1) Melt the soap over a double boiler. Keep it covered with a lid so as to avoid loss of moisture. Bulk glycerin soap base usually has around 12%-13% water in it, and the process of melting evaporates that water out. If you were to melt the soap, let it harden, remelt it, let it harden again, and so on, eventually the soap would loose its moisture become flaky or waxy. Some people use a microwave with success. The trick is to not let the soap get too hot. (If you don't have an "official" double boiler, just create one by putting some forks in the bottom of a big pot, filling it part way with water, and then setting a smaller pot inside).

Tip: To avoid excess bubbles in your soap, don't stir it like crazy, just lift the lid and nudge it occasionally during the melting process.

2) Add color. You can use food color, but only for lighter shades. Too much food color results in a soap which will stain your hands or washcloth. We sell many varieties of colors -- gels, nuggets and powders. Visit our Web Store to find these products. Other options include spices like turmeric (yellow) or paprika (pink).

Tip: When you add a powdered or ground colorant, think of it like making gravy. Don't add it directly to the entire batch of soap or you will get clumps of color. Rather, separate a small amount of soap out into a dish, add the colorant until it is like a paste, and then stir this paste back into the main soap pot.

3) Add scents. Because you are working with pre-made bulk soap, you can scent it with just about anything. Your favorite perfume, for example, or a pure essential oil. You can visit our Soap Scents page in the Web Store to view our selection of scents. How much to add depends on your preference. If you are using a fragrance oil, we recommend about one tablespoon of fragrance per pound of soap. Essential oils are quite concentrated and should be used more sparingly. Try starting with 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons of essential oil per pound of soap base. Only fragrances that are "skin safe" should be used. Be aware that many "potpourri" type oils are not necessarily skin safe.

Tip: The color of your scent will affect the color of your soap. A clear essential oil like lavender will not color the soap. A yellow oil like lemon will give a yellow hue.

4) Add other additives. You can customize your soap with small amounts of skin-loving ingredients such as almond oil, aloe vera, shea butter, and vitamin E. Refer to our "Advanced Tips" information for more details about additives such as these.

Tip: As with scents, your additive will affect the final appearance of the bar in terms of clarity and color.

5) Pour into molds. You can use many things for molds. Cookie cutters, candy molds, Tupperware, yogurt containers, PVC pipe. In our Web Store you will also find a large selection of wonderful soap molds. Once you pour the soap into the mold, air bubbles will tend to rise to the top. You can overpour and then shave the aerated surface off. Or, what we like to do is have a spritzer of rubbing alcohol which we immediately spray on freshly poured soap. The bubbles will instantly disappear. If you have any trouble releasing the soap from the mold, you can put the mold and soap into the freezer, take it out a half an hour later, let it set on your counter for a while until you see water beading up on the mold. Then pop the soap out. The beads of water help release the soap. For best results, do not leave the soap and mold in the freezer for long periods of time.

Tip: If you are using a mold that's open on top and bottom (like a cookie cutter), you will need to "seal the edges" so the liquid soap doesn't run out of the mold. One technique is to take a plate, pour a little soap on it (about 1/16th inch thick) and place the mold into the soap. Let this soap seal harden before you pour your liquid soap into the mold.

6) Use and enjoy. Your soap is ready to use as soon as it hardens and comes out of the mold. Because your soap is high in emollient glycerin, it is best to wrap it in plastic wrap or shrink wrap until you are ready to use it.

Now that you have the basics down, be sure to check out the information on our Melt and Pour Advanced Tips.

Be sure to visit our Web Store to find all the supplies you will need to make your own Melt and Pour soap creations.