How to Make Soap to Sell: A Step-by-Step Guide

While soap making may not seem like a lucrative endeavor, it presents a unique opportunity to blend creativity with practicality.

Plus, you can produce a product that’s always in demand. Whether you’re looking to satisfy your creativity or you’re keen on tapping into a thriving market, soap making is an excellent choice.

Sold on the idea? Below, learn everything from the basics of crafting your first bar to strategies for transforming your newfound skill into a profitable home business. 

What is soap making?

Soap making combines natural oils or fats with an alkali (typically lye), in a process called saponification. This reaction forms soap, which you can then customize with additives like fragrances and colors.

Key soap making steps include:

1. Mixing: Mix oils with a lye solution, starting the saponification process.
2. Molding: Pour the mixture into molds and leave it to set.
3. Curing: Cure the soap for several weeks to harden, completing the chemical process.

The benefits of starting a homemade soap business

A soap business combines art, science, and your personal flair, making it a fulfilling and potentially profitable business venture. In fact, Acumen projects the global soap market will reach $66.5 billion by 2032, driven by growing hygiene awareness, demand for personalized medicine and targeted therapies, and a trend toward using natural ingredients and sustainable packaging materials. Plus, it’s a business that can grow and evolve with your passion and creativity. 

Thinking about diving into the soap-making business? Here’s why it’s a smart move:

• High demand: Soap is a daily necessity for everyone, ensuring a steady market demand. Plus, the growing interest in artisanal, handcrafted products makes it a timely choice.
• Creativity and branding: Soap making allows for creativity––from scents and colors to shapes and packaging. You can create a unique brand identity that stands out in the market.
• Eco-friendly and health conscious: Consumers want natural, eco-friendly products. Handmade soaps with natural ingredients cater to this need, appealing to conscious customers.
• Profitability: The cost of materials is relatively low compared to the premium price consumers are willing to pay for handcrafted soaps. With the ability to start small and scale up, soap making can be profitable.
• Flexibility: This business can start as a home-based operation, allowing for a flexible schedule and lower overhead costs. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who want to balance work and personal life.
• Community connection: Handmade soaps can be a hit at local markets and events, helping you build a strong community presence and brand loyalty.
• Online sales potential: Soap is easy to package and ship, making it an excellent product for online sales and for expanding your reach beyond local customers.

How to make soap to sell

Ingredients:

• Fat or oil (animal or plant-based)
• Lye (also known as sodium hydroxide or caustic soda) 
• Water
• Fragrances, colorants, and other additives (optional)

Steps:

1. Gather your soap ingredients.
2. Prepare your workspace and tools.
3. Get your soap base ready.
4. Stir and combine with additives.
5. Pour your soap into molds and let it set.
6. Cure your homemade soap.
7. Unmold and cut your soap into bars.
8. Package and label your soap.

1. Gather your soap ingredients

Begin by assembling all your ingredients. This includes your fats or oils, lye, water, fragrances, colorants, and any additional additives you plan to use.

Combining different oils will give your final product different characteristics. Some oils will help make your bars harder or provide a better lather. On the other hand, olive oil and coconut oil will create a chemical reaction that actually turns all these liquids into soap. Other materials like shea butter will add moisturizing qualities.

Whether you’re aiming to create a luxurious product or something simple and natural, these key ingredients are essential for crafting high-quality soap:

