True Brands Melt & Pour Soap

SOAP BASE ABOUT MELT & POUR SOAP

Melt and pour soap making is a fun, easy way to get started making soap.

Melt and pour soaps are pretty simple.

You melt the base, add your color, your chosen fragrance and other beautiful additives then pour into the mold. Voilà!

You now have a hand made soap you can call your own!

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO CREATIVITY AND COMPLEXITY!

TABLE OF CONTENT LEIGH LOPEZ Senior Editor Leigh López leads a skilled team in providing comprehensive information on all components of soap manufacturing including F o r m u l a t i o n , Pe r f o r m a n c e Evaluation, Cleansing Systems, Drying Systems, Saponification, Laundry Bars, and much more.

She has many years of experience and scientific expertise in testing and developing new innovative true soaps (also known as natural soaps), syndet soaps (commonly referred to as “commercial soap”), and cosmetic products (both natural and synthetic). One of her main mission is teaching soap chemistr y and practical soap making skills throughout communities.

This document serves to explain the Melt & Pour Soap Base we manufacture locally at True Brands and how it is used.

03

GETTING STARTED

05

ADDITIVES USED

What exactly is Melt & Pour Soap Base?

Additives that can be used in Melt & Pour soap base.

INGREDIENT LIST

Types of soap bases and their ingredients.

15 19

08

BEGINNERS GUIDE

Step by step guide to crafting your own melt & pour soap.

COST OF BASE

Types of soap base, packaging size, and price.

WHAT IS A MELT AND POUR SOAP BASE? Essentially, Soap Base is pre-made plain soap that can be melted, fragranced, coloured (if desired) and poured into molds.

Melt and pour soap bases are usually named and identified by the type of fat, oil or additive used to create it. For example, turmeric soap base is derived from a blend of turmeric oil and turmeric butter.

Goat’s milk soap was made using a significant amount of goat’s milk.

Soap bases are made with a variety of ingredients for their unique characteristics and properties. The different fats/oils and ingredients that make up the bases have different characteristics that lend to the final soap bar.

We offer a detergent free, vegetable based Melt and Pour Soap base, made using natural oils and cosmetic butters.

They are all SLES-free, the soap base is emollient, and cleanses your skin well.

The base is the main ingredient towards the simplest and safest way to create your own soap. All our bases are perfect for children, experienced soap makers and beginners alike. A common misconception about melt & pour is that it is lye-free. In order to make bar soap, lye, which correct name is sodium hydroxide, is a mandatory part of the soap making process. In other

words, you can’t have soap without lye!

While someone using the melt & pour base will not physically come into contact with lye, it was still used to make the meltable base you are using.

There are drawbacks to using melt & pour, although they are very few! One major drawback is the durability of the product. Melt & pour soaps aren’t usually a fan of direct sunlight, so if you are participating in a farmers' market, it is advisable to keep it away from direct heat to prevent melting and fading.

Another major drawback is melt & pour soaps need to be packaged in plastic, nonporous material, such as plastic wrap/cling wrap/shrink wrap as soon as it has set and hardened (there goes the environment!). Design-wise, it is a bit more difficult to attain swirls in melt & pour. Also, the base is not fully customizable. Because saponification has already happened, you cannot customize every single ingredient to suit your personal preferences. And the final drawback being; Melt and Pour isn’t’ making soap’. It is ‘soap crafting’ crafting soap that someone else made for you, what we call Soap Crafting! But it is a c o nve n i e n t w ay o f m a k i n g e a s y, customized soaps. | PAGE 3

MELT & POUR SOAP IS NOT MAKING

SOAP. IT IS CRAFTING SOAP THAT SOMEONE ELSE MADE FOR YOU. Just as with everything, where there are cons, there are pros, and one significant pro with this method is it’s great for beginners! You can craft melt and pour soaps with children as young as 4 once there is proper adult supervision. Melt and pour soap is quick to make, hardens in several hours, and doesn't need to cure. Design-wise, soap colors really pop, especially in translucent bases like our clear, turmeric, and honey soap bases. And, let's not forget that once the bar hardens, it's ready to use-no curing, no waiting!

