Soap has been made out of wood ashes, animal fat, salt and water and has served cultures the world over for centuries. Soap makers still rely on lye and fat. Soap that is made from saturated fats, which are invariably solid at room temperature, will be hard and rich. These include butter, palm oil, lard, or coconut oil. Unsaturated fats give soap other qualities.

Soaps come in a variety of shapes and sizes. These soaps have been molded in plastic, wood and glass molds that come in every conceivable size and shape such as Zodiac signs to Celtic knots.

The Molding Process

When all the ingredients are mixed the soap is poured into a mold to cool, harden, and cure. However, there are instructions to be followed for the care and use of soap molds such as the casting temperature. Soap molds have been successfully tested with glycerin temperatures of up to 180°F without warping. However, it is recommended to pour the soap base at least 10-20°F lower than these temperatures, or as low as possible, which will increase the mold's working life. To avoid warping, it is important when casting glycerin into plastic molds, to use a thermometer to ensure that your soap temperature is below the maximum recommended casting temperature and decreasing.

Many molds are designed to cast soap at any required depth, up to the maximum stated weight. This flexibility allows one to pour whatever weight of bar needed at the time. The techniques recommend for filling and unmolding is to pour the cast almost full leaving approx. 1/8"-1/4" of space at the top. When the soap is ready to release, place the mold on a flat surface with the cavities facing down, and press down steadily with the palm of your hand on the center of the top of the cavities until the soap unmolds.

Cleaning the Molds

Usually rinsing the molds in warm water will clean the mold. One may also wash the molds in warm soapy water, if necessary, to remove any leftover oils or soap deposit. Allow the mold to dry at room temperature, never wiping the mold, as this may cause scratches that will show up on the soap.

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