No, we aren’t talking about soap operas, we are talking about actual soap. You know, those rectangular bars you find in your bathroom or in your shower stall – the stuff you use to clean yourself. Believe it or not, soap has had quite a history dating back as early as 2800 BC. It has often been believed that our earliest ancestors were somewhat uncouth when it came to personal hygiene but now such may not be the case. It seems even our earliest ancestors knew the value of both looking and smelling clean.

Think about it, will you? 2800 BC. That’s before the time of your advanced smart phones, high speed internet, ADT Security, and even television itself – that’s ages ago. And yet we find that during the rule of Nabonidus (from 556 – 539 BC) that a recipe was used to create a kind of soap made from ashes, cypress oil and sesame seed oil for the intended purpose of washing stones for the servants. And the history lesson doesn’t stop there. All throughout history, primitive forms of soap have been employed by our earliest ancestors. Can you blame them? It was good common sense – clean bodies, aside from being more appealing, helped prevent disease.

Soap can be created using two basic methods. Cold processed soap is the more complicated and time consuming method, but beautiful, natural soaps are the result. The Melt and Pour method is much simpler and quicker, and allows for a lot of creativity in the type of soap you make.

The basic ingredients for cold processed soaps include water, lye, and oil. The water and lye are carefully combined, and then oils such as palm or coconut, is then added. The ingredients must be mixed for 30 minutes or more, and then poured into molds. Melt and Pour soaps are Continue reading…

Suffering from chapped hands, feet or various other skin conditions can leave a person feeling downright miserable. Special soaps and lotions that are sold in retail stores often don’t really help the problem areas or they are just too expensive to buy. Luckily it is possible to make these products right at home if you know the essentials of pure soap making.

Whether making soap for yourself or others, soap making can be a fun hobby and an added benefit is that you know exactly what is in the soap that is being made. Store bought soaps Continue reading…

Making soap goes back hundreds of years if some of the more traditional brands of soap are anything to go by. Soap making need not be an arduous task whether one is taking their maiden voyage or making a repeat visit.

For those who are new to making soap the basic ingredients one would need are lye, color, some oil, measuring and mixing equipment that will be able to withstand some heat and soap molds.

These ingredients are to be mixed in one after the other though it is imperative that Continue reading…

The real essence of soap making may be very different from what you expect. Soap has been a ‘cottage industry’ for millennia. It was the traditional role of women when the family hog was killed in the fall. Every one gathered around the iron pot and watched grandma make the soap because she was the only one who remembered the recipe. It was a traditional part of Indian Summer Ceremonies.
Now you can repeat this tradition in a more simple way. Whether your method is cold or hot, the endeavor is easy and fun. There are plant and Continue reading…