• Fats and oils: The base of every soap recipe. Common choices include coconut oil for lather, olive oil for smoothness, and palm oil for hardness. Each oil brings something special to the table, so mix and match to suit your brand.
• Lye (sodium hydroxide): The essential ingredient that turns oils into soap. Safety is crucial when handling lye, so always follow proper guidelines. 
• Water: It’s mixed with lye to create the saponification process. Distilled or spring water is best for preventing impurities. Avoid using tap water, as it has an unpredictable pH and may contain trace chemicals like chlorine or fluoride, which can bind with the lye and oils, reducing the effectiveness of the saponification process and causing discoloration or an unpleasant smell.
• Glycerin base: Grab a bulk amount from a site like Soap Artisan, Naturally Balmy, Craftiviti, or even Etsy.
• Stir sticks: You can acquire these from almost any grocery store or your local craft store.
• Rubbing alcohol: Pharmacies, dollar stores, and bulk retailers will have bottles of this readily available.
• Microwave-safe containers: Kitchen suppliers or craft stores carry these.
• Fragrances and essential (skin-safe) oils: These give your soap its signature scent. From calming lavender to refreshing citrus, pick fragrances that align with your brand’s image.
• Colorants: Whether natural or synthetic, colorants add visual appeal to your soap. Natural options include clays and plant extracts.
• Additives: Ingredients like aloe vera, oatmeal, or honey can add special properties, like moisturizing or exfoliating.
• Preservatives: If you’re adding ingredients like milk or fruit purees, you might need a preservative to extend the shelf life of your soap.

Choosing the right ingredients defines the quality of your soap and your brand. Think about what each ingredient means for your customers and how they align with your store’s values, like sustainability, luxury, or health consciousness. 

2. Prepare your workspace and tools

Ensure your workspace is clean, organized, and well-ventilated. Lay out all your tools and ingredients for easy access. Safety is paramount, so use gloves and goggles.

Having the right tools also makes the process smoother and ensures the safety and quality of your soap products. Here’s what you’ll need in your workspace: 

• Safety gear: Always wear chemical-resistant gloves and goggles to protect your skin and eyes from lye, as it’s extremely corrosive and can burn your skin or cause blindness.
• Digital scale: Precision is key in soap making. A digital scale ensures accurate measurements of ingredients.
• Stainless steel pot: This is used to melt your oils and mix them with lye. You can also use a heat-resistant glass container, such as Pyrex or certain high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (No. 5) containers to mix ingredients. Avoid aluminum and cheaper plastic containers, as they react with lye and can crack or melt when exposed to high temperatures.
• Thermometer: Temperature control is crucial. A thermometer helps you check the temperature of your lye and oils.
• Immersion blender: This speeds up the saponification process and helps achieve “trace” faster.
• Silicone spatulas: These are great for stirring and scraping out every bit of soap mixture.
• Soap molds: These come in various shapes and sizes. Silicone molds are popular for easy removal of the soap.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Use these to measure smaller amounts of additives like fragrances or colors.
• pH test strips: Use these to check the pH level of your soap to ensure it’s skin-friendly.
• Cooling rack: You’ll need one for air circulation around your soap as it cures. 
• Sharp, non-serrated knife or multi-bar cutter: Use one to achieve perfectly straight bars. 

Investing in these tools is the first step toward crafting unique, high-quality soaps that can set your store apart. The quality of your tools can directly affect the quality of your soaps, so choose wisely!

3. Get your soap base ready

If you’re using a melt-and-pour base, simply melt the ingredients in a microwave-safe container or use a double boiler or slow cooker/crockpot to cook the soap, and then set it aside to cool.

If you’re using a glycerin base, cut small chunks of glycerin, place them in your microwave-safe container, and microwave for 30 seconds.

For cold-process soap making, carefully mix your lye with water until it’s dissolved, before combining it with your oils. Then, check the temperature of both solutions.

💡Safety tip: Always add the lye into the water, not the other way around, otherwise the mixture will fizz and bubble, and potentially burn your skin. The solution will heat up and is corrosive, so be sure to set it aside to cool in a safe place.

4. Stir and combine with additives

Once your base is ready, it’s time to add in your fragrances, colorants, and any other additives at room temperature. Oils and lye don’t mix with each other naturally, so stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of all ingredients and that they’ve reached emulsion.

While those ingredients are combining, use a spray bottle to spritz rubbing alcohol on your molds to prevent any bubbles from forming in your bars of soap.

5. Pour your soap into molds and let it set

Carefully pour the soap mixture into molds. Tap the molds gently to remove any air bubbles. If you like, you can insulate the molds to help the soap stay warm throughout the saponification reaction so that it doesn’t cool too fast and crack. When the bars have hardened, pop them out of the molds. From here, simply lather, rinse, and repeat.

