You are a crafter at heart. Melt and pour soap products are an excellent option if you’re interested in starting a soap business or adding soap products to your existing candle line. The melt and pour soap making process is easy to learn with a relatively low initial investment. If you already sell candles, it’s a simple way to expand your product line, reach more customers, and increase sales. If not, Melt and pour soap is a simple and fun hobby to make money.
Step 1: Familiarize Yourself With Soap Making
Take the time to really learn the melt and pour soap making process. We recommend starting with melt and pour soap because the process is pretty simple, but you should feel very comfortable with the process from beginning to end. The more comfortable you are, the easier it will be to streamline your workflow for efficiency.
What you need:
- Soap molds
- Melt and pour soap base
- Fragrance oil
- Soap dyes
- Microwave safe pouring pitcher
- Spatula
- Kitchen scale
- Soap cutter or sharp knife
‘The Melt and Pour Soap Making’ article will help you get started:
Find Inspiration
Once you have the hang of it, it’s time to get inspired. You can take a look at our recipe page for inspiration and supplies or order a Melt and Pour KIT to experiment if soap making is for you.
Don’t let your inspiration stop here! Check out Pinterest, Instagram, and join Facebook to see what others are making. Let their projects be a catalyst for your creativity.
It’s the best to look beyond just the soap aesthetics and do a little research. Take notes and create inspiration boards on packaging you’re drawn to, how other businesses are presenting their soap, the fragrances they’re using, etc.
Step 2: Develop a Product Line
Now that you have a handle on melt and pour soap making and have done your research, it’s time to develop your own product line. Gather your notes and inspiration boards and start creating. Keep in mind who your target audience is as you go; you want to make sure you’re making a soap product that they will be eager to purchase.
Order Supplies and Samples
Start testing and craft your ideas into actual products. It’s a good time to test different soap bases, fragrance oils, silicone molds, and work out any issues you might encounter. Don’t be afraid to try different variations of your ideas to see what you like best. Take notes so you can reference adjustments you make and what did and didn’t work.
Pro tip: Keep Sanitation in Mind
As you are developing make sure you keep in mind the actual process of soap making. There are sanitary practices you need to follow, called good manufacturing practices (GMP). It’s a good idea to educate yourself on these practices so you can work them into your process from the beginning. The FDA lays out GMP here: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Guidelines/Inspections Checklist for Cosmetics
Step 3: Design Your Packaging
When you have a final product, you want to choose the right packaging for your business. Keep your packaging simple. It should reflect the aesthetic you’ve created for your brand to maintain a cohesive look. Melt and pour soap does need to be packaged to keep out moisture; use plastic wrap, shrink wrap, or cellophane bags. Packaging also protects your soap product, so think about how and where you’ll be selling your soaps. Soaps that will be shipped may require more protective packaging.
Labels
Labeling requirements are pretty strict for bath and body products. You’ll need to include items like product ingredients, product weight, and business information. Visit the FDA’s page on Regulations Related to Cosmetics to educate yourself on these requirements as you design your labels. Note: melt and pour soap is considered a “cosmetic”.
Step 4: Decide How and Where to Sell
There are different avenues for selling your melt and pour soap products. If you’re looking to sell person to person, consider places like local shops or craft shows. These don’t have to be your exclusive selling avenues; it’s not a bad idea to diversify where you’re selling.
As more people are turning to online shopping, setting up an online store or listing your products on websites is highly recommended. .
If you already have a cosmetic business, incorporate your soap products into your normal sales channels. If you are new, put some thought into how and where you want to sell.
Step 5: Sell Your Soap
It’s time to open your business and start selling your soap! Get your name out there by telling friends and family about your new soap business and promote through social media. One sale could lead to many.
Don’t be afraid to ask close friends and family for feedback so that you can continue to improve. Remember that running a business can be a learning process; what might work for one business, might not work for yours. It’s ok to make adjustments if something isn’t working. Stay positive and happy selling!
