Soap Dough: What is it and how do you make it?

Рет қаралды 12,951

Күн бұрын

The world of soap making seems to be expanding in leaps and bounds with only the imagination limiting what can be done these days. Soap dough, also referred to as soap clay, has had a huge role in helping soap makers create new and amazing soaps! Bee from Sorcery Soap has developed soap dough and is considered a founder in the use and creation of soap dough. Her inspiration and knowledge has helped spark thousands of other soap makers and the results are truly amazing.
#soapdough #howtomakesoapdough #coldprocesssoap #handmadesoap #soapchallengeclub
0:00 What is Soap Dough
0:05 Part 1 - The Recipe
1:49 Part 2 - Making the Soap
6:46 Part 3 - Using Titanium Dioxide
9:20 Part 4 - Storing Your Soap Dough
15:17 Part 5 - Conditioning Your Soap Dough
What is Soap Dough?
So, what is soap dough? It’s kind of exactly what it sounds like: a moldable soap. It’s similar in concept to clay or Playdough, but does not feel like either of those. Soap dough tends to be harder in texture and less pliable than clay, but can still do most things that you’re able to do with clay.
The variables that come into play when making soap dough means finding the perfect recipe might take some time and effort, but it is worth it in the end. If you do a search online, watch KZfaq Videos, ask on chat boards/groups you will find recommendations and instructions from one end of the spectrum to the other. The next section will address some of these conflicting pieces of advice.
How do you make Soap Dough?
In theory you can use ANY recipe for soap dough. Well, yes and no. Take this with a grain of salt when you hear someone say this. It is true that most recipes can work, but it doesn’t mean it’s going to create a nice or easily workable batch of soap dough. Many things need to be considered when making soap dough: your location (climate), water content, gelling or not gelling, ratio of hard to soft oils, and even the mold you use. So, try your own basic recipe first. Then if it's not working for you then try a specific recipe for soap dough and see how they compare and adjust from there!
Step by Step Making Soap Dough
1. Make your soap like you would make any batch of cold process soap.
2. Separate (as desired) and add color. Pour into individual molds.
3. Cover the tops with plastic wrap so no soap is exposed to air.
4. After twenty-four hours unmold and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Store soap in a sealed bag or air tight container.
5. Let your soap saponify for THREE days before using.
The last step is the MOST important piece of information you need to know when making soap dough. Soap can take up to 72 hours to saponify. If you try and use the soap before it’s fully saponified it is going to be grainy and crumbly and will not hold together. It’s also probably going to be sticky and completely unworkable. I personally like to let mine sit for over a week before I attempt to use it.
Once the soap has finished saponifying, cut or break off a small piece and work the soap together to create a smooth and pliable texture. Then, let your imagination run wild!
Free Recipes:
Lovin’ Soap (Palm Free/Vegan): www.lovinsoap.com/2017/08/a-v...
Star Cross Soapery (Palm Free/Vegan): • Soap Clay Tutorial wit...
Paid Recipes:
Sorcery Soap: sorcerysoaps.com/
Sorcery Soap Books: sorcerysoaps.com/collections/...
Check out more about me--Jennifer's Handmade Soap!
Soap Embeds: Love embeds, but don't have the time or patience to make your own? Check out my Soap Embeds for Soap Makers: jennifersoap.com/collections/... I make a variety of embeds that I sell on my webpage. You get gorgeous embeds, but don't have to worry about making them!
Soap Extruder Discs: Looking for new and fun extruder discs shapes? Check out my (ever growing) collection here: jennifersoap.com/collections/...
Jennifer's Handmade Soap - Because soap should be more than just functional!
Webpage: www.jennifersoap.com
Facebook: JeniferSoap
Instagram: / jennifer_soap
TikTok: / jennifersoap

Пікірлер: 61

@amybruederle2086 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting this! It's very helpful

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

@redrooster7371 2 жыл бұрын

Once again, a very helpful video. Thank you!

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful for you!

@patygildegarcia9055 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video!!! full of tips, you're a very good teacher. Thank you

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Aww thank you! So glad it was helpful!

@jillboulrice2162 2 жыл бұрын

I just used some soap dough that I made last year using your recipe! Still soft. Great video!

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah the basic recipe I think works just fine! And if you keep it wrapped I think it should last!!!!

@artisticsoapdesigns 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the tips on how to work with big blocks of soap dough. I never thought about using a grater. Great idea!

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! It makes it so much easier on the hands!!

