Soap Making Supplies

You will need various soap making supplies and tools to make homemade soap. The method of soap making you choose will determine the materials you will need. There are four types of soap making: hot press, cold press, rebatching, and melt and pour.

Heat source (crockpot, double boiler, microwave)
Wooden or stainless stirring spoon
Soap molds
Lye
Cold water
Lard, oil, or other fatty acid
Fragrance oil and soap coloring as desired

Hot press soap making is probably the oldest method of making soap there is. It also can be dangerous, so make sure you’re well educated on the technique and take all safety precautions.

For Cold Press Soap:

Double boiler
Wooden or stainless stirring spoon
Soap molds
Lye
Cold water
Lard, oil, or other fatty acid
Fragrance oil and soap coloring as desired

As you can see, the tools for making cold press soap are basically the same as hot press. However, the techniques differ a bit. With hot press, there will be more heat applied and the process is a bit more difficult than cold press. Most soap makers seeking a traditional soap making method go with the cold press technique.

For Melt and Pour Soap:

Soap base (castile or glycerine)
Additives like fragrance oil, herbs and dyes as desired
Soap molds
Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle (to prepare molds and prevent bubbles in the soap)

Melt and pour is probably the easiest way to make soap. This technique is perfect for anyone new to the world of soap making, or anyone who wants to make an easy-to-create soap that’s just as good as hot or cold press.

For Rebatching:

Existing soap
Grater (used to turn existing soap into small grated pieces)
Milk or water
Fragrance, color and additives as desired
Double boiler to melt soap
Soap molds

Rebatching is a form of soap recycling. With the rebatching technique, you can use leftover soap to create brand new soap! This is also a simple soap making method that is quite similar to the melt and pour method.