Homemade Soap Recipe

[Justinsane]

I've been reading up on making some of my own soap to see how it could compare to some that I'm paying too much for. I see some recipes asking for clay and some don't. I guess I'm confused as to what the difference could be. My best guess would be the soaps with the clay are more of a tallow soap and without the clay is a glycerin soap?

Does anyone have a recipe that has worked for them that they would like to share?

 

[luvmysuper]

I've been reading up on making some of my own soap to see how it could compare to some that I'm paying too much for. I see some recipes asking for clay and some don't. I guess I'm confused as to what the difference could be. My best guess would be the soaps with the clay are more of a tallow soap and without the clay is a glycerin soap?

Does anyone have a recipe that has worked for them that they would like to share?

The Bentonite Clay helps with "slip", making the lather slicker and easing the razors glide across the skin.

It can be done with simple melt and pour soap that you can buy at the Hobby Store.

Here's a thread I did because my favorite scent wasn't available as a soap, but you could substitute just about any fragrance you like.

While not very economical, it was quite fun.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=143911

 

[SliceOfLife]

Clay is usually added to Glycerin soaps to increase slip. It can be used in traditional soaps as well, but it's rare. How much it helps is at best questionable.


Basically making your own soap is not going to be cheaper than buying good soaps. It can be better though, and you get to pick the scent. Glycerin soaps aren't expensive to make, but I doubt you'll improve on the reputable makers we have around here. Traditional soaps... well my initial costs not counting scenting oils were in the area of $300. If you buy smaller supplies of fats and pay a MUUUUUUCH higher price for them, maybe $175-200. Once you buy scenting oils, a couple nice tools (burr mixer, etc), you're close to $500. I've invested well over $1000 to produce about 100 lbs of soap. Most of it I gave away or sold below my cost. The rest I've kept for myself, giving me a lifetime supply of soap for $1000. I played around with local sales that might have gotten my cost down a little, but in the end the potential profit didn't come close to justifying the necessary work.

You'd do better stocking up on your favorite soaps unless you have a LOT of friends who need soap. If you want to make your own soap, it's a hobby (or if you're really dedicated a potential enterprise) but it definitely isn't a frugal practice.

If you want a cold process recipe, I can give you some that worked well for me.

 

[Legion]

Watch Fight Club. The fat's free....

 

[luvmysuper]

Watch Fight Club. The fat's free....

Hey!!

Need I remind you of rule Number One?

 

[guitarslinger]

just buy this. 10 lbs, $25.

btw, this is exactly from what many of my favorite soaps are comprised.

simple.

http://www.brambleberry.com/Shaving-Melt-And-Pour-Base-P4384.aspx

 

[breadstick]

I bought some of the brambleberry shaving soap and melted it with some clay and some tobacco fragrance oil I found in a local shop and it works extremely well. I had problems with it at first, but that was my technique, not the soap.

 

[ferroburak]

just buy this. 10 lbs, $25.

btw, this is exactly from what many of my favorite soaps are comprised.

simple.

http://www.brambleberry.com/Shaving-Melt-And-Pour-Base-P4384.aspx

Thanks for the link. Btw they offer extremely cheap international shipment.

 

[ferroburak]

Besides a nasty smell how mixing tallow with bath soap would work?

 

[SliceOfLife]

Terrible.