If you're new to soap making, the melt-and-pour technique is a great way to start. It offers plenty of flexibility and room for learning. With this method, you simply melt a premade soap base, customize it with your favorite colors, scents, and decorations, then pour the liquid soap into molds. Once you've mastered the basic customization techniques, you can play with more advanced styles such as layering and swirls.

What you'll need:

• A melt-and-pour soap base
• Soap molds of your desired shapes
• Fragrance oils in scents of your choosing (FYI: Scentivore offers fragrance oils specifically designed for soap making)
• Optional liquid colorants, dried botanicals like flowers or herbs, exfoliants like oatmeal or coffee grounds, embeds or decorations.

Prepare your workspace, but don't worry if you make a mess! It is important to prevent sweating and issues with molding. Both can be preventive if you’re working in a low-humidity environment.

Use a dehumidifier if necessary and make sure your workspace has proper ventilation. Open windows or turn on fans if necessary.

1.     Melt your base soap. Cut or shred your soap base it into smaller pieces to melt them more quickly. Place the soap pieces in a heat-safe container and melt according to the manufacturer's instructions. Stir frequently to ensure even melting.
2.     Add your fragrance load. Once the soap base has melted completely into a liquid, remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly for a few minutes, until it's warm but no longer bubbling hot. Add your desired amount of fragrance oil and stir vigorously to incorporate the scent throughout the soap base.
3.     Play with enhancers. At this stage, you can get creative and customize your soap further by adding enhancers like:

• Colorants: Add a few drops at a time, until you achieve your desired shade.
• Exfoliants: Stir in some exfoliants like oatmeal or coffee grounds, until you achieve your desired texture.
• Dried botanicals: Mix in dried flowers, herbs, or other botanicals
  
  

4.     Pour into the mold. Work carefully as the soap will still be hot. Slowly pour the melted, customized soap mixture into your soap molds. Fill the cavities about 3/4 full, leaving space at the top for any decorations.
5.     Decorating the top. If you want to add decorative elements like dried flowers or soap embeds on the top of your soaps, gently sprinkle or arrange them on the surface of the soap in the molds before it starts to fully set. If you skip step number 5, proceed to let the soap cool and harden completely before unmolding.  

Safety notes:

Soap bases start melting at around 120°F, so handle the melted soap with care using heat-safe tools, as it can cause burns if it drips or splashes.

Wear protective gloves to avoid skin irritation. And, always work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling concentrated fragrance oils.