@artisticsoapdesigns 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist omg you replied so fast! I’m binge watching you’re videos. I’m fascinated by soap dough and all of the wonderful things you can make with it. Yesterday I made chocolate chip cookies and Oreo cookies. They look so real. I’m watching your soap extruder video. I need to get one of the big ones. I’m contemplating on getting the one from Lisa because I haven’t been able to find one in the US. I haven’t finished watching you’re video so hopefully I can find my answer 😊

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

@@artisticsoapdesigns Haha I'm not always that fast to reply but you caught me when I was doing my morning checking of emails :D I LOVE extruder discs. They are so much fun and you can create so many cool things! Thank you so much for watching my videos! And yes have fun with soap dough!! It's one of my favorite things about soap!

@FranklyNaturalBeauty 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for all the tips about soap dough. I have tried my recipe to make soap dough but it was too sticky and hard to work with. I'll definitely try again with one of the links you provided in the description box.

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Definitely try again. My favorite is Star Crossed Soapery, but the other links have good soap too!

@user-ju3zy2ve8y 5 ай бұрын

Hi, Thank you for this video 😊. On the other hand, I am French-speaking and I don't understand everything you explain in the video. So I'm wondering if I can take any soap recipe to do this technique or do I absolutely have to have the Sorcery soap recipe? Do I unmold after 16 hrs? How long is good in vacuum bags? How long do I have to use them? Will they get hard after a while? Thank you for all your responses, I really appreciate it.

@TheSoapArtist 5 ай бұрын

You can use the recipe I provide in the beginning or Star Crossed Soapery's (both are free and work very well). You could by Sorcery Soap's recipe, but you don't have to as the ones provided will work just as well. You can try your standard recipe if you want. I find that recipes with a higher ratio of hard oils to soft oils works better and give your soap dough that is NOT sticky. A lot of standard recipes create sticky dough. I typically unmold my soap between 18-24 hours after making it and then wrap in plastic wrap and then store in zip lock bags. You want to make sure no air is getting to the soap so you prevent curing from starting. You can definitely use vacuum/zip lock bags if you want. The soap should last a long time as long as it's sealed and kept from air. I wrap my bars in plastic wrap then put in a zip lock bag and then store in a plastic box I can seal and I have soap dough that's been good a year later.

@Sylvain.20 Жыл бұрын

Great video ! I love soap dough, you can make so many things with it. I use almost the same recipe (50% lard, 30% coconut, 10% castor, 5% peanut and 5% sweet almond) and it turned out so great. Doesn't stick and it's very white so no need to use TD. I haven't made soap embeds yet, I just stick to soap dough painting for the moment (which is a pain in the a$$ to execute). 😅 It is time consuming, but so much rewarding and therapeutic...

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

It is very fun to create with! :)

@sweethomesoaps4811 2 жыл бұрын

Grate tips! (see what I did there?!) I have to get one of those graters!

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Hehe I did 😂. I love that hand grater! It was worth ever penny!!

@joeeyleechannel726 Жыл бұрын

Tq u dear for provide clear explaination and tips.i will try again to make soap dough as i always end up with very sticky for white because the titanium dioxide i have make with water 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ i never thought that before.

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

If it's sticky I'd definitely try less water!

@joeeyleechannel726 Жыл бұрын

Updated dear i just try your method is really less sticky compare to previously all soap dough batch i did. I will left one week to see if its more pliable to sculpture it hehe.

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

@@joeeyleechannel726 awesome! Glad it helped!

@joeeyleechannel726 Жыл бұрын

Cheers dear 🥰

@johannedube4159 2 жыл бұрын

Hello thank you for the receipe can I use lard instead of tallow it is more available for me

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, lard will work, just run it through a lye calculator first to verify the lye amount. :)

@tesorosborincanos597 Жыл бұрын

Hi!! It seems like natural colors cannot be used in soap dough, Am I right? Great video. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks. 😊❤

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

You can definitely use natural colors, but you might have to make some adjustments depending on how the color you want to be used is prepared. For example: If it's an oil infusion you might have to make just one batch of all the same colors. They can be used though.

@tesorosborincanos597 Жыл бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist oh, ok. Sounds fine to me. I would like to make a soap with either manatees in it or embeds for the top as representative of where I live Puerto Rico. We have lots of manatees here. I was thinking of making soap dough and extrude the manatees. That way the the manatees las as long as the soap. They are grey so I think it will be perfect. I have never make soap dough so it is something I will have to practice and get everything that is needed to work with. I am pretty sure I will have to ask for custom make disks. Thanks for your prompt response. 🥰

@sparklingfashion6276 Жыл бұрын

Question can we add mica powder to the dough after its been ready to mold?

