CeruleanBlue_15
New Member
Hello, I am new to these forums and would like to know if I could melt store-bought soap and add toppings, colors, oils, etc. I am making this for a few friends and wanna make them special.
Melting soap?
- Thread starter CeruleanBlue_15
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The better idea would be to purchase a melt-and-pour soap base, preferably not from a craft store. You can’t add much in the way of oils or milks, but you can definitely add toppings and colors. You might check Brambleberry.com for melt & pour, or for rebatch shreds.
Soap that isn't made to be melted generally doesn't melt well. You would need to purchase a soap that's made to be melted, preferably from a reputable supplier, and then you could add colors and fragrances and toppings. No adding oil and no adding milk, because those have to be added with the lye. You can usually find melt and pour soap that was made with milk or a specific oil, though.
Yes, you can melt store bought soap ... but why? I agree with the others -- you'll have more fun and end up with a prettier and nicer product if you use a melt and pour base instead. M&P soap can also be ready in time for holiday gifts, if that is your goal.
Brambleberry sells small amounts of a wide range of M&P bases -- Soap Bases | Cosmetic & Skin Care Bases | Bramble Berry
Be careful with the idea of adding extra stuff into or on top of any soap. Many suppliers provide instructions about how much extra fat or fragrance that should be added to their soap bases, and you'll be wise to follow those guidelines. Remember too that things like oatmeal flakes or flower petals on the top of soap can grow mold as well as make a mess in the tub or shower.
Brambleberry sells small amounts of a wide range of M&P bases -- Soap Bases | Cosmetic & Skin Care Bases | Bramble Berry
Be careful with the idea of adding extra stuff into or on top of any soap. Many suppliers provide instructions about how much extra fat or fragrance that should be added to their soap bases, and you'll be wise to follow those guidelines. Remember too that things like oatmeal flakes or flower petals on the top of soap can grow mold as well as make a mess in the tub or shower.
Yes, it can be done, but they don't end up nearly as attractive as either Melt & Pour soap or Cold or Hot Process soap. It's really a lot of work to re-batch store bought soap (that's what it's called - re-batch) in order to get soap that looks about the same as Hot Process soap. The one Pro to it is, you can end up with very hard and very long lasting soap by using commercial soap. And if you are reluctant to use lye, that's a pro as well. But you don't have to use lye if you use Melt and Pour soap base either, and you can be so much more creative with MP than you can with commercial soap, in my experience. (Yes, I have done it. Still have some, but don't like it.)
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