Glycerine Soap Making

Glycerine soap is a clear, versatile type of soap that is a popular choice of soapmakers everywhere. Glycerine soap is great for normal, oily, or sensitive skin types. Here’s how to make your own glycerine soap:

1 lb glycerine soap
Soap molds
Rubbing alcohol in spray bottle
Soap coloring
Essential oil or fragrance oil
Double boiler

Mist soap molds lightly with rubbing alcohol. This will prevent unsightly bubbles from forming on the soap as it hardens.

Slowly melt the glycerine soap in a double boiler. The temperature should reach approximately 150 - 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat, then gently stir in coloring and fragrance. Slowly pour the melted soap into molds. Wait a few moments and watch for rising bubbles. Gently spray the top of the soap with rubbing alcohol to make the bubbles go away. Allow the soap to remain undisturbed for at least one hour. Then, transfer the full soap molds to your freezer and let them sit in there for 30 minutes. After removing from the freezer, let the soap sit in the mold for another 15 minutes, then remove. The soap should easily pop out of the mold.

There are many creative variations you can try with glycerine soap. With melted glycerine soap and a large cube-shaped mold, you can make a whimsical gift for the kids in your life. Try suspending a small rubber duck or bath toy in the center of the clear soap. You can do this by gently inserting it into the melted soap once it has thickened a bit but is still unhardened. Kids will love using the soap — the more they use it, the faster they get to the toy. Plus, it looks so cute!

Get creative and try different glycerine recipes. Glycerine soap can be adapted to suit any skin type simply by blending in different additives. For oily skin, try witch hazel and baking soda mixed with the glycerine. For dry skin, try blending in some olive oil or aloe for a simple yet therapeutic cleanser. No matter what your skin type, you can’t go wrong with glycerine!