Keep in mind, what we consider a con may be a pro for someone else. The take home here is, to realize that each soaping method has benefits and drawbacks as well. Always remember, which ever soap method you choose, be it melt & pour, cold process, hot process or re-batching, each method creates amazing handmade soap which we can all agree is better than mass made, commercial bars.

WHY USE MELT AND POUR SOAP BASES?

• Melt and pour soap allows you to have fun trying out soap making before jumping into more complex soaping methods.

The melt-and-pour process provides an easy way to create handcrafted soaps in a variety of shapes and styles. While not officially soap making, meltand-pour is a great way to be creative with soap and to do it safely enough. It’s also the perfect option to introduce soap making to children.

• You can make gorgeous soap in minutes with this method without taking too much time or skill to complete. Also has the potential for advanced artistry, too.

Some of the main benefits of using Melt and Pour:

• Great for beginning soap makers.

• Another creative option unique to melt and pour soap is creating a bar you can see straight into.

• Soap is already cured and safe for handling.

• Those with sensitivities to fragrances and essential oils can leave the bar unscented.

• It is quick and fairly easy to begin soap crafting.

• The soap is usable right away.

• No need to work with sodium hydroxide.

• Clean up for this method is quick & easy.

• Perfect for those that are in a hurry to have their soaps done. If you need to get your soaps ready quickly to give as a gift, or just excited to use it yourself, then this is a good soaping choice. There are fewer preparations and no curing time.

There is so much you can do with melt and pour soap! As long as you have some molds, additives, and a creative mind you can make most anything you want. While you aren’t in complete control of the ingredients that are in your soap base, there are some things that you can do. | PAGE 4

WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO MELT AND POUR SOAP? Soap-Safe Fragrances: Scent additives might impact the soap’s color, setting time, solidity, and transparency and may cause the soap to thicken quickly (an occurrence called “seizing” or “acceleration”) Suggested usage amounts: 0.3 oz.

– 0.4 oz. of fragrance per pound of soap. The amount can be increased, depending on the strength of the chosen scent.

Citrus scents are referred to as a fleeting scent, you may want to ground with a stronger scent.

Soap-Safe Colorants: Powder colorants, such as micas, oxides, clays, and ‘market powder colors’ liquid skin-safe colors, and color blocks may be used to effectively color your soap.

Botanicals: Always use dried herbs and botanicals. Due to their nature, botanicals can potentially

cause discolouration of the soap.

Always test before attempting large production. To try to prevent botanicals from discolouring soap, it is recommended to add them to the liquid soap when its temperature is lower than the melting point.

Embedded Objects: This is always fun! Place a toy on the bottom of each mould and lightly spray with rubbing alcohol.

Allow the soap to firm a bit, then pour remainder of soap base to fill the mold.

Allow soap to completely solidify and cool down, about 1 hour, before removing from the mould. Wrap in plastic wrap to store. | PAGE 5

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T ADD

TO MELT AND POUR SOAP? Despite the vast possibilities for melt and pour, there are a few additives that don’t work well if included in soap base. To understand why these ingredients don’t work, it’s important to understand what melt and pour soap is. As said on page 3, Melt and pour soap is readymade soap that was already taken through the saponification process. This means sodium hydroxide and oils, were combined together to make the base – just like making cold process soap!

Ingredients that require saponification: To become part of the soap, like sodium hydroxide, oils, butters, purees, milk, eggs, etc. don’t work well when added to melt and pour.

Think of it this way, you’ve made a sponge cake, and just as you take it out of the oven, you realize, you forgot the eggs and baking powder!

Since the cake has already been baked and is no longer cake batter, you can’t add eggs or baking powder as it can’t be mixed in at this stage. You can decorate the cake and top it with candles.

But, you can’t add ingredients into the cake that require baking.

Just like the cake, it’s too late to add fresh ingredients to a melt and pour soap base as it’s already fully made. However, you can still add fragrance, color, and a few other items.