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

You can. I don't recommend it. It's super messy and hard to fully incorporate it. Takes a lot of conditioning/mixing. If you just want to do a small amount probably would be fine, but larger amounts would be a pain in my opinion :D

@rrutaba 2 жыл бұрын

Hi. Beef tallow & Lard r not available in my country due to religious reasons. Any substitute of beef tallow with % plz?? Thank u

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

In the description I have links to two free recipes that are vegan base.

@veranita1867 Ай бұрын

Hi, thankyou for sharing your recipe, ita very helpfull, i founs other soap maker used more than 4 types of oil, and you only 3, i love it What is the substituted for castor oil? And can i used pomace olive oil instead of extra virgin olive oil?

@TheSoapArtist Ай бұрын

Personally I wouldn't sub out Castor oil and there isn't really an "equal" oil when it comes to subbing something else for castor. You could try other soft oils and see how it works. It might be fine it might be a little sticky, but experiment and see what you think :)

@veranita1867 Ай бұрын

Already try your recipe, and as you say, its trace too fast 😂 , just blend them around 10 second and boom, medium trace already lol, i just seal them with my container, hope it works And you say it can used after 3 days, you mean after unmold, or after the first day you making this soap?

@TheSoapArtist Ай бұрын

@@veranita1867 Unmold it after a day and wrap it up/seal it. Then let it sit for three to five days before you use it.

@veranita1867 24 күн бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist mine not going well, already 9 days but still sticky, coconut 30%, castor 20%, palm 50% (here didn't sell lard) water 33% , superfat 5% I trying to cut and stamp with my cookie cutter in a same day, and stuck inside the stamp, so i cut it first and stamp it the next day or after 2 days Still trying to figure when can i cut and stamp in the same day

@TheSoapArtist 24 күн бұрын

@@veranita1867⁠I don’t recommend using palm oil. It always make sticky soap for me. I’d try Star Crossed Soapery’s recipe if you don’t have tallow/lard.

@maknap59 7 ай бұрын

Do you have a link for the soap mold?

@TheSoapArtist 7 ай бұрын

The single cavity 12 squares mold I got from Bramble Berry!

@sofinasidi7327 Жыл бұрын

If i dont have tallow , what i can use to replace tallow? Tq ❤

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

You can use lard instead of tallow (run it through a lye calculator first). Or you can use Star Crossed Soapery’s recipe which is vegan based.

@ladymitch32sunshine88 2 ай бұрын

Hi, what's is the substitute for tallow? Thank you

@TheSoapArtist 2 ай бұрын

You can sub lard (run it through a lye calculator).

@ladymitch32sunshine88 2 ай бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist what is the maximum percent to use lard? Thank you again.

@TheSoapArtist 2 ай бұрын

@@ladymitch32sunshine88 You'd have to play with it. I don't use lard/tallow soap dough recipe because my customers want vegan, so I haven't experimented with the recipe to see how you could alter it.

@ambreenqureshi5912 5 ай бұрын

Could I ask why so much soap dough?

@TheSoapArtist 5 ай бұрын

I use a lot in all my designs so I make larger batches because I go through it quickly. Just make a size batch for your needs :).

@ambreenqureshi5912 5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much

@rrutaba 2 жыл бұрын

Hi. Thank u so so much u have considered my request on making this great video on soap dough, I really appreciate it. But the problem is that I can't use Lard & Tallow in my place due to some religious beliefs. So wat is the best substitute to Lard / Tallow with the same percentage. Thank u for your understanding in advance 💞

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

Hi! In the description I have links to two other recipes one from Lovin' Soap and one from Star Crossed Soapery. Both of those are vegetable based and good recipes!

@rrutaba 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist ❤️

@mrsjoy8831 2 жыл бұрын

What about the stickiness

@TheSoapArtist 2 жыл бұрын

If it’s sticky I’d either try a different recipe or potentially too much water. My first instinct says that it’s the recipe. Look at the ratio of hard to soft oils. I find 50-50 ratios more sticky just my personal opinion. If you’re using the recipe I provided it shouldn’t be sticky, but if it is try lowering the water just a tad.

@mrsjoy8831 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSoapArtist ok

@SirenaSpades Жыл бұрын

So... what is the point? It looks like you are just making regular soap to me. Am I on a soap carving channel or something?

@TheSoapArtist Жыл бұрын

Soap dough is made like any other cold process recipe-what is different is the recipe, how it’s stored, and what you are using it for. Once this soap fully Saponifies it will then be used to sculpt/mold/and extrude into unique shapes. This video is simple about how to make/store/ and prep soap dough. Not about how to use it. :)