Teach Soap

It it what it sounds like? If I bought soap bars from a store, melted to add my own flavours etc, is that is classed as melt and pour?

Thanks x

Wiki Words not my own....

Melt and Pour Soap Crafting is a process often used by soapmakers. The process differs from the cold process or hot process in that no soap is made (i.e. no actual saponification occurs) in the process; a melt and pour soap base acquired in commerce is melted in a direct heat melter or water jacket melting pot (large double boiler) and additional items such as fragrance, essential oils, moisturizing agents, colorants, or exfoliating agents are added. While still hot, the concoction can be poured into individual molds, tray molds, or blocks which upon cooling can be sliced.

Melt and pour does not give the soaper complete control over the ingredients (i.e., the choice of fat to use). Most soaps do not melt readily once they have saponified; the exceptions are clear glycerin soaps, and white soap made from white coconut oil. Melt and pour bases are typically manufactured from these types of soap.[citation needed]

Some soapmakers prefer melt and pour because the process is easy and allows the soapmaker to concentrate more on the aesthetic aspects of soap making. It also avoids the need to handle lye, which is a hazardous and very caustic chemical. However, as with rebatching, it can be considered a misnomer to refer to the melt and pour process as soap making.

Other processes used by soapers are cold process, hot process and rebatching.

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now know as Gwenann's Sudz...

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

They will not melt smooth, but they will soften up considerably, and you can add a small bit of water to them as well. I tried to "rebatch" a bar of dial soap that I had since it was not getting used, and I wanted to play around. I was able to melt it to a "gloppy state" and then scrape it into a mold. It is not as "stuck together" as the original bar, and the texture is no longer smooth, but it was an easy way to play around with the shape.

I tried that when I first started. That's actually what got me into wanting to make soap. I found the process in one of my books and decided to try it. I managed to "melt" the bar of soap with some water and got it smooth. It took forever, did it in a double boiler, but it did eventually get smooth. Added fragrance and poured into a mold. It was so much fun. I would recommend buying a base from a reputable vendor such as Brambleberry and using it instead of bars of soap. It is much easier and you don't have to add water. You can create a lot of fun designs or make a really nice bar of soap.

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Haven