What Is Soap Base?
Soap base refers to the unscented saponified base of any soap. It's a finished soap that does not contain any scents, colors, or other additives, so it's the best option for beginner soap makers as it allows you to save time and helps increase your chances of success.
Soap bases can be divided into solid and liquid. Solid bases are used for classic bar soap, and liquid ones are suitable for making hand soap, shower gels, shampoos, and other liquid soap products. Soft (creamy) soap bases are also used for making scrubs.
Solid (or melt and pour) soap bases can be white or transparent. White soap base, also known as opaque, contains titanium dioxide, which gives it a white color. The transparent soap base contains an added sugar alcohol blend that gives it a transparent appearance. Melt-and-pour soap bases often contain extra glycerin that helps keep the base soft and meltable, making it easy to work with.
Types of soap bases
Several types of soap bases can be used to make soap. Some common types include:
Glycerin soap base: This type of soap base is made with glycerin, a natural humectant that helps to draw moisture to the skin. Glycerin soap is usually clear or translucent and can be easily melted down and poured into molds. You can buy a Glycerin soap base here.
Shea butter soap base: Shea butter is a rich, natural emollient often used in skin care products. Shea butter soap base is creamy and luxurious and is often used in soaps designed for dry or sensitive skin. You can buy Shea butter soap base here.
Olive oil soap base: Olive oil is a nourishing and moisturizing oil often used in soap making. Olive oil soap base is typically green or yellow and has a rich, creamy lather.
Coconut oil soap base: Coconut oil is a popular ingredient in soap making, thanks to its ability to create a rich, bubbly lather. Coconut oil soap base is often used in soaps designed for oily or acne-prone skin.
Castile soap base: Castile soap is made with olive oil and is known for its gentle, moisturizing properties. Castile soap base can be used to make a variety of different types of soap, including liquid soap.
Goat milk soap base: Goat milk soap base is made with fresh goat milk, rich in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the skin. Goat milk soap is often used in soaps designed for sensitive or dry skin. You can buy Goat milk soap base here.
Aloe vera soap base: Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer that is often used in skincare products. Aloe vera soap base is typically clear or translucent and is often used in soaps designed for sunburned or irritated skin.
How to Make Soap with Soap Base
If you want to make melt-and-pour soap, you must buy a soap base (usually sold in blocks), cut a small amount into small chunks, and melt it down using a heat-resistant container. Then, add the desired additives-essential oils, colorants, plant extracts, exfoliants, and more and mix them gently to prevent bubbles. Pour the mixture into a silicone mold and allow it to cool and harden for a few hours. Once the soap has set, take it out of the mold, and it is ready to be used or packaged.
Making soap with a liquid soap base is also easy. Just put the soap in a container, add essential oils and plant extracts, mix well, and transfer to bottles. Essential oils are usually added at 2% to 3% of the total. If you want to adjust the viscosity of your liquid soap base, you can thicken it by adding salt water in small amounts until you reach the consistency you desire.
Keep in mind that essential oils affect liquid soap in different ways. Sometimes, you don't need salt water to thicken soap because your essential oil does the work for you. Essential oils can also affect the clarity and color of the liquid soap base. That's why you should always test an essential oil to see how it performs before scenting a large amount of soap. Allow the mixture to sit overnight, and examine it the next day to see what happened.
A ready-made soap base makes it easy to start making soap with minimum hassles and complexities. It is helpful to follow existing proven recipes when you are a beginner. This will allow you to get some essential experience, and then you will be ready to experiment with your scent mixes. Combining soap bases with essential oils will allow you to create perfect scent combinations and make unique soap products.
