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Basic Melt and Pour Soap Recipe
What you’ll need: microwave, measuring cup (suggest glass 4 cup/ 1 qt), cutting board, knife or soap/veggie cutter, spray bottle with rubbing alcohol, mold, melt and pour soap base, liquid colorant, fragrance oil and dropper (one for every scent or wash thoroughly)
Optional: plastic mat (lay down on the counter for protection), wax paper, butter knife
Start by chopping your melt and pour soap base into small cubes. Since our melt and pour soap base is already cut into cubes, this makes it easy to cut and judge how many cubes you’ll need each time you make soap. (It is easier, however, the smaller you cut your soap for it to melt faster).
Put your soap cubes in the measuring cup. Do not fill the cup because it takes a longer time for the base to melt and it gets overheated. (Suggest approximately 2 cups worth at most).
Place the measuring cup in the microwave for intervals of 20-30 seconds. After each interval, take out and stir slowly. The goal is to prevent bubbles and to make sure all the soap is completely liquid before pouring it into a mold. Once the base is liquid, work fast but keep stirring slowly so the soap does not set, or get a skin on the top. Add your liquid colorant slowly until the desired color is achieved (the more color, the darker). Keep stirring slowly. Next, add your fragrance oil with your dropper. You should not add fragrance oil too soon after the melting because the heat may burn off the scent. (Suggest 3 or 4 droppers full of oil for 1 lb of soap, but it depends on how strong you want your scent and how strong your scent is to start with).
Now you can pour your soap into the mold of your choice. Pour slowly and fill to the top of the mold. (Helpful Hint: You can always estimate how much soap you will need by first using water to fill your molds.) Spray alcohol on the air bubbles so they dissolve. Move fast or your mold will set and look pulled when you move the mold to the freezer. Leave small and shallow molds in the freezer for 15 minutes (bigger and deeper molds for 30 minutes).
Have your drying rack or wax paper ready. Get your mold out of the freezer and push it out onto the rack or paper. (Helpful hint: Slightly touch the soap to the rack and it pops out easier. A butter knife may also loosen the sides but be careful not to ruin the soap shape.) Let the soap sit until dry (to be most careful, leave overnight). You can cover the soap with wax paper if you worry something may get on the soap. After it is dry, you can smooth the edges with your finger and package however you want.