If you have ordered less than a Kilo of soap base you will want to cut it into smaller chunks, this will aid the melting process.
Microwave directions - Melt in a microwave at 10- 20 second intervals on a medium setting, stirring gently in between. Be careful not to let the soap boil.
Double Boiler (Bain Marie) method - Half fill a saucepan with boiling water. With the water lightly simmering place a heat restistant bowl containing your soap above the water to melt.
Remove from the heat and allow the soap to cool slightly.
Add your fragrance, many soap makers work at 2% for Essential Oils and 3% for Fragrance Oils depending on your oils. A concentrated Fragrance will require less. Please check with your manafacturer for percentages as they can differ from oil to oil.
Now you can add your preferred colour, Wonder Colour, Mica, natural powders such as red/white/green clay used sparingly, flowers and herbs will all add natural colour. Mixing the additives with a little Isopropyl alcohol or vegetable glycerin beforehand can eliminate clumping when mixed into the liquid soap base.
Pouring water into your molds will give you a rough estimate or how much soap base you need per mold. If your soap mold carries 80ml of water, this will equal 80G of soap base.
Pour the soap slowly into soap moulds.
Spritzing the surface with isopropyl alcohol eliminate bubbles for a nice smooth surface.
Leave to cool preferably at room temp to reduce glycerin "sweat" and set for preferably 6 hours then ease them from the moulds.
