Craft kits for making soap can be purchased in natural and holiday varieties as well as those made for children. In addition, some kits are geared toward adults who have never made soap before. The manufacturer of a soap craft kit generally aims to include everything a person needs to complete that craft. Soap base, fragrances, and molds are usually all included within a soap making kit regardless of which particular type it is. While ingredients such as soap bases and fragrances remain relatively similar from kit to kit, molds, fragrances, and decorations can vary significantly.
Soap making kits for kids usually contain glycerin, dyes, and molds. Depending on the kit, the manufacturer might also include glitter, bath salts, and other materials to decorate a soap bar during or after its formation. The glycerin can be melted in the microwave and poured into the mold of choice. While these kits are often easy and safe for children more than five years old, the instructions generally recommend parental supervision. Most kits come with enough ingredients to make several decorative bars of soap, and new materials must be ordered via postal mail or obtained by purchasing a new kit.
Unlike soap making kits for kids, natural soap kits are generally very involved and require a lot more effort than melting, pouring, and decorating. These kits come with vegetable and essential oils, herbs, and clays to form the soap bars. Molds, gloves, and other items required to safely formulate and mix a soap are also provided.
Holiday soap making kits are typically geared toward a specific holiday, such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day. The kit is usually designed to produce soaps that smell like something associated with the holiday. For example, a Christmas soap making kit might make soap that smells like gingerbread or peppermint. Holiday soap making kits often contain garnishments such as bows, ribbons, and stamps of a holiday scene. Some holiday soap making kits include themed molds; for example, an Easter holiday kit might have a rabbit or egg soap mold.
Some soap making kits are designed for beginners but are less simple than a children’s kit. These kits typically have relatively simple ingredients and fewer specialized options than other kits. The mold shapes included with beginner kits are often more generic and general purpose than the molds included with specialized kits. In some cases, the same company selling beginner kits offers advanced kits that include more options.