Crafter’s Choice Melt & Pour Soap Base accepts between 4% - 6% additional ingredients per one (1) ounce of soap. For example, if you have 2 pounds (32 oz) of soap base, you can add up to 2 oz of additional ingredients [2 oz is 6% of 32 oz].
Our
Conversion Chart illustrates additive percentages/volume based on soap base volume.
Most melt and pour soap recipes use ~3% fragrance or essential oil, leaving room for 1-3% additional ingredients. Generally, you should add no more than 1% of each additional (non-fragrance/essential oil) ingredient.
Our
Tea Tree & Peppermint Melt and Pour Soap is made with awesome additives like tea tree essential oil and white kaolin clay. Our recipe uses:
32 oz Detergent Free Australian Tea Tree Melt and Pour Soap0.60 oz (~1.8%) Tea Tree Essential Oil0.30 oz (~0.9%) Peppermint (Redist) Essential Oil0.30 oz (~0.9%) White Kaolin Clay0.20 (~0.6%) Olive Leaf Powder3/4 tsp (~0.3%) Peppermint – BotanicalThe total amount of additives (essential oil + clay + powder + botanical) is 1.525 oz which is 4.76% of the 32 oz soap base – safely within the additive range.
Experiment with multiple additives to create unique bars of melt and pour soap.
ExtractsExtracts are water-soluble liquid additives with a wide range of beneficial qualities. They add unique properties, natural fragrance, and label appeal to handmade soaps.
Some of our favorites are:
Carrot Seed Extract – popular, antioxidant-rich skincare additive
Chamomile Extract – soothing, fragrant botanical additive
Cucumber Extract – moisturizing cosmetic additive
View all Extracts
hereHydrosolsHydrosols are botanical essential waters often used to naturally fragrance soaps.
Top-selling, fragrant hydrosols:
Lemon Water Essential HydrosolRose Water Essential HydrosolVanilla Water Essential HydrosolView all Hydrosols
hereBotanical PowdersBotanical powders are natural, solid additives that add moisturizing, cleansing, and soothing qualities to handmade products.
Popular botanical powders:
Arrowroot Powder – adds silkiness to melt and pour soaps
Green Tea Powder – antioxidant-rich and thought to have anti-inflammatory properties
Lemon Powder – thought to have natural astringent and antiseptic properties
View all Botanical Powders
hereMilk Powders & ProteinsMilk powders and liquid proteins add soothing, moisturizing properties to melt and pour soap.
Popular milk powders & proteins:
Buttermilk PowderCoconut Milk PowderGoat Milk PowerSilk Amino Acids – creates ultra-soft soap
Honeyquat – natural antioxidant, popular skincare additive
View all Milk Powders & Proteins
hereClaysClays are popular cosmetic powders that absorb oil and soothe skin.
Popular, skin-loving clays:
Bentonite ClayRose Kaolin ClayWhite Kaolin ClaySea Clay aka French Green Clay View all Clays
hereExfoliants & ScrubsExfoliants and scrubs are solid additives that buff and polish the skin. Fine grains are gentler on the skin, and generally preferred for facial products, while medium grains are appropriate for body bars and foot scrubs. For tips on suspending exfoliants in melt and pour soap, click
here.
Popular exfoliants:
Apricot Seed Powder – fine grain, gentle exfoliant
Pumice Powder – all-natural exfoliating powder
Poppy Seeds – small, botanical seeds that add mild exfoliation and detail
BE CAREFUL adding salt/sugar to melt and pour soap – it may attract too much moisture and create mushy bars.
View all Exfoliants
hereBotanicals & HerbsBotanicals and herbs are dried flowers and leaves often used to embellish soap. They add a rustic, natural finishing touch.
Popular botanicals & herbs:
Calendula PetalsLavender BudsRose Petals View all Botanicals & Herbs
here
DO NOT add butters or oils to melt and pour soap. They compromise lather, cause separation, and prevent the soap from fully hardening. Instead, choose a soap base that is formulated with butters/oils like Crafter’s Choice
Shea Butter Soap Base or
bases with Essential Oils.
View all Crafter's Choice melt and pour soap bases
here.
Do not add perishable liquids (e.g. fresh milk, juice, etc.) to melt and pour soap. They will spoil.
