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Learn to rebatch soap with added oils and herbs
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If you want to delve into the world of soap making but are too afraid to work with lye, consider making a new soap bar using old bars. Remolding soap allows you to learn the basics of soap making while experimenting with additions, such as oatmeal and essential oil. This is also a great way to salvage botched batches of homemade soap. The process is called hand-milling and produces what's known as "hand-milled" or "rebatch" soap. Read on to learn more!
How to Melt & Remold Soap
Grate the soap or cut it into small pieces and heat it with water in a double-boiler or crock pot on medium heat. Mix occasionally until the soap softens. Add any colors, fragrances, oils, or herbs, then press the melted soap into molds and allow to dry for 1 - 2 days before de-molding and using.
Steps
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Choose a soap base. Use any soap, but something unscented and natural, such as pure-castile soap, would work best. This will give you more options for customization later on. Plan on using about 12 ounces (341 grams) of soap.- Melting soap and then remolding it into new bars is referred to as hand-milling or rebatching soap.
- Rebatched soap will have a grainy texture once cured and won’t be as smooth as a regular bar of soap.
- If you use leftover soap scraps, try to match the same scent. Otherwise, you might end up with a not-so-nice fragrance.
- Mixing colors is fine, but keep in mind that they may not always blend together to form a new color. Sometimes, they may appear as specks or swirls.
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Grate or cut the soap into small pieces. The easiest way to do this is with a grater, but mincing or cutting the soap with a knife also works. The smaller the pieces, the faster your soap will melt.Advertisement
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Place the soap into a double boiler. Fill a saucepan with 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water. Set a heat-safe bowl on top; make sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the bottom of the pan. Pour the grated soap into the bowl.
- If you have a crock pot, use that instead if you like.
- It’s also possible to melt the soap directly in a saucepan without the bowl but use a smaller saucepan to ensure the soap doesn't scorch. [1] X Research source
- Melt the soap in the microwave in a glass bowl covered with plastic wrap, heating it for 30 seconds at a time. Stir after each 30 seconds until the soap melts.
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Pour water into the saucepan with the soap. You need 9 ounces (255 milliliters) of water per 12 ounces (341 grams) of soap. [2] X Research source Adding water helps soften the soap up. Avoid adding too much liquid, however, or the soap won't dry properly.
- If you want something extra-special, try tea or milk instead. Regular cow’s milk, goat's milk, or buttermilk are all good add-ins.
- If you use freshly-made cold process soap, you may not have to use as much liquid, if any. [3] X Research source
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Heat the soap, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Turn the stove on to medium-high heat and allow the water to come to a boil. Stir the soap every 5 minutes or so with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Make sure that you scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to keep the soap at the bottom.
- If using a crockpot, cover it with a lid and set it to high heat. Crack the lid open and stir it occasionally – every 5 minutes or so – so the soap does not burn.
- If you heat the soap in a pot without the bowl, use low heat. [4] X Research source
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Continue cooking and stirring the soap until it softens. Rebatch soap will never fully melt like melt-and-pour soap. Instead, it will turn into a grainy mixture, sort of like oatmeal or mashed potatoes. Be patient. This can take about 1 to 2 hours.
- At some point, the soap will no longer change texture. If some time has passed, and the soap still looks the same, it won't melt any further. [5] X Research source You are ready for the next step.
- If the soap starts to scorch or change to a brownish color, turn down the heat and add in a little cold water. [6] X Research source
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Allow the soap to cool to 150 to 160°F (66 to 71°C). You do not have to add any of the extras from this section if you don't want to, but they make your soap feel more luxurious. You also don't have to add all of the extras. Choose one or two (or three!) that appeal the most to you!
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Stir in some fragrance oil or essential oil for a nicer scent. Plan on using about ½-ounce (15 milliliters) per 12 ounces (341 grams) of soap. [7] X Research source If your soap is already scented, you might want to skip this step or use a fragrance oil with a similar scent. For example, if your soap base is lavender scented, you could add in an extra drop of lavender oil.
- You don't need to use as much essential oil as [ Soap-making fragrance oil. This is because essential oil is much more potent.
