Seven Best Practices of Expert Soapmakers

So you want to make your own soap, eh?

After countless web clicks and searches, you've finally done your homework on soapmaking. But, let's face it. You can't be a soap expert overnight. Like most crafts, it takes preparation, determination and a little bit of insanity. Soapmaking is essentially an unfolding learning process. Most of the time you learn from your mistakes more than you do from the recipes you follow. And yes, you shouldn't let those mistakes stop you. As you can see, even the best soapmakers in the craft make mistakes as well and they too have learned stuff the hard way. One good thing about soapmaking is that you're never really alone. With the use of the Internet, soapmakers are able to share their experiences, discoveries, experiments and insights with each other. This is why the craft itself IS evolving. Since we're here, allow me to share with you some best practices that I found most helpful.

Double-check the recipes you follow. Do not be complacent about written information even if it's a recipe you got from an expert or a trusted online source. There may have been typos in the recipe or miscalculations with the values. Always run the numbers through a lye calculator to make sure everything's okay. If you are creating your own recipe, run your numbers through the calculator twice to be sure. Learn to use calculators and conversion charts. That's because some recipes call for amounts in different measuring units that you're used to - for instance, volume instead of weight. You could either consult conversion charts or do manual conversions yourself (but this takes a little math skill). Whatever you do, always double-check. Keep this saying in mind: It was Complacency that killed the cat, not Curiosity.

Learn the essence of labels. Read the labels on the products you buy. If you run into any problems with the equipment or ingredients you bought, do not be afraid to let their manufacturers know. You have to trust me when I tell you that if they value their business, they will take your comments or suggestions seriously. If you have time, I suggest researching on the various chemicals you see on the labels of your ingredients, especially those which have names that are hard to say outloud. After all, a little knowledge goes a long way.

I'm not just talking about learning how to read labels. I'm also talking about labeling your stuff. Color-code the labels if you can. For example, I use red marker to label my lye solution container and the bottles for my fragrance oils. This helps remind me and the people in my house that those items are dangerous (well, this is partly because I have a big poster on my wall saying, "Items with RED marks are dangerous. Do not touch."). I print some of my labels using a colored printer to make it easier to label new items. I label everything from my Rubbermaid containers to the drawers in my desk. Whenever I leave soap out to cure for days, I mark their containers with the dates I finished making them so I can count the number of days that have passed more accurately. I admit that I have very poor memory and labels help me compensate for it.

Get your lye-to-fat ratios right. This is very important if you're a fan of cold process soapmaking. Although hot process soapmaking is a little lenient when it comes to lye volume, it pays to accurately measure your ratios too. There are many reliable lye counters and fat-to-lye tables found online, and you should try using those liberally.

Get your soap mixture to trace correctly. Trace is what a lot of soapmakers call "the point of no return". This is where the lye and the original oils in your mixture will no longer be able to separate back. With the introduction of stick blenders to the craft, getting soap to trace no longer takes a long time. Some soapmakers use their instinct when it comes to determining whether their soap mixtures have achieved trace. One technique in determining if you've achieved trace is by dipping your spoon or spatula in the mixture and dribbling a bit of it back. If it leaves a small mound of soap that takes a second or two to disappear back into the mixture, you're there.