Emolients, exfolients, colourants and essential oils may constitute up to ten per cent by volume of the total soap mixture. They are usually added just before the soap is ready to pour. If they are added too early, the caustic soda may destroy them or they may interfere with the saponification process.
It is improtant to remember when making a soap from scratch using only natural ingredients, that the ability to incorporate additives will be limited as they will probably be affected by the reactions going on within the maturing soap.
Emolients make a soap very mild and gentle. They can include honey, lecithin, lanolin, glycerin, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable oils and infused oils. The addition of extra oily or fatty susbtances is called 'super-fatting' a soap. Small quantities of emolients are added once the soap misture has begun to thicken.
Exfoliating ingredients are added to soaps to help slough off dead skin cells, keeping the skin smooth. These include: ground oats, bran, almond meal, cinnamon, corn meal, poppy seeds, pumice and sand.
Using natural colouring is quite difficult as many colours change or fade radically in the presence of lye. Spices and clays make excellent natural soap colouring agents.
Essential oils may constitute one to four percent of the total mixture depending on their odour intensity and your skin sensitivity. There are endless combinations you can use to make your own individualised soap.
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