- Do not use candle making fragrance oil. It is not skin-safe.
- Another option for fragrance is through spices. This will also give your soap some color. Plan on using 1 to 2 tablespoons (7.5 to 15 grams) of spices, such as ground cinnamon.
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Mix in some nourishing oils for extra luxury. If you want your soap extra fancy, add a few drops of nourishing oils, such as vitamin E, jojoba, almond, etc. Anything that you'd put on your skin is great for soap. Don't get too carried away here, however; too much oil can affect the curing process!
- Another nourishing additive is honey. Not only will it make your soap smell nice and be more moisturizing, but it will also give it a nice, golden color. Plan on using ¼ to ½ cup (90 to 175 grams) of honey.
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Add a few drops of soap-making dye for color. Because the soap-making dye is translucent, this option is only recommended for white-colored soaps. Purchase some soap-making dye online or from an arts and crafts store. Color your soap by adding 1 to 2 drops, then stir it in. Keep stirring until no streaks remain. If the color is not deep enough for you, stir in another drop.
- Soap making dye is very strong. Mix in 1 to 2 drops at a time until you get the color you want.
- You must use soap making dye. Do not substitute candle-making dye, as it is not skin-safe. Food coloring will not work, either.
- Add dye to brighten an existing color. For example, deepen a light blue soap base with blue dye.
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Add some texture with botanicals and exfoliants. This is great for those with dull or dry skin. The exfoliants gently buff away dry skin, leaving your skin feeling silky-smooth. Great choices include sea salt, oatmeal, and dried lavender buds. Herbalist Julie Brow-Polanco says, “Some great herbs that make beautiful soaps and are good for the skin are calendula flowers (not to be confused with marigolds), frankincense essential oil, geranium flowers and essential oil, myrrh, Irish moss, comfrey, carrot seed, and chickweed.” Here are the recommended amounts for every 12 ounces (341 grams) of soap:
- ¾ to 1 cup (90 to 120 grams) of exfoliants, such as oatmeal, almond meal, coffee grounds, etc.
- 1 cup (50 grams) of herbs with low volatile oil content, such as chamomile, calendula, and lavender. The herbs can be fresh or dried.
- 1 to 2 tablespoons (1 to 2 grams) of high volatile oil content herbs, such as rosemary. They can be fresh or dried.
- Adding botanicals and then wrapping the finished soap is also a cute gift idea.
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Prepare the mold to hold the melted soap. Purchase a plastic soap-making mold . If your mold is plain and you want fancy soap, add a rubber soap-making stamp into the bottom, design-side-up. If you want to, lightly spray the inside of the mold with non-stick cooking spray or rub a little bit of petroleum jelly into it to make it easier to get the soap out. [8] X Research source
- Purchase soap making molds and stamps online and in arts and crafts stores.
- Alternatively, you could use a silicone ice cube tray or baking mold.
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Scoop the soap into the mold. Because this soap is thick, you won't be able to pour it in. Instead, scoop the soap into the mold using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Smooth the back of the mold down with the spoon or spatula.
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Drop or tap the soap mold on your counter top to release air bubbles. Hold the soap mold about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) above the counter, then drop it. This will settle the soap in the mold and release any air bubbles. You may need to do this a few times.
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Allow the soap to dry for 1 to 2 days before de-molding it. Once the soap is dry, carefully pull it out of its mold. If you used a long, rectangular, soap-making mold, cut the soap into 1-inch (2.54-centimeter) thick slices.
- If you are in a hurry, pop the soap into a freezer for 1 to 2 hours before de-molding it.
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Allow the soap to cure, if necessary. Depending on the type of soap you use, your rebatch may still feel a little soft and gummy. In this case, set it down on a wire cooling rack and let it air dry for 2 to 4 weeks. If you used store-bought soap, you might not need to do this, but if you used freshly-made cold or hot process soap, you most likely will.