Butters & Oils: Adding butters or oils could result in the final product being too soft or too oily and will compromise the lathering ability, cause separation, or prevent the product from properly hardening.

Baking Soda: Baking Soda is not recommended for use in soaps, as it negatively affects lather.

Melt & Pour Soap Bases Thankfully, there is a way to enjoy fresh ingredients in melt and pour projects. At True Brands we manufacture soap bases that contain coveted fresh ingredients like goat milk, fresh ‘turmeric’ rhizomes of Curcuma longa, honey, and aloe vera. Each of these Melt and Pour Soap Base (also referred to as M&P) contains various percentages of fresh ingredients.

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Our Goat Milk Soap Base contain 20% Fresh Liquid Goats Milk from a local farm. Our Honey Melt and Pour Soap Base contain 10% honey again, from local farms which gives this base a lovely, warm color. The Aloe Vera Melt and Pour Base contains 7% aloe vera gel. These ingredients are added at the saponification process, so they won’t go rancid.

To begin working with Melt and Pour soap, select a soap base that contains your preferred key ingredients and appearance, then determine how your ideal additives – fragrances, colorants, and others – will function in that base.

On the following pages we’ll go over the different soap bases we manufacture so that you can get an idea of what is available.

• Excellent moisturizing from a high glycerine content

Please allow for color variance due to the use of natural oils, and herbal additives.

IMPORTANT - Any time products are used on the skin, it is essential to test for safety. It is your responsibility to test any and all of our products to ensure satisfactory and safe results in your finished product. When adding ingredients to any soap base, only use skin-safe colors and fragrance oils.

Labelling Interested in selling your soap products made with our soap bases? Check out our brief overview on labelling guidelines for true soaps made in Trinidad and Tobago.

Wholesale Ordering Check out our Brochure & Pricelist for more information on ordering soap supplies in bulk.

Outstanding Qualities: • Vegetable based • Excellent lather • No animal testing

All soap bases are made in Trinidad and Tobago by True Brands. Each variety of soap is 100% Vegetable-based,

• Sulphate free

making them biodegradable and free of animal testing. Our

• Good foaming

nourishing lather.

• Neutral base for a superior fragrance lift

formulas result in smooth, creamy textures as well as skin-

Soap Base Type

Ingredients

African Black

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, African red palm butter, propanediol, plantain skins, cocoa pods, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Aloe Vera

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, aloe vera oil, aloe butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Annatto

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, olive oil, annatto butter, propanediol,, sorbitol, purified water, annatto extract, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Argan

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, aloe butter, argan oil, propanediol,, sorbitol, purified water, alcohol denat, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Australian Tea Tree

Vegetable glycerine,coconut oil, almond butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, alcohol denat, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, tea tree oil, castor oil, vitamin E.

Avocado

Vegetable glycerine,avocado butter, mango butter, coconut oil, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Baby’s First

Vegetable glycerine,olive butter, aloe butter, coconut oil, propanediol, sorbitol, lavender water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Castile (Olive oil soap semi transparent)

Vegetable glycerine,olive butter, olive oil, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Calamine

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, calamine butter, red hibiscus butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

CBD

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, cannabis butter (full spectrum), propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, alcohol denat, coconut acid, oat protein, CBD oil (full spectrum), sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Clear (transparent)

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, vegetable oil, coconut butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, alcohol denat, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Charcoal

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, vegetable oil, coconut butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, charcoal powder, castor oil, vitamin E.

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Soap Base Type

Ingredients

Coconut

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, coconut butter, mango & shea butter blend, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut extract, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Goat Milk

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, vegetable oil, coconut butter, propanediol, sorbitol, goat milk (farm fresh), coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Goat Milk, Honey & Coconut

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, mango butter, propanediol, sorbitol, goat milk (farm fresh), coconut extract, coconut acid, pure honey, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Honey

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, mango butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, pure honey, honey extract, castor oil, vitamin E.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Vegetable glycerine, soy butter, Jamaican black castor oil, Borututu shea butter, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Mango Butter

Vegetable glycerine, mango butter, coconut oil, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Neem

