There are many items that can be added to soaps that can come straight out of the pantry, or left over from another creative endeavour. Working with dry ingredients is the safest option for cold process soap. If you wish to add items to melt and pour bases be extra careful as many additives are not suited to this medium.
| Additive | Why | Cold Process | Melt and Pour |
| Activated Charcoal | Colour and cleanser | 1-2 tablespoons per kilo of oils | 1-2 tablespoons per kilo |
| Beeswax | Hardness | 1-2% weight of oils | Not recommended |
| Calendula Flowers | Exfoliation and visual appeal | 2 teaspoons per kilo oil oils | Not recommended |
| Citric Acid | Soap Scum reduction | 1-3% weight of oils. Lye adjustment required | Not recommended |
| Clay | Colour, exfoliant, cleanser | 2-4 teaspoons per kilo of oils | 2-4 teaspoons per kilo of soap |
| Cocoa Powder | Colour | 1-2 teaspoons per kilo of oils | 1-2 teaspoons per kilo of soap |
| Coffee Grounds | Colour and exfoliant | Add 2-5 teaspoons per kilo of oils to oils before lye | Not recommended |
| Corn Meal | Exfoliant | 2 teaspoons per kilo of oils added to oils before lye | Not recommended |
|
Dried calendula, lavender or rose petals |
Visual appeal and exfoliant | 2 teaspoons per kilo of oils. Lavender and rose will turn brown | Not recommended |
| Honey | Added lather and a little scent | 1 tablespoon per kilo of oils | 1 teaspoon per kilo of base |
| Milk Powder (any) | Creamy feel | 2 tablespoons per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Oatmeal | A soothing, gentle exfoliator | 2 tablespoons (preferably ground) per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Poppy Seeds | Mid range exfoliation and visual appeal. | 2 teaspoons per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Salt | Adds hardness | 1 teaspoon per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Sodium Citrate | Reduces Soap Scum | 2-4% weight of oils | Not recommended |
| Sodium Lactate | Hardness and ease of unmoulding | 10-30gm per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Sugar | Increased lather | 1 teaspoon per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
| Tussah Silk | Silkiness | Dissolve a pinch in lye per kilo of oils | Not recommended |
2 comments
Hi Maryann,
Under certain conditions dried product in melt and pour soaps can absorb moisture from the soap or atmosphere and cause moulding and bacterial growth.
I have used poppy seeds, ground oatmeal, dried calendula, and coffee ground in various Melt and Pour bases but haven’t had any problem with any of these. Can you please tell me why you are saying that these additives are not recommended for M and P soap bases?
Thanks.