Your guide to soapmaking with the help of kitchen cupboard ingredients and essential oils

Soapmaking need not be complicated. Here are two quick methods: wetting and moulding of soap flakes into balls which are then covered in poppy or sesame seeds and microwaving natural soap base before mixing in spices and essential oils.

• The rebatching - that is the heat processing and re-moulding - of a natural soap base allows you to customise soap to suit your needs.
• Natural soap base, available via mail-order, is not fragranced, it lathers generously and is totally free of synthetic additives making it mild on the skin and suitable for people with dry, sensitive and tender skin.
• Because no artificial solvents or thickeners are added, natural soap base does not melt completely to a liquid state.
• Most of the items you need to make your soap can be found in your kitchen. For instance, recycled food containers such as milk cartons and potato chip cylinders make excellent moulds for the rebatched soap.
• Cinnamon will colour your soaps beige or pale orange-brown.
• Paprika and other powdered spices such as nutmeg can be used as natural colouring agents as much as for their fragrance.
• Freshly-ground coffee is reputed to be a potent deodorant and is often used in kitchen soaps as it has a mild scrubbing agent to eliminate hands of unpleasant odours such as garlic and onions.
• Essential oils (added to soaps via a suitable carrier oil such as olive oil) are said to have beneficial healing properties. For instance cardamom is said to relieve headaches and nausea while lavender is said to have antiseptic qualities.

Recipe makes 16

Gather your supplies
350gms soap flakes; 5 standard tablespoons water; 1 standard tablespoon olive oil; ground cinnamon; ground ginger; poppy and sesame seeds; kitchen scales; standard measuring spoons; large mixing bowl; 5 smaller bowls with rounded inner bases; butter knife.

Here's how
STEP 1
Place the soap flakes into the large bowl then add the water and the oil. Mix these ingredients with the butter knife. Knead the mixture with your hands until it resembles play dough. Divide the soap 'dough' into 16 portions by scooping out a rounded tablespoon of soap mixture for each portion. Shape each portion into a ball.

STEP 2
Place one tablespoon of each of the seeds and spices into each of the smaller bowls. Quickly dip a soap ball in a small bowl of cold water then roll it between your hands to evenly wet the surface. Drop the soap ball into the sesame bowl, dry your hands then spin the bowl around to coat the soap ball evenly with sesame seeds. Roll and press the seed-coated soap ball between your hands to 'fix' the seeds. Working with one seed or spice at a time, repeat this step to coat the remaining soap balls.

Recipe makes 4

Gather your supplies
Round chip container (mould); 400g natural soap base; water sprinter; olive oil; ground nutmeg and cinnamon; ground coffee; nutmeg and cardamom essential oil; sharp knife; kitchen scales; water spritzer; butter knife; microwave-safe jug; standard measuring spoons; metal spoon; chopping board; cinnamon sticks and star anise; paper twine

STEP 1
Cut 15cm off the top of the chip container. Thoroughly clean and dry the container (mould). Replace the plastic lid and turn upside down so the lid becomes the base of the mould.

STEP 2
Finely chop or slice the soap base and place it into the jug. Add the coffee and cinnamon and spray the soap with a small amount of water.

STEP 3
Place the uncovered bowl/jug into your microwave and process for 60 seconds.

STEP 4 Remove the bowl/jug from the microwave and mix the soap with the butter knife. Spray a small amount of water onto the surface of the soap mix, lightly coating it. Return the bowl/jug to the microwave and process for 20 seconds. Repeat this step once or twice more until the soap has been thoroughly heated and has softened. Add 15 drops of cardomom and 10 drops of nutmeg essential oils to 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil which acts as a carrier oil. Add the scented olive oil to the soap and mix through.

STEP 5
Scoop the soap into the prepared mould. Bang the mould on your work surface to distribute the soap evenly. Smooth the surface with the metal spoon.

STEP 6
When the soap is cold, remove the container lid and push the soap out of the mould. Cut the soap into round slices. Store the soap in a dry area, away from direct sun and heat, and let stand for a couple of days before use. Decorate each soap slice with paper twine, cinnamon sticks and star anise.

Gather your supplies
Used milk carton (mould); corrugated cardboard; rubber bands; 400g natural soap base; ground sweet paprika; olive oil; sweet orange and clove essential oils; grater; sharp knife; kitchen scales; water spritzer; butter knife; microwave-safe bowl or jug; standard measuring spoons; metal spoon; chopping board; paper twine and skeleton leaves

STEP 1
Thoroughly clean and dry the mould (milk carton). Cut it to the desired height (about 2.5cm for every 100g of soap base). Wrap it with cardboard and secure with rubber bands to maintain it's square shape.

STEP 2
Grate half the soap base and chop the other half into chunky squares.

STEP 3
Place the grated and chopped soap base into the bowl/jug, add 1/2 tablespoon of sweet paprika then spritz the bowl contents with water.

STEP 4
Add 10 drops of clove oil and 15 drops of sweet orange oil to 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and set aside.

STEP 5
Place the uncovered bowl/jug into your microwave and process for 60 seconds.

STEP 6
Remove the bowl/jug from the microwave and mix the soap with the butter knife. Spray a small amount of water onto the surface of the soap mix, lightly coating it. Return the bowl/jug to the microwave and process for 20 seconds. Repeat this step once or twice more until the soap has been thoroughly heated and has softened. The grated soap will have melted and taken on the colour of the paprika while the chunks will have remained white. Add the scented olive oil to the soap and mix through.

STEP 7
Scoop the soap mixture into the prepared mould. Bang the mould on your work surface to distribute the soap evenly. Smooth the surface with a metal spoon.

STEP 8
When the soap is cold, remove the corrugated card and tear away the milk carton. Cut the soap into slices. Store the soap in a dry area, away from direct sun and heat, and let stand for a couple of days before use. Decorate each of the soap slices with paper twine and leaves.

Tip When you're making a batch of soaps for yourself, make a few extra and put them aside for gifts. The chunky bar is flavoured with ground paprika and sweet orange and clove essential oils.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens July 2005