Cold pressed soaps? Or, Melt and pour soaps? Which is better??

Question

I'm just getting started making and designing my own line of homemade soaps, but I can't tell which is better... Cold-pressed or Melt and pour. Also, does anyone know the best recipes for either?

I know one takes a lot more time to "cure" than the other, but is that the only difference? is there any point to making cold pressed soaps?

Also, I would like to know if anyone knows of any all natural or organic recipes, or websites that I can find likewise ingredients? that's kind of the market I am looking to focus toward..

Answer 1

Both soaps are very good, it depends on what you specifically want from your soap as to which kind you prefer.

Glycerine is just that.  Basically glycerine soap base is made from the glycerine that cold process soaps produce.  It melts at a fairly low temperature, has already been cured so there is no waiting time, and is normally advertised as some sort of beauty bar.

http://www.eaudrey.com/glycerin.htm

http://www.teachsoap.com/recipes.html

With cold process soaps you control ALL the ingredients that go into your soap and it retains all the glycerine.  It is lye, water, and oils mixed together and stirred until trace.  Then poured into molds and left for at least 24 hours to set up.  Then this soap must be left to "cure" for a few weeks.  People have different opinions on the curing time, it goes from 3 weeks to 6 weeks.  I personally let mine cure for 8 weeks to make sure that the lye has become inactive.  Most people consider this "Lye Soap", little do they know you cannot make any soap without using lye.  With cold process soap you control what goes into your soap... coconut oil makes a soft tiny bubble lather, vegetable oil makes a bigger bubbled lather, you can superfat your soap which means adding extra oils at trace, lots and lots of different things can be done with cold process soap.

If you are looking for natural herbs to add to your soaps, go to your local health food store and look at their herbs and roots.  The variety will be overwhelming.  I also suggest you get a book on the healing properties of roots and herbs, for instance you wouldn't want to add feverfew to soap for someone that has hayfever.  Also you need to study up on your essential oils and their healing properties.  While you're in the health food store, talk to the people working there, they're generally good for giving information or can point you in the direction of a paticular book that gives the info you're looking for.

A good place for you to start with your cold process soap making is this website:

http://members.aol.com/oelaineo/soapmaki...

This is the website I got lots of info from when I first started making specialty soaps.  The recipes here are fantastic.

And just run a search on handmade soap recipes, you'll be amazed how many websites there are on this topic.  Here's another good website for you to look at:

ttp://www.soapcrafters.com/makebase.htm

You will want to read a lot of info on soap making before you start trying to market your product.  I'd also suggest you go to your local library and read books by Sandy Maine, she's a fantastic soap maker and has wonderful books full of recipes.

Here's a link to her website:

http://www.sunfeather.com/

One more thing I'd like to add is Packaging.  The look of your final product will either make you or break you.  You want your soap to be very eye catching.  Package it pretty and it will sell.  Also, if you sell at craft shows, etc. where you will be in contact with the public looking at your product, talk to the potential customers about your product, give them a tiny sample to use, give them a business card, let them see your enthuasim and passion for what you do and that will help sell your product also.