Soap Making
Getting Into Soap Making: A Farm-Rooted Approach
by Lexy Schussler
On the farm, there’s always a project going on.
Whether it’s fixing fence, feeding animals, or figuring out how to use what we already have, farm life keeps our hands busy and our minds curious. It’s no surprise that so many homesteaders eventually find themselves asking about soap making.
Soap making fits naturally into farm life. It’s practical, creative, and deeply tied to stewardship. Rendered tallow, lard, fresh milk — these aren’t just byproducts, they’re opportunities. For families, soap making becomes a teachable skill. For kids in 4-H or FFA, it can turn into a fundraiser or small business. For farms, it can quietly support feed bills, hay costs, and seasonal income without adding chaos to daily chores.
This isn’t about chasing trends or building something overnight. It’s about using what you already have and building a rhythm that works with the farm, not against it.
The best place to begin isn’t shopping — it’s inventory. What do you have the most of? For many farms, the answer is pork fat or beef fat. Tallow and lard make exceptional soap bases, producing hard, long-lasting bars with a creamy lather. They also connect modern soap making to generations before us who relied on exactly what their land and livestock provided.
From there, balance becomes the focus. While animal fats form a strong foundation, additional oils help fine-tune how a bar feels and performs. Coconut oil contributes cleansing and bubbles. Olive oil adds gentleness and conditioning. Shea butter and castor oil bring richness and lather, but both are best kept at around five percent or less. Too much of either can leave soap sticky or soft. Thoughtful formulation matters more than complexity.
That balance extends to structure as well. Hard oils