How to Make Natural Soap-Part 6 in Our Soap Making Series

🧼 Common Soap-Making Mistakes (and How to Fix Them) | Part 6 of Our Soap Making Series

Welcome back, soap lovers!
We’ve mixed, poured, scented, and cured our way through the Soap Making Series — and now it’s time to talk about something every soap maker experiences at some point: mistakes OR "gremlins" as some soap makers refer to it!

Even the most experienced makers have had a batch or two that didn’t go quite as planned. The good news? Most “soap fails” are totally fixable (and often make for great learning moments). Myself, there has been only 1 bad fail in my 14 years that needed to be thrown away!

Let’s look at some common soap-making mistakes and how to prevent or fix them — so you can enjoy smooth, bubbly success every time.

 

⚖️ 1. Soap Didn’t Harden

You pour your soap, wait a day, and… it’s still soft.
This can happen if:

-Your oils were too soft (like using too much olive or castor oil)

-The lye amount wasn’t properly measured

-The room was too cool for the soap to set

💡 Fix it:
Let it sit a few extra days — sometimes all it needs is more time to firm up. If it still won’t harden, you can rebatch (melt it down and add a bit more lye-water mix, carefully measured). This step will require having some idea of where you may of went wrong!

 

💧 2. Soap is Oily or “Weeping”

If your soap feels greasy or has liquid on top, don’t panic — it may just be excess oils or glycerin separating out.

Possible causes:

-Too much oil or butter

-Soap didn’t reach full trace before pouring

-High humidity during curing

💡 Fix it:
Blot off the extra oil, and let the bars cure longer. If it’s excessive, rebatch and remix until the texture evens out. 

A lot of the time this will fix itself with a cure, otherwise a rebatch is required!

🫧 3. Soap Turned Crumbly or Dry

Crumbly soap often happens when there’s too much lye, or it got too hot during the mix.

💡 Fix it: Always double-check your recipe with a trusted lye calculator and use weight measurements on a scale. If a batch feels harsh, don’t use it on skin — try using it as a laundry or cleaning soap instead.

🎨 4. Colors Didn’t Turn Out as Expected

Maybe your lovely rose clay turned brown, or your green spirulina faded to beige. It happens! Natural colorants react differently depending on oils, temperature, and time.

💡 Fix it:
 Test small batches first, and take notes. Natural colors often mellow beautifully during curing — what looks dull at first can deepen over a few weeks.

🌸 5. Fragrance Faded (or Vanished!)

Essential oils, while natural and wonderful, can fade if not used in the right amount or combined correctly.

💡 Fix it:
 Try blending stronger base notes like patchouli, cedarwood, or lavender with lighter scents such as citrus. Store soaps in a dry, dark space to help the scent last longer.

🧂 6. White Powder on Top (Soda Ash)

Ever seen a light, dusty film on your bars? That’s soda ash — a harmless byproduct of air reacting with unsaponified lye.

💡 Fix it:
Wipe it off with a damp cloth, or prevent it by covering your soap mold while it sets.

 

💚 Embracing the Imperfections

Here’s a little secret: handmade soap doesn’t have to be perfect.
Every swirl, texture, or tiny bubble tells a story — it shows your hands made something from scratch with care.

Each batch is unique, and that’s what makes it special. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your craft, remember that even “mistakes” are part of the learning journey.

 

🌿 Thank You for Following Along!

That wraps up our Soap Making Series!

But WAIT, I have a surprise bonus for you next week! You won’t want to miss it!

From ingredients and safety to scenting, curing, and troubleshooting, we’ve covered the beautiful, creative, and sometimes unpredictable world of natural soap making.

If all this talk about soap has inspired you to try (or simply enjoy) the process, you can always experience the results of careful, natural craftsmanship right here:

👉 Shop Handcrafted Natural Soaps at Fosters Fields

Each bar is made with nourishing oils, gentle scents, and plenty of love — because good soap should feel as good as it smells. 🌸

From my home to yours, happy soap making!

Carrie

Join us on socials to follow along on our journey, where I share my products and also the ups and downs that go along with Fosters Fields!

https://linktr.ee/fostersfields