Vegetable glycerine, neem butter, neem oil, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Oatmeal

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, aloe butter, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, oat extract, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Soap Base Type

Ingredients

Oatmeal & Turmeric

Vegetable glycerine, turmeric oil, turmeric butter, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, oat extract, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Organic Coconut Oil (clear)

Vegetable glycerine, organic coconut oil, organic coconut butter, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut extract, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

3 Butter

Vegetable glycerine, red hibiscus butter, sorrel butter, coconut oil, mango butter, propanediol, sorbitol, hibiscus extract, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Shea Butter

Vegetable glycerine, shea butter, shea oil, coconut oil, propanediol, sorbitol, purified water, coconut acid, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Turmeric

Vegetable glycerine, turmeric oil, turmeric butter, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

White

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, mango butter, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, purified water, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

Volcano Spa

Vegetable glycerine, coconut oil, almond butter, sweet almond oil, propanediol, sorbitol, coconut acid, purified water, Volcano ash, activated chacoal powder, oat protein, sodium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, castor oil, vitamin E.

IT IS A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO MAKING SOAP AT HOME. NO SAFETY GEAR REQUIRED! One of the many benefits of the variety of melt and pour soap bases is the ability to choose a soap base with ingredients you like. Once you try one of our soap base you’ll quickly realize that melt and pour soap is incredible! Melt it, scent it, color it, swirl it, layer it, and pour into countless shapes and sizes. You’ll have way too much soap on your hands in no time!

Clear and White Melt and Pour is a good place to start.

They’re simple, cleansing, and ready to customize. The clear base will produce bright colors while the white soap base will produce pastel colors.

Fragrance: It’s a good idea to check the temperature of your soap and make sure it is between 140-150º F. Add your pre-measured fragrance to the soap base and stir well. A general usage rate is about 0.3 oz - 0.4 oz of scent per pound of soap. The amount can be increased, depending on the strength of the chosen scent. But be prepared to handle a few problems if you increase the amount of fragrance used.

It’s important to use skin-safe scents like ‘Fragrance Science’ the ones we manufacture at True Brands. Essential oils or fragrance oils made for Potpourri, craft, or candle fragrances may not be skin safe or tested for use in soap or cosmetics.

Herbs: You can incorporate dried herbs into your melted soap, stir gently then pour into your mold. Adding herbs or powders will provide your soap with certain properties. For example, if you use activated charcoal powder this will assist in making a more cleansing bar of soap that provides a deep pore clean. Regardless of why you want to add herbs, mica, or other powders, the best part is that you have the option to if you need it! Use at one (1) tsp per pound of soap base.

Color: There are lots of options for coloring melt and pour soap. Micas and Color Blocks are usually the preferred options. They are easy to use and they look great in the finished bars. We do not recommend using food coloring or crayons because they haven’t been tested or approved for skincare or use in soap. Any liquid dye that is water-based, non-bleeding, and skinsafe can be used to add color to Melt and Pour soap. Powder colorants, such as micas, oxides, clays, may also be used at 1 tsp per pound of soap base.

Molds: It’s incredible how many different shapes, sizes, and styles soap molds come in. Just like the variety of melt and pour soap bases, there’s an extensive amount of soap molds available! Added to that, there’s also a choice of material from wood to silicone and metal to plastic. Melt and pour soap will take on the shape of whatever it sets up in, it is pretty easy to shape the soap into whatever you’d like. Melt & Pour soap is liquid when melted. It is roughly the consistency of milk. This means you can pour it into the most detailed mold imaginable. For us at True Brands when it comes to choosing a soap mold, we opt for molds that is easy to use, easy to clean, and can be used again and again. | PAGE 11

SILICONE MOLD

WOODEN MOLD

Silicone soap molds are available in a wide range of designs; oval, square, flowers, roses, hearts, beehive and more. Silicone molds have become very popular for making all things including soap. It doesn’t need any lining, won’t crack or shatter like plastic mold and will last for years, once tased care of!

