Why I Love to Make Soap

This journey into soap making actually started years ago.  I took a class at a local CSA.  They were offering a class on making goat milk soap.  I loved the experience.  It touched every creative bone in my body.  

Colors ~ scents ~ swirls ~ bars ~ shapes

the possibilities literally were endless!

Then time marched on.  I always loved hand-crafted, natural soap, but somehow between the moments of homeschooling, being a mom, working part time, taking care of a small farm....I just never got around to it.

Then last winter, our hands were so dry and cracking, we knew we needed to get away from commercial soaps.  We started to shop at a local soap shop.  We loved the smells, the colors, the feel of the soap.  And then it hit me.  Why am I not making my own soap?

You really need very little to get started.  

• You don't need a mold, you can use a shoe box.
• You don't need exotic oils, you can use olive oil.
• You don't need a PhD, just a little training and a lot of research. 

I scoured the library for every soap book I could find.  There were dozens and dozens, but I kept coming back to one book.  One that was user friendly, easy to understand, explained things well, and had good pictures.

 I have since bought about a half dozen books and do enjoy the different recipes and scent variations. Here are some of my favorites: 

So, it has been a year that I have been making soap.  We use essential oils, blends of essential oils, skin-safe fragrance oils and lots of wonderful natural colorants.  I am forever amazed at the versatility of this wonderful craft.  You can make a soap any color, any fragrance, and any shape!

I get excited when I gather up my soap making supplies.  


What color will I use?
What scent will it be?
Will I do a drop swirl or spoon swirl?
Should I blend multiple essential oils?


I think this is why I love making soap so much - you can let your imagination go wild!

I have, however, settled on a traditional 5-ounce bar shape.  While you can make cupcake soaps and multi-colored soaps, I somehow love the simplicity of the basic bar size.  I think that is just what we are used to and it brings a sense of old-fashionedness to the soap. So, while the bar may be a standard shape - the soap itself - well, there's nothing standard about that!

I hope you will pop over to the Signature Soaps and Seasonal Soaps and see what is new.  New scents and colors are arriving daily.

I will also be showcasing my soaps at a local indoor Farmer's Market in March and a wonderful craft fair in April.  Then it will be a few months off to make more soap and get ready for the upcoming fall and Christmas season.

No rest for the weary, that's for sure.