materials used, and the quality of the soap; however, it is quicker, more convenient,
and somewhat safer than making soap from scratch. Also, there is no need to wait
weeks for the soap to cure; the bars are ready to use as soon as they cool and harden.
Bars of fragrance- and dye-free soap base can be purchased from many craft and
soap supply stores. (You could also try to find some variety of unscented, additive-
free soap in a grocery or health-and-beauty store.) The bars are melted in a
microwave or double-boiler; if melting in a microwave, use 1 cup of grated soap to ¼
cup water. Microwave, using medium heat and stirring regularly, until the soap is
completely melted and the water has evaporated. Once the soap is melted, you can
add your own additives. The mixture only needs to be stirred until it is well-blended;
there is no trace stage, since the soap was already saponified before you purchased it.
Once the additives are blended with the soap, it can be poured into molds. Once it
has cooled and hardened, it is ready for use.
REBATCHING
Rebatching refers to the process of melting soap scraps, or chunks of soap base,
and remolding them. Rebatching is useful if you have soaps that are warped, or
otherwise aesthetically flawed, but still usable; it also helps to extract the full medicinal
or beautifying benefits from any herbs you have added to soap. The fresher the soap
is, the better, because the longer it cures, the less moisture it contains, and the harder
it is to melt. As with the melt-and-pour method, as soon as the soap hardens and
cools, it is ready to use.
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