Every silicone mold I’ve used has been super easy to pop the soap out when it’s cured. All it takes is a tug from the side and push from the bottom of the mold to release a soap bar. They are fairly simple to clean too and perfect for small to medium soap batches.

Wooden soap molds are usually available in log or slab form. Because melt and pour is a thin liquid when melted, you would need to properly line your wooden mold with plastic before pouring your liquid soap base into the mold.

Re-purposed items. You can also choose to re-purpose empty juice/milk cartoon, butter containers, yogurt cups, shoe boxes, Pringles tin, food storage containers, plumping pipes, or anything sturdy and flexible enough to remove the soap when firm.

If you’re using a metal container as a soap mold make sure you avoid all of the types of metal listed below. Because, the metals can react with the lye in the soap causing harmful gases to be released.

RE-PURPOSED MOLD

Metal Types to Avoid for Soap Making: – aluminium – cast iron – copper – tin Stainless steel, on the other hand, is safe to use as a soap mold. So anything thing that’s stainless steel, and can hold a portion of soap base can be safely used as a mold.

Just Experiment!

If it's firm enough to hold the raw soap batter —and flexible enough to allow you to get the soap out of the mold—give it a try! Glass and metal are inflexible and don't work well unless your plastic bag liner allows you to "pull" the soap out. And remember that you don't want the soap coming into contact with anything metal other than stainless steel.

Whatever you use—have fun and welcome to the fabulous world of soap crafting!

Safety: Soap bases start to melt around 120° F. Use heat-safe tools and handle with care – melted soap can hurt if dripped or splashed on skin. When crafting with children, they should be old enough to hold their own containers and an adult should be present at all times. | PAGE 12

Is Melt-and-Pour Soap Safe?

Absolutely. But like other types of soap, melt-and-pour soap is only as safe as its

thermometer takes the surface temperature, so you will need to stir the soap before you take the temperature.

ingredients. You should purchase a highquality soap base like the ones from us at

How long does it take melt and pour

True Brands that uses natural oils and isn’t

soap to set?

harmful to your skin.

As the name suggests, it’s as simple as just melting your soap base and pouring it into a mold. But there are a few basic supplies you might need: 1. Microwave-safe bowl 2. Knife & cutting board 3. Soap base 4. Microwave or double boiler 5. Fragrances and herbs/pigments 6. Mold of your choosing

Other helpful tools: • Digital scale for measuring the exact amount of soap needed • Pipettes or measuring spoons – for adding oils or colorants

On average, Melt and Pour soap takes approximately 4-6 hours to completely harden; however, the actual time will depend on factors such as the room temperature as well as chosen additives, and size of soap. To speed up the time you can place the filled mold into the freezer for 15-20mins after they have cooled down in the mold. It is important to remember not to remove the cooling soap from the mold before it has been given enough time to harden. The soap’s softness may also make it easier for fingerprints or other depressions to be left on the soap.

How much base will I need?

A two-pound block of Melt and Pour soap base can yield between 8-16 soap bars, depending on the desired size of the finished soap bars.

How long does Melt & Pour soap last in the shower?

• Rubber spatula – to get the last little bit of soap out of your mixing bowls

Melt and Pour soaps will last approximately one (1) week, depending on how often they are used and whether they are treated with the recommended suggestions for proper care; they should not remain exposed to air, as this will cause the water in the soap bar to continue evaporating, resulting in a shrunken or dissolving soap bar. For this reason, it is advisable to remove the soap from the shower after each use.

• Paper towels – for cleaning up spills.

I don’t like my finished melt & pour

• Thermometer - needed to take the temperature of your melted soap base. You can use a candy thermometer or an infrared thermometer. Be aware that an infrared

soap!

• Metal whisk – for mixing your additives • Mixing bowls in various sizes – for keeping bases and colors separate • Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle – a light spritz can help keep bubbles from forming in your soap

Our soap base can be re-melted and repoured multiple times. Have fun! | PAGE 13

Why does melt and pour soap ‘sweat’?