6. Cure your homemade soap

For cold-process soap, you need to cure it, which means allowing it to rest in a dry, ventilated area for about four to six weeks, depending on the recipe you used. Some homemade soaps can benefit from a longer cure of around three months. This way, the water in the bars will evaporate, and the soap can fully saponify. The result is a harder, milder product with a smoother texture, enhanced color and fragrance, and better lather.

7. Unmold and cut your soap into bars

Once the soap has set or cured, gently remove the pieces from the molds. If you have larger blocks, use a soap cutter or a knife to cut them into bars.

8. Package and label your soap

Wrap your soap bars to protect them from moisture and dust. Don’t forget to label them with your brand and any relevant information, like ingredients, bar size/weight, usage instructions, and contact information. Here’s an example:

Tips for selling soap

Successfully starting a business selling your handmade soap involves more than just creating a great product. You need to connect with your audience, set the right prices, and leverage various platforms to showcase your soaps. 

Here are some effective strategies:

Find your unique selling point

Crafting soaps that stand out in a crowded market requires creativity, experimentation, and an understanding of what appeals to your target audience. Here are some key strategies to make your soap products irresistible to customers.

Experimenting with different scents and colors 

The aroma and visual appeal of your soap are its first points of contact with customers. Experimenting with a variety of scents and colors can help you find combinations that resonate with your audience. Consider the following:

• Seasonal themes: For instance, warm cinnamon scents in autumn or floral tones in spring.
• Color psychology: Use colors to evoke emotions or themes, like calming blues or energizing oranges.
• Essential oil blends: Mix essential oils to create signature scents.

Adding unique ingredients for special soap varieties 

Incorporating special ingredients not only adds a unique selling point but also caters to specific customer needs. Think about:

• Natural exfoliants: Ingredients like oatmeal, poppy seeds, or coffee grounds
• Skin benefits: Additives like aloe vera or goat’s milk for their nourishing properties
• Specialty oils: Argan, jojoba, or almond oil for luxury soap lines

Designing attractive soap packaging

Your packaging is a powerful tool for branding and can significantly influence purchasing decisions. Focus on:

• Eco-friendly materials: Sustainability is a growing concern among consumers.
• Branding consistency: Ensure your packaging reflects your brand’s ethos and aesthetic.
• Practicality and protection: While aesthetics are important, the packaging should also protect the soap and maintain its quality.

The key to creating marketable soap products lies in understanding your market and continually innovating to meet and exceed customer expectations. Your soap isn’t just a cleansing product—it’s an experience, a lifestyle choice, and a reflection of your brand’s values.

Neal’s Yard Remedies has packaging that makes its soaps instantly recognizable.

Check soap licensing laws

In the US, there are specific licensing requirements around selling soap. Some guidelines you’ll need to follow include: 

• Disclose all ingredients: The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 requires a full ingredient list for all “cosmetic products.” Not all soaps fall under this category, but you should check to make sure. 
• Include cautionary labels: The FHSA states that any product including a “hazardous substance” must include a cautionary label about the potential hazards, such as “keep out of reach of children.” Check to make sure your soaps don’t include these types of ingredients. 
• “True soaps”: The CPSC regulates true soaps, as deemed by the FDA, checking for “nonvolatile matter” in the ingredients, which ingredients cause the cleaning action, and how they are intended to be used. or example, soap should only be labeled, sold, and represented as soap, without any promises about moisturizing, smell, deodorizing the body, treating skin conditions (like acne or eczema), or killing germs.

If you’re selling a non-cosmetic, non-“true soap” then you generally won’t need to worry about much, though it’s always best to check in your local jurisdiction. There’s also no legal testing requirement before you go to market, but you’re responsible for properly labeling and making sure it’s safe for use.

It’s always a good idea to include ingredients, quantity of contents, and your business information on soap labels or packaging. 

Create an online store

To get in front of a larger target audience, an online store is essential. Here’s how to set yours up for success:

• User-friendly design: Create a clean, navigable, and visually appealing website.
• High-quality product images: Showcase your soaps with professional-grade product photos.
• SEO: Use relevant keywords and descriptions to improve your site’s visibility.
• Customer engagement: Include features like product reviews, blogs, or newsletters.

