Although all homemade soaps contain glycerin (a naturally occurring component of the fats and oils used in soap making) when most soap makers are talking about making homemade glycerine soap what they actually mean is making transparent soap.
Transparent soaps are made pretty much in the same way as opaque soaps up to the point where the soap mixture comes to a trace. It is at that point that the soap-making instructions begin to diverge!
Melt and Pour Transparent Soaps
For melt and pour glycerine soaps you can either purchase a soap base or use one of your own. If you use a glycerin base, basically all you have to do is melt the soap and add a few additional ingredients (i.e. fragrances and inserts) before decanting the mixture into your moulds.
If you are using an opaque base, you will also have to add extra glycerine and alcohol before you will be able to get your base clear or transparent. You might also have to repeat the ‘melt and set’ process a number of times. For step-by-step instructions on the ‘melt and set’ process have a look at the next section of this page.
Making Homemade Glycerine Soap from Scratch
To make homemade glycerin soap you will need to get out your favorite soap recipe. If this is your first attempt at making soap, I seriously suggest that you make a few batches of opaque soap with the cold process method of making soap before you attempt transparent soaps.
That way you can at least eliminate issues with the recipe and your soap-making methods if you have problems with your batch of transparent soap. The recipe that I most often use is the shortening recipe on my Opaque Soap Recipes page. But to make a transparent soap from this recipe I need to gather a few additional ingredients!
Additional Ingredients
- Alcohol – 35 per cent of the weight of your base oils and your (dry) caustic soda.
- Glycerine (or Sugar) – 8 to 12 per cent of the weight of your base oils and your (dry) caustic soda.
- Extra water – 15 to 20 per cent of the weight of your base oils and your (dry) caustic soda.
Math, not your strong suit?
If you would rather have someone else work out the exact ingredients for you instead of creating your own, check out my page on Glycerine (transparent) Soap Recipes. With luck, you will find a recipe that will appeal to you!
Soap Making Directions
To make your soap base follow the instructions on the cold process soap-making page up to (and including) step five. This is where the soap-making methods diverge.
Step Six
Once your soap mixture has reached trace, place a lid over your stockpot and wrap the top, sides, and bottom of the pot with an old blanket. Leave the pot to sit for an hour.
Step Seven
After an hour, unwrap the pot and check your soap mixture. Your soap mixture should have changed in appearance from a creamy opaque to a transparent gel. If your soap is still opaque, rewrap the pot and leave it for a bit longer. Once your soap mixture has ‘gelled’ stir the mixture, making sure that you mix in any hard (cold) soap on the sides and bottom of the pot. After stirring thoroughly, cover the pot and leave it for another hour.
Step Eight
Add your glycerin and alcohol mixture to the soap and mix well making sure that any colder bits of soap are mixed in. Break up any chunks with a whisk.
Step Nine
Now you need to make a ‘plastic tent’ for your stockpot. Cut two pieces of 3 – 4 mm plastic sheeting large enough to cover the top of the pot. Place the first piece over the pot and secure it in place with a piece of rope or a bungee cord. Pull the edges tightly so that the plastic is tightly moulded to the top of the pot.
Repeat the process with the second piece of plastic. Place the pot inside another larger pot partly filled with water (or the bottom of your double-boiler if you prefer) and bring your soap mixture to a boil.
Cook the soap mixture for about 30 minutes.
Step Ten
After cooking for 30 minutes, if your recipe calls for it, prepare your sugar solution by dissolving the sugar in boiling water. Simmer the sugar mixture for 2 to 3 minutes.
Unwrap your plastic tent, add your sugar solution to the soap mixture and mix through.
Step Eleven
Nearly done!
Cover and set aside your pot for about 20 minutes to allow the mixture to cool. Once your soap has cooled to approx. 59 degrees Celsius. You can add any additional ingredients to your soap (fragrances, colours, etc) and pour the mixture into your prepared moulds.
