3 Common Soapmaking Mistakes & How You Can Avoid Them

You might not be an avid soaper, trying it for the first time is the most important step that can make you a pro at soap making. If you’re new to soapmaking and feel that this art is hard to learn, remember, nothing in this world is impossible if you really want to do it. The good news is that you can always learn how and ace soapmaking if you manage to steer ahead of common mistakes. There are multiple factors to consider, including temperature, equipment, what mold to choose, and so on. 

In this blog, we will walk you through all the mistakes & how to avoid them to excel in the unique art of Soap making. 

Not researching before getting started

Preparation plays a critical role so that all your soapmaking efforts yield the results you aspire. First and foremost, learn how to work with lye. It’s also important to research what type of equipment to use, what recipe you’ll follow, what colors and fragrances you want the soap to have. 

Not preparing ingredients and soaping beforehand

Once the lye is poured into the oils, things can move forward in an expected way. Remember: You cannot afford to waste all the time brainstorming about mixing and trying different colorants and measuring out fragrances once the soap hits trace. Having everything in handy and easy to access will help smooth out the process. Also, it will help you remember all the ingredients you have added. Before you begin, make sure you have arranged all the tools on your soaping area, ranging from whisks, bowls, to spoons. Then, disperse powdered colorants and measure the chosen fragrance or essential oil in a glass container before pouring it. 

Not testing new ingredients

Each ingredient you choose for the soapmaking recipe will greatly influence how the final soap bar will look, feel, and smell. For example, adding a high percentage of olive oil will make the soap bar have a buttery soft feel, while it is going to be the opposite when adding a high percentage of hard oils, like coconut. Pouring an excessive amount of olive oil can also affect the color of the soap. 

Fragrance oils also lay a significant influence on the soap. Certain fragrances can exaggerate trace or cause the soap to separate. That’s why it’s important to pre-test new fragrances, colorants, Titanium dioxide, and other ingredients in your soap recipe before carrying on with the zeal to give it a try. You can also check how the item performs and adjust its contents if required. 

 

Final Thoughts

Do you think that soapmaking is as complicated as rocket science? Well, it's actually not, only if you can remember all the mistakes mentioned above, and try not to repeat any of them.