Melt and Pour soap, or “Glycerin Soap,” is known to naturally “sweat.” What we call ‘Glycerine Dew’. Glycerin is a humectant, which draws moisture from the air, and this moisture can appear as small water droplets covering the surface of the soap. This should not be a cause for concern. Maintaining a steady temperature in the soap-making area and keeping a humidifier on during the cooling process could help eliminate this occurrence. Melt and Pour soaps also sweat when they are 1) frozen and then thawed 2) refrigerated immediately after being poured into molds rather than when they have already begun to harden.

What is the best option for packaging?

The best and most popular wrapping for finished Melt and Pour soap products is nonporous material, such as plastic wrap/cling wrap/shrink wrap.

Can soap bases be combined?

It can be fun to experiment with combining two different soap bases to achieve different visual effects or to combine the nourishing properties of different bases. A popular combination, for instance, is to make a "Milk and Honey" soap by combining equal portions of honey soap base with goat's milk soap base.

How much soap should I melt to fill my mold?

If you don’t know how much your mold holds, fill the mold with water then pour the water into a measuring cup. Use about 1/2 – 1oz more soap base than what the mold holds. It’s better to have too much ready than not enough.

Help, my botanicals turn brown when added to the soap base!

Seeds, Flower petals, Leaves, etc. due to their nature, botanicals can potentially cause discoloration of the soap. To try to prevent this from happening it is recommended to add them to the liquid soap when its temperature is lower than the melting point. (this is only a suggestion and sometimes it does not work, so practice due diligence.) Flowers should be dried – ideally air dried – before they are added to any melted soap base.

Can my kids help make melt and pour soaps?

Yes, once you ensure they are fully supervised.

Melted soap can cause severe burns. Children should not handle hot, melted soap without proper adult supervision. Soap at low temps when working with kids, melted soap base should be at 130°-140° Fahrenheit (55°-60° Celsius) when it is poured. At this temperature it will be hot to the touch, but not enough to burn.

My block of Clear/Transparent Soap Base looks cloudy. Is this normal or did I get a bad batch?

This is normal due to the size and thickness of the block. Once you slice off some soap, you will see the true color and clarity.

My Soap turned brown after two weeks.

Why?

You most likely used a fragrance that contains vanilla. I recommend using a Vanilla Color Stabilizer, which should slow or stop the process of vanilla browning in soap. Also, some floral and spice type ingredients will turn yellow, orange or brown in soap. There is no product to stop this process. Instead try to work the color change into your design.

STEP 1: PREPARATION OF MATERIALS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ensure that your molds are clean if they have been used in the past. Clean molds in warm, soapy water and leave to dry completely. It is also a good idea to clean your work environment so as to avoid any kind of crosscontamination, particularly if you are working in the kitchen or areas that children occupy.

Prepare your melt and pour base by cutting the block into similar sized pieces for quick and easy melting. This can be done easily by using a soap cutter or any sharp knife and a standard cutting board from the kitchen. Ensure both are clean and dry before use. If you do not require the whole block of soap, weigh the amount needed and cut the block accordingly. Cutting the soap block in smaller sized cubes is essential as melting the base as a whole will take far too long and could cause the base to burn.

The melt and pour soap base contains glycerine which allows it to melt easily. However, this ingredient is a natural humectant and can attract moisture in the air and form what is known as 'glycerine dew' on the surface of the soap. In order to avoid this problem, any extra remaining melt and pour soap should be completely covered in plastic wrap and stored in a container in a cool, dry place.

STEP 2: PREPARATION OF FRAGRANCE OIL

Place a small glass container on the scale and press 'tare' to remove the weight. Weigh the amount of fragrance needed. You want your fragrance on hand before you move on to other steps so that the soap does not begin to harden.

STEP 3: PREPARATION OF COLOUR

As with the fragrance, weigh the amount of color needed and set aside.

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STEP 4: MELTING The two main methods used for melting the soap base are the microwave or a double boiler.

It is your personal preference which process you choose. However, it is essential that there is no residual water in either of the processes so ensure the containers are clean and dry before melting.