- Some types of rebatch soap (typically made from store-bought bases) only need to dry for 2 days.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I melt a Dove bar soap?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt may be possible to use Dove hand soap for melting and reforming into a bar of soap but people report varying degrees of success because there is a lot of moisturizer in Dove soap, and this can impact the effectiveness of the rebatching process. Look for a rebatch recipe specifically focused on Dove soap, and that shows a successful outcome in the photos. If you find it’s just not working, Dove soap is reported to make an excellent liquid soap, although it can be a bit of a pricey way to produce it!
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QuestionCan I melt soap in the microwave?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou can melt soap in the microwave, just be sure to use microwave-safe dishes. Use glycerine soap pieces or bar (other soaps may explode in the microwave), and grate or chop the soap into very small pieces. Put the pieces into a microwave-safe dish and either add a lid or microwave-safe food wrap to prevent splatters. Then, microwave on high in spurts of 15 to 20 seconds. Remove and stir, then continue heating in bursts until the melting is done (reduce to 5 second bursts when close to melting). Handle the melted soap with care, as it will be very hot.
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QuestionCan you melt soap on the stove?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, melting soap on the stove is a standard way of rebatching soap. The article above explains the full process to follow.
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Tips
- One can also just let the leftover pieces of soap sit in water for a while until they get soft and pliable. Then squeeze them together in your hands till they stick together. Let this new "bar" set a bit till it firms up and you have a new bar to use.Thanks
- Don't toss that last bit of bar soap. When you're ready to start a new bar of soap, make sure the old soap is wet and stick it to the new one. It will melt right in after the first wash.Thanks
- Have a window open or a fan turned on, especially if your soap is scented.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- 12 ounces (341 grams) soap
- 9 ounces (255 milliliters) water
- Cheese grater
- Double boiler
- Soap-making mold
- Soap-making dyes (optional)
- Soap-making fragrances (optional)
- Soap-making stamp (optional)
- Essential oil (optional)
- Herbs, spices, etc. (optional)
- Wooden spoon or rubber spatula
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about soap making, check out our in-depth interview with Shelley Williams .
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHoskNgjvk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHoskNgjvk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHoskNgjvk
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHoskNgjvk
- ↑ https://www.savvyhomemade.com/rebatching-soap/
- ↑ https://www.savvyhomemade.com/rebatching-soap/
- ↑ https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/rebatch-soap-plastic-baggie-technique-2/
- ↑ https://www.savvyhomemade.com/rebatching-soap/
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you want to make a new bar of soap out of the remnants of old bars of soap, grate or cut the old soap into small pieces and place the pieces into the top part of a double boiler. Pour water into the bottom of the double boiler, then add a little water, tea, or milk into the soap. Slowly heat the soap on medium-high until it’s melted, stirring every 5 minutes or so, for 1-2 hours. When the soap is melted, scoop it into a mold. Tap the mold on your table or counter several times to release any air bubbles, then allow the soap to dry for 1-2 days. To learn more about adding additional oils or exfoliants to your soap, continue reading below!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My son is autistic and hand washing is a challenge. He freaks out when the soap gets too small, and won't wash at all. This is a great way to reuse those small bits and finally make a soap bar for him to use that won't cause meltdowns. Thanks!" ..." more
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"My son is autistic and hand washing is a challenge. He freaks out when the soap gets too small, and won't wash at all. This is a great way to reuse those small bits and finally make a soap bar for him to use that won't cause meltdowns. Thanks!"
..."
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"I have some Savon de Marseille soap flakes from France and wanted instructions to make bar soap with them, adding a color and fragrance. This link gave me clear, complete instructions with great videos showing consistency and texture. Highly recommend."
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"Honestly, I was just happy to read about how long it takes for soap to re-harden. I like to melt bar soap so that I can pour it over loofah. The warm, liquid soap oozes into all those holes and cools into a one piece soap/loofah combo. Convenient!"
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"This article has been very helpful! I was frustrated by wasting smaller soaps and the money for buying the new ones. I asked wikiHow and got detailed steps on how to perform each step to my eventual success. Thanks to the team."
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"Have been doing the melting after grating and put it into old traveling soap containers. Want to add this time a bit of foam bath and see if it works better. The foaming is not always as good as before, so I will try it."
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