Homemade Soap Supplies

If you want to make your own soap, you'll need to load up on the proper homemade soap supplies. Melt and pour soap making does not require a lot of special soap making supplies, but cold process does. There are several natural soap making supplies you'll want to have in the house before you begin making your own soap.

Safety Equipment
Because you'll be working with lye, which is a very caustic substance that can hurt you if it touches your bare skin, you'll need a full suit of armor. We're talking a raincoat, rubber gloves, thick trousers, goggles and rubber boots. Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and protect yourself well.

Measuring Equipment
To make sure you get your ingredients measured correctly, you'll need to load up on the proper measuring equipment. Make sure you have measuring cups, a set of measuring spoons, scales, vials and a cooking thermometer to watch temperatures.

Cookware
You'll also need an old set of heavy saucepans you don't mind devoting to soap making. Other homemade soap supplies include bowls, wooden spoons with extra long handles, knives for slicing soap and products, and a stick blender to save your arm when stirring the mixture.

Molds
Unless you want to make soap loaves (which can be sliced into chunks and wrapped in cellophane), you will want to invest in homemade soap molds. These can be found in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are reusable.

Botanicals
Examples of botanicals you may wish to add are Aloe vera extract, calendula flower petals, chamomile flowers, eucalyptus leaves, lavender flowers, lemon peel powder, peppermint leaves, sandalwood powder or rose powder.

Oils
You may want to keep some oils on hand as options. Some great soap oils include avocado oil (moisturizing), apricot kernel (great for oily skin), castor oil (anti-inflammatory properties), coconut oil (better lathering), olive oil (gentle, good for sensitive skin), hemp oil, shea butter or cocoa butter (extra moisturizing) and palm oil (great lather.)Colorants
Keep colorants on hand as well. Choose from oil-based, water-based, natural and artificial colorants to make your soaps vibrantly or gently tinted, depending on the effect you desire.