Group photo of the USO event (Kristen Thoennes)
In an attempt to live a more zero-waste lifestyle, I have embraced bar soap. While it’s not that difficult to find great quality soaps around Europe, it can be fun to make your own!
USO Ramstein has been fantastic about organizing crafts and activities at their monthly Coffee Connections meetups to help spouses learn new skills and connect. For the December, 2024 gathering, participants were able to make their very own melt-and-pour style soap.
Two women holding up soap at USO event (Kristen Thoennes)
Soapmaking can sound intimidating, which is one reason why I had never explored doing it on my own. After a class with the Stuttgart Community Spouses’ Club, I learned how melt-and-pour soap is pretty easy to make. When I saw that the USO Ramstein Coffee Connections event was dedicated to soapmaking, I was excited to once again try my hand at the useful skill.
To make melt-and-pour soap, all you need are a few supplies!
Two women sitting at table at USO event (Kristen Thoennes)
Supply list
- Soap base
- Knife and cutting board that you don’t mind using for soap-making
- Container for melting (a small pitcher will work best)
- Plastic or silicone spatula
- Microwave
- Thermometer
- Plastic or Silicone Mold(s)
- Add-ins such as essential oils (skin-safe only), lavender, flower petals, oatmeal
Group of four women at a table at USO soap event (Kristen Thoennes)
Directions
There are a wide variety of soap bases that you can use for melt-and-pour soap. You can find options at www.brambleberry.com. Amazon is another place where you can purchase soap bases.
1. You will want to cut your soap base into chunks. Do your best to cut them into even pieces to aid in melting efficiently so you don’t overheat the soap base. If you’re using add-ins like flower petals or dried lavender, add those into the mold directly.
2. Melt the soap base in a container in the microwave. Microwave for 30-45 second increments until fully melted, but be careful not to overheat.
*Different-sized molds will require different amounts of soap base.
3. Check the temperature. If your melted soap is higher than 135 degrees F, you will want it to cool down before adding scents. If you are using essential oils, mix them into the melted soap base. The amount will depend on the type and quality of essential oils you are using. One recipe we referenced (www.ouroilyhouse.com) suggested about 40-50 drops per pound of soap base.
4. Pour the melted soap into the mold. Pro tip from thisreadingmama.com If you want to get rid of any bubbles that may form, just spray a little rubbing alcohol on top after you pour the melted soap into your mold.
5. Let it sit for 2-3 hours to set up. Once it has hardened and cooled completely, peel the mold off the soap.
6. Let the soap harden for 48-72 hours before use and enjoy!
