Soap making is a fun and creative activity that allows you to make soap from scratch with your own unique ingredients. Whether you are just starting out or have been soap-making for years, having the right supplies is essential for success. In this article, we will look at all of the supplies needed for soap-making so that you can get started on your soap-making journey!
Supplies needed for soap making include soap molds, immersion blenders, mixing containers, thermometers, mixing utensils, scales, and safety equipment such as gloves or goggles. Some of these may be optional starting out depending on the soap you are making.
This is stuff you will accumulate over time as you start your soap-making journey but there are a few things you will need to initially purchase starting out, even as a hobbyist.
Basic Soap Making Supplies
The most basic soap-making supplies include soap molds, safety equipment, and soap ingredients.
Soap Molds
Soap molds are usually made of plastic or silicone and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can find soap molds online or in craft stores.
Safety Equipment
It is essential to have safety equipment when soap-making, such as gloves and goggles. This will help protect you from the harsh ingredients used in soap-making.
Soap Ingredients
The soap ingredients will depend on the type of soap you are making. Common soap-making supplies include lye, oils, butters, and fragrance. However, you can start out with melt-and-pour soap as well, which will make the process somewhat easier.
This is the absolute minimum that you need to get into soap making, assuming that you already have a few mixing utensils and mixing bowls. If you do not have everything that you need but still want to save money then a second-hand store such as Goodwill is a great place to load up on some simple equipment you can use for soap making.
Advanced Soap Making Supplies
Immersion Blender
An immersion blender is a tool used to mix soap ingredients together. This will create a smooth and consistent soap batter, and make soap-making much easier.
Scale
A precise digital scale is essential to soap-making in order to measure the soap ingredients accurately. Without accurate measurement, soap-making can become tricky.
Thermometer
A soap thermometer is used to measure the soap batter temperature, which helps ensure you are following proper soap-making instructions.
Heat Resistant Containers
In soap-making, a heat-resistant container is needed to mix soap ingredients and melt soap bases. Heat-resistant containers come in glass or stainless steel and can be found online or in stores.
Stirring Utensils
Stirring utensils are necessary to mix soap ingredients together and ensure everything is blended properly.
Soap Cutter
Once the soap is fully made and put in soap molds, soap cutters are needed to cut them into pieces. This will create a professional-looking soap bar.
Soap Stamps
Soap stamps are used to decorate soap bars with a unique design. These can be found in craft stores or online.
Funnel & Strainer
A funnel and strainer are needed to transfer soap batter into soap molds and strain out herbs and teas that you’ve used to infuse the soap.
This is not stuff you will need to buy all at once, you can pick it up as you go depending on the type of soap you are making and the equipment that is required. This will help spread out the cost over time and reduce the impact on your pocketbook!
Soap Making Kits
Soap-making kits are also a great way to start out as a hobbyist. It might cost slightly more than buying the equipment and supplies individually from a wholesaler but the benefit is being able to get everything you need in one kit, with the instructions included. Here are a few of the top soap making kits.
CraftZee Soap Making Kit
- Melt and pour shea butter soap base
- Silicone loaf mold
- 6 fragrances
- 6 dyes
- 2 cutters
- 1 pour pitcher
- 50 bags
Soligt-DIY Melt and Pour Shea Butter
- Melt and pour shea butter soap base
- 6 fragrance oils
- 6 dyes
- Glass measuring cup
- 2 dry flowers
- 2 silicone square molds
- 12 wrap labels
Tasska Melt & Pour Kit
- 2lbs organic soap base
- 2 measuring cups
- 4 silicone molds
- Dry flowers
- Pink salt
- Packing bags
ZenseMe Melt & Pour DIY
- 2lbs of shea butter mix
- 6 essential oils
- Mixed dried flowers
- 6-cavity silicone mold
- 4 color dyes
- 9 packaging wraps
Pros and Cons of Soap-Making Kits
Soap-making kits provide a great way to start soap-making as a hobby. They give you all the supplies that you need in one package, so you don’t have to worry about buying everything separately. However, soap making kits can be expensive if bought individually. The kits might also not include the exact tools or ingredients that are needed for the soap you want to make. Also, it’s important to consider the quality of ingredients and tools that are included in soap-making kits.
Pros of Soap Making Kits
- Ingredients all included
- Equipment all included
- Instructions all included
- Less time consuming
- Less stressful for beginners
Cons of Soap Making Kits
- More expensive to start out
- Less variety in what can be made
- Not ideal for those that want to sell soap
- Can only make small batches
As you can see, the supplies you get when starting out really depend on what your ultimate goal really is. Are you wanting a new hobby to learn where you can make a few bars of soap for fun or are you wanting to learn a new craft that can lead to a business down the road?
If you are simply a hobbyist go with the soap-making kit and learn the ins and outs of soap-making. However, if you want to make large batches and try to sell soap then you are going to need to start out a little bigger and spend a little more money.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, soap-making kits are easy to use and come with detailed instructions that walk you through the process. What’s great about soap-making kits is that they come with all the soap-making supplies you need in one convenient package.
Yes, soap-making kits typically include a soap base. Some soap kits may also include additional soap bases such as shea butter, almond oil, or mango butter soap base.
Yes, it is best to follow the instructions included with your soap making kit. If you are looking for other soap-making supplies such as soap molds, fragrances, and dyes, they can be found at most soap-making suppliers.
No, soap making can be an affordable hobby if you buy soap-making supplies in bulk or get a soap-making kit. Additionally, you can find soap-making supplies at a wide range of prices and some soap makers even repurpose items for soap molds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soap-making can be an interesting and creative hobby. Soap-making kits are a great way to get everything you need in one package. They come with soap bases, soap molds, fragrances, dyes, and other soap-making supplies as well as detailed instructions on how to make soap.
You may also find cheaper soap-making supplies at soap-making suppliers or repurpose items from secondhand or thrift stores to help you get started. No matter how you choose to go about soap making, it is an affordable hobby with plenty of room for creativity.
