green Tea and Oatmeal Soap

Not quite ready to take the cold process soapmaking plunge but still want to make soap? I also have a small collection of handmilled soap recipes and melt and pour soap recipes you can try. If you'd like to make handmilled soaps using natural, handmade cold process soaps, I carry two unscented shea butter soaps at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen perfect for the chore - Unscented Banana Oatmeal Soap and Unscented Goat Milk Soap.

I also just added two new handmade soaps to my shop that you may be interested in - Rosemary Mint and Green Goddess. My Handmade Rosemary Mint Shea Butter Soap contains no colorants and is simply a fresh, natural bar with rosemary leaves added for exfoliation. Scented with a rosemary mint fragrance, this shea butter soap smells of crisp herbal mint with a peppermint and spearmint top note, a slightly herbaceous floral and rosemary middle note and a soft woody dry down.

My Limited Edition Handmade Green Goddess Shea Butter Soap was created by special request for a friend of mine who suffers from seborrheic dermatitis to use as a shampoo and body bar. This shea butter soap is scented with a rosemary mint fragrance but also contains rosemary essential oil, peppermint essential oil, and tea tree oil. Specifically I recommend this soap for those suffering from dandruff and acne or for normal to oily skin. You can buy both of these new shea butter soaps online now from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.