Soap is a day to day household item which is mainly used for cleansing purposes. Soap which are used for such cleansing purposes are produced by treating vegetable or animals oil and fat along with an alkaline solution.
The history of cleansing soap dates back to 2800 BC. The receipt and substances used to produce soap in the past are different to the types of substances used at present.
In the 8th century, soap making was popular among countries such as Italy and Spain. And in the 15th century soap making was popular in France and was produced at an industry scale. Ever since then, soap making has spread throughout the world and gradually became an essential household item.
Today soaps have become a substance which goes beyond basic cleansing purposes. Increasing customer demands to personalize their material can be identified as one of the main reasons for such shift in the soap making industry. Consequently soap making has become an art of decorative material around the house. Individuals have taken great pleasure in molding their own soap bars in a preferred shape, color and fragrance to meet personal preferences.
The foundation for soap making in a household level is to have a soap base. A soap base is bar of soap which is made available for the purpose of melting and pouring to a soap mold in order to create a personalized soap bar. A soap base can be purchased as a standard or clear soap base or even as a fragranced/flavored soap base. Some of these fragrances include cocoa butter, honey, mango butter, olive oil etc. which are generally considered healthy for ones skin. Once a soap base is purchased an individual can simply pour it to a mold and create a bar of soap to match the theme of the house. However an individual also has the option of making the soap base from scratch. The necessary component and direction to make such soap from the scratch are made available in many soap making books as well as websites.
Once the soap base is ready, one may not necessarily have to incur a cost to purchase a soap mold. The soap base can be poured into any mold like item such as cups, plastic cases or anything which can hold high temperature. In such instances the only financial cost involved in soap making is to purchase the soap base.
The price of a soap base can vary based on many factors. The manufacturer, fragrance etc. are some of them. In many instances the soap base is sold in bulk. So once purchased, the soap base can be used to make multiple soap bars.
As a result soap making out of soap bases at a household level can be identified to be an enjoyable act which enhances the value and appearance of a bar of soap while delivering a great level of personal satisfaction.
Even though natural soap and synthetic ones are generally thought to be the same, merely because they partake in the same function, there are several differences between them. To begin with, natural soap is made of naturally occurring ingredients such as citrus fruits, strawberries, herbs, barks, etc, combined with natural fats, but synthetics are made of petroleum. Because of their key ingredients, natural soaps and synthetic soaps affect our bodies very differently. Why?
- Artificial or synthetic soap and detergents contain harmful preservatives and antibacterial agents to make them do the cleaning job better
- The ingredients of soap, whether natural or artificial have a tendency to react with the excessive minerals in hard water. This will cause a residue to be formed on the material we wash (dishes, clothes, etc) and when this residue enters our bodies especially that made due to synthetic soap can cause long-term damages.
- In order to make their cleaning power greater, the pH values of synthetic soaps are made to be at a higher level and this may damage and irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions in some people
All of the above mentioned disadvantages of synthetic soaps can be avoided if you start using natural soap which has no proven side effects. But, how do you truly know, if those soaps that are claimed to be natural stacked up in your local supermarket, are not loaded with chemicals too? Well, you can’t; that is why you should consider making your own natural soap at home. Read on and try this easy, simple and quick method of producing your own bar of soap using your favourite fruity fragrance.
In order to make natural soap you will need a soap base of your choice, colorants, fragrants and exfoliants and any additives of your choice. A soap base can be bought at a drugstore or supermarket. You can choose from a large variety of soap bases including colourless ones, colored ones and those made of glycerine, shea butter or goats’ milk. Soap bases make the soap easier to handle. These help you cut, carve or do whatever creative artwork you want on them once the soap is made.
The additives such as fruit peels, chopped herbs, etc and the colorants, exfoliants and fragrants (e.g. – mineral salts, dried flowers, fruit and floral essence, vanilla, etc) should be added and mixed well with the base. All products must be grated and placed in a non-reactive container. You can then microwave it for a few minutes (about 5 – 10 minutes, because you wouldn’t want the essence of your natural soap ingredients to die) and allow it to settle in moulds. However, you should apply a thin layer of petroleum gel on the mould so that the soap can be removed easily. With this simple, 20-minute process, you will have all your favourite natural soaps and won’t have to worry about all those harmful side-effects of artificial cleaning agents.
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