Advanced Soapmaking: Liquid Soap

For soap making enthusiasts who enjoy making bar soap, liquid soap making is an exciting next step!

Liquid soap recipes can be really simple, in some cases using just three ingredients: olive oil, lye and purified water. Depending on the recipe used you can make liquid soap for the hands and body or even a household cleaner for dishwashing.

The initial process is similar to hot process soap making, so when you have experience with hot process soap making it’s time to learn liquid soap making!

The key difference between making bar soap and making liquid soap is the lye used in the reaction. Solid soap bars are made using sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Liquid soap is made using potassium hydroxide (KOH).

The process of making liquid soap is unique, too. First the oils and lye are left to ‘cook’ (saponify) in a slow cooker to create a ‘soap paste’. Then the soap paste is diluted in purified water to make liquid soap.

Liquid soap can be left unthickened or it can be thickened. Unthickened soap will have a viscosity similar to water and it can be packaged into a foamer bottle. When the liquid soap is dispensed through the foamer bottle, it turns into foam. Alternatively, liquid soap can be thickened so it has more of a gel-like consistency and it can then be packaged into a common pump bottle.

Benefits of making liquid soap

Liquid soap can be made with just a few ingredients, all of which are inexpensive, making liquid soap very cost effective.

It can be a great addition to your product range (if you sell your products). While making bar soap is quite popular, fewer soap makers also make liquid soap giving you an opportunity to create something other brands are not.

The process is fast. Because liquid soap is made with a hot process, the entire soap making process is fast and can be done in an hour from start to finish.

Liquid soap can be used for multiple purposes. Depending on the recipe, liquid soap can function as a super mild facial cleanser, or a strong and effective laundry detergent.

You have control over the strength (cleansing capability) of the soap. Because the soap is diluted, this gives you total control over the strength of the finished product.

Liquid soap can be customized with several different ingredients. Adding humectants will make it more hydrating, for example.

Want to learn a bit more about hot process soap before enrolling? Read our blog posts: An Essential Guide to Making Liquid Soap and 4 Different Ways to Make Soap at Home.

Start making liquid soap today
If you have already made at least a few batches of hot process soap, then you are ready to move on to liquid soap making!

Advanced Soapmaking: Liquid Soap is a detailed class that covers everything you need to know to make liquid soap safely and successfully. Containing two detailed step-by-step videos showing you exactly how to make liquid soap and how to thicken it, and also how to test the purity of your potassium hydroxide (KOH), a beautiful and detailed class textbook to download, tried-and-tested recipes to follow and tutor support from a master soapmaker, you’ll have everything you to need to create exceptional liquid soap.

Please note: As this is an advanced class you will either need to have taken our Advanced Soapmaking: Hot Process Soap class as a prerequisite OR have sufficient experience of making hot process soap before accessing the class.

Advanced Soapmaking: Liquid Soap includes six in-depth lessons:

3. PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUID SOAP
Liquid soap is very different to bar soap and in this module you’ll learn about the important properties and characteristics of liquid soap, plus some of the key steps involved in making liquid soap.

We’ll cover:

• pH.
• Neutralization.
• Transparency.
• Superfat.
• Viscosity.
• Concentration and dilution.
• Preservation.
• Thickening the soap.

6. ADDITIONAL SOAP INGREDIENTS
Additional ingredients can be used to add fragrance and color, or to improve the gentle and nourishing properties of the soap, increase the lather or create a more hydrating soap.

You’ll learn about:

• Essential oils/fragrance oils.
• Glycerin.
• Aloe vera.
• Sugar.
• Panthenol.

Not a member of the Club? Join now and use your first month's credits towards the Advanced Soapmaking: Liquid Soap class.

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Find out more about the Club

Advanced Soapmaking: Liquid Soap is a 100-credit class. Your membership includes 50 credits each month, giving you the choice to top up 50 credits ($57) for immediate access, or simply wait until next month and unlock it then.