Known for its natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skin care products, Herbivore Botanicals promotes a range of soaps made with organic ingredients on its site.

Price your homemade soap

Pricing is key to your business’s viability and growth. Consider these points:

• Cost-plus pricing: Calculate your costs and add a markup for profit.
• Competitive analysis: Research prices of similar products in the market.
• Perceived value: Price can reflect the quality and exclusivity of your soap.
• Flexibility: Be open to adjusting prices based on feedback and sales trends.

Boutique brand Osmia Organics clearly displays soap pricing next to listings and photos.

Promote your soap on social media

Social media is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with your audience. Here’s how to use it effectively:

• Consistent branding: Maintain a consistent style and tone across all platforms.
• Engaging content: Share behind-the-scenes looks, customer testimonials, and soap-making processes.
• Regular posting: Keep your brand top of mind with frequent updates.
• Cross-promotion: Use various platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and even TikTok to reach different audiences.

LEND Handmade Soaps leverages Instagram Reels and TikTok videos to promote and advertise its business and products.

In addition to social media, consider other platforms like local markets, pop-up shops, and collaborations with other local businesses to expand your reach.

Effective marketing involves storytelling. Your brand’s story, values, and the uniqueness of your product should be at the heart of all your marketing efforts.

Integrate omnichannel selling

In addition to selling your soap at retail stores and in your own online shop, you can take it on the road to fairs, markets, and festivals. Soap is easy to transport and display, so it’s great for event selling and temporary retail. 

Shopify POS can hit the road with you, syncing data from your online and retail sales channels, so you have it all in one place. Plus, it lets you take payments and collect customer data. 

👉 Learn how Starlight Knitting Society saves over 20 hours per week with Shopify POS.

Engage with customers

Whether you’re selling soap online, at a farmers’ market, or at a crafts’ fair, you’ll need to engage with customers to nurture sales. Put the data you capture from customers into your sales funnel and use it to:

• Build detailed customer segments.
• Send relevant campaigns across each touchpoint.
• Create localized promotions around key events or holidays in different regions.
• Offer personalized product recommendations based on previous purchases.
• Improve products and introduce new ideas based on customer preferences.

Then, create a customer loyalty program to reward repeat customers with exclusive offers, special discounts, or early access to new products, fostering deeper loyalty and increasing retention. For example, if your customers shop using your online store, give them points for signing up, following you on social media, or for every dollar they spend. Then, encourage them to redeem the points for handmade soaps or any other product you offer.

Sell on marketplaces 

Want to grow your customer base and sell online more effectively? You can sell soap through online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon. 

Even better, get yourself listed on wholesale marketplaces, like Faire, Orderchamp, or Creoate, to sell to independent retailers. Faire’s sales channel, for instance, lets you integrate your Shopify account, sell products wholesale, and manage everything through your Shopify admin. 

When you receive an order on Faire, the order automatically syncs to Shopify, and you can fulfill it from your Shopify admin. This streamlines your operations and fulfillment and lets you sell wholesale alongside other selling strategies.

Unify inventory management 

As your soap-making business grows, you’ll need an efficient, centralized system to organize your stock to minimize the cost of holding inventory, maintain consistent stock levels, and get products into your customers’ hands faster. 

Shopify can automatically sync your stock quantities as you receive, sell, return, or exchange products. This unifies your inventory management from the same back office, giving you a single view of inventory, orders, and customer data, so you can:

• Track what’s happening across your business in real time.
• Enhance the customer experience across multiple sales channels, storefronts, and locations.
• Unlock new ways to harness customer data, manage orders, reduce the risk of lost sales, and personalize the customer journey.

Start a profitable soap making business

By following this guide, you can turn your soap-making hobby into a lucrative business. Start by mastering soap making basics and gathering quality supplies. Develop unique products with appealing scents, colors, and ingredients, and ensure your packaging reflects your brand. 

Next, create an online presence, adopt smart pricing strategies, and actively promote your products on social media. Then, always adapt to market trends and customer feedback.