While the soap base is melting, make sure your supplies are handy; Mold, rubbing alcohol, fragrance oil, soap coloring, pipettes, and stirring spoons ready. You won’t have time to look for your supplies once the melt & pour soap base is melted. You will need to work fast so that your soap base doesn’t cool or form a “skin” on top.

cooled slightly. This BURNT SOAP thick texture makes pouring smooth layers difficult, and creating small details becomes next to impossible.

Unfortunately, once your soap has been burned and has turned into a gloppy texture, it cannot be reversed. However, burned soap is still safe to use, the end result just does not smell or look very pleasant.

METHOD 1: MICROWAVE

Firstly you will need to find a heat-resistant glass measuring cup or container and some Glad wrap. Place your base into the glass container, cover with Glad wrap to prevent excess moisture escaping and microwave on short spurts 30sec / 45sec at a time so you can monitor the melting and prevent the base from burning. For example, after the first 30 seconds stir the soap base and then melt for another 10 to 20 seconds.

Repeat until melted.

Burnt melt and pour may smell unpleasant, and may become cloudy. In extreme cases, the soap can become yellow or brown-ish in color. Burned soap often develops a thick, gloppy texture once

Microwave Instruction Pointers: 1. Cut soap base into small chunks, and place them in a microwave-safe bowl or a microwavesafe measuring cup.

2. Microwave your base in 30-second intervals until melted. Stir in-between each burst.

3. Remove and allow to cool for 1 or 2 minutes before adding your fragrances and colorants. Stir to combine.

4. Pour the soap into your mold of choice and let cool completely.

5. When the soap is hardened, pop it out of your mold and enjoy right away!

Please Note: The power of your microwave will determine the time it takes to melt the soap.

The type of base you are using could also affect melting times as different soap bases may have different melting temperatures. All soap should melt at around 60 degrees. Always run your own test to ensure you understand the product.

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METHOD 2: DOUBLE BOILER SETTING

Direct Heat

You can also use a double boiler to melt your soap base, or If melting large amounts of base (20 pounds+), an industrial size warmer will be the best option.

Direct heat is a quicker method that requires constant attention to prevent the accidental burning of soap bases. This method can also cause the glycerin in the soap base to evaporate faster so constant vigilance is required!

Double boiling is a much slower and more gentle process for melting soap than the microwave. making it the easiest and best way for a beginner soap maker to melt soap bases.

Using a double boiler involves submerging a pot (heat safe ceramic, glass or stainless steel) within an outer pot of boiling water—similar in concept to the bain-marie, and allows for a more even melting of the soap base.

You can make a double boiler with any pot or pan (as the outer pot) and a heat safe ceramic, glass or stainless steel bowl/mug.

Add some water to your pot/pan and place it on your stove. Turn on the heat to let the water boil before setting the heat safe ceramic/glass/stainless steel bowl or mug inside the pot/pan as pictured.

Melting melt and pour soap in a Crock Pot or saucepan is not recommended, as the direct heat can easily burn the base. If you get a Crock Pot or turkey roaster that has multiple heat settings (low, medium, high) and melt the soap slowly and carefully, that can work at times. The multiple heat settings are key!

The heat source is strongest at the bottom of your pot/pan so you will need to stir the soap constantly in order to ensure even melting. Best for melting small batches of soap (500g or less) as the topmost layer of soap tends to harden while the lower layer of soap melts.

For this method, you’d place a pan, pot or stainless steel mug directly on the heat source to melt the soap base. An induction cooker, electric stove or electric skillet can be used for this purpose. Never use a gas stove or anything with a flame to melt soap base.

Which method do we recommend?

Our first recommendation will always be to use the double boiling method. It is the safest option. The microwave method can be used if you’re in a hurry, a microwave is great but make sure to keep an eye on the soap! We never recommend using the direct heat method unless you are familiar doing this and don’t have distractions to tend to.

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STEP 5: ADDITIVES Once the base has been thoroughly melted, you may introduce any skin-safe dye, fragrance or essential oil. Once you have introduced these to the base, ensure the additives are mixed thoroughly. You must also ensure you do not over-stir the base as it will cause excess air bubbles and can ruin transparency in clear soaps.

STEP 6: POURING Ensure your silicone molds are clean and are on a level surface. Pour your soap base into the moulds slowly and steadily to prevent excess air bubbles. Make sure you do not overfill the bases as overflowing will cause deformation of your soap bars. Once you have poured your base into the mould, spray some rubbing alcohol onto the base to remove any air bubbles which have appeared. Let your soap cool and harden before moving the mold or removing the soaps.

STEP 6: REMOVING THE SOAP After allowing the soap to harden, carefully remove the soaps from the mold. For silicone

molds, gently pull the sides of mould to help loosen the soap bar. Apply light pressure to the centre back of the mould to pop the soap out.

Try not to force the soap as it can break or crack if you are too vigorous, ensure you do not try to remove the soap prematurely as this can damage the final product.

If the soap is not releasing from the mould easily, you can place the mould in the freezer 10 -15 minutes and then try again.

STEP 7: PACKAGE AND STORING SOAP Your soap is now ready to use! So go and enjoy your beautiful creation! If you would like to store your soap for later use or reselling, it is important to package it as soon as possible as exposed melt and pour soap can draw moisture from the air and create water droplets on the soap surface. To stop this from happening wrap the soap in plastic, making sure it is airtight. A popular method many choose is to use a heat gun to gently melt the excess plastic and seal the soap wrap. You can then add labels or other packaging!

Melt & Pour Base

Item

Retail

1 CASE (25lbs)

Wholesale (100lbs per type)

Wholesale cost per pound

African Black Soap

$55.00

$1306.25

$4675.00

$46.75

Aloe Vera Soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Annatto soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Argan oil soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Australian Tea Tree

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Avocado soap

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Baby’s First

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Castile soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

$180.00

$4275.00

15,300.00

$153.00

Calamine soap

$55.00

$1306.25

$4675.00

$46.75

Charcoal soap

$35.00

$831.00

$2975.00

$29.75

Coconut (white)

$35.00

$831.00

$2975.00

$29.75

Goats Milk

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Goats Milk, Honey & Coconut

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Honey Soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Jamaican Black Castor Oil

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Mango Butter soap base

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Neem Soap

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Oatmeal Soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Oatmeal and Turmeric Soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

Organic Coconut Ultra Clear

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

3 Butter Soap

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Shea Butter soap base

$45.00

$1068.75

$3825.00

$38.25

Transparent Soap

$30.00

$712.50

$2550.00

$25.50

Turmeric Soap

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

White soap

$30.00

$712.50

$2550.00

$25.50

Volcano Spa

$35.00

$831.25

$2975.00

$29.75

CBD soap

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Contact us:

ABOUT US At True Brands we specialize in research and development, manufacture, supply and sale of Melt & Pour Soap Bases, Cosmetic & Pharma Chemicals, and Natural Raw Ingredients & Materials to supply the Handmade Personal Care Industry.

We’re based in Trinidad, West Indies and have a growing reputation as the hub of manufacturing innovation in our industry across the Caribbean! We’re supported by a well laid out research and manufacturing facility, a fully equipped research lab, and dependable distribution channel partners.

Using our Melt and Pour soap bases is an easy and fun way to make your own soaps at home. Choose a mold, some soap, and some fragrance and you're ready to go!

True Brands Manufacturing & Distributors ☎ Landline: 232.3623 📱 General Inquiries: 302.4848 (cell) 📱 Delivery Service: WhatsApp 294.0960 🧑 💻 Leave us your name, number, delivery address, method of payment and we will coordinate your delivery!

Instagram: @TrueBrandsLtd Facebook: @TrueBrandsLtd

Important: Due to the natural nature of the soap base, the color of the base may vary from batch to batch, which in turn might affect the appearance of final soap products, thus it is recommended that small test batches be made prior to full-scale production.

True Brands does not promise that this document is error-free, accurate, timely, or otherwise reliable.

We retain the right to make improvements and/or changes at any time. © Copyright 2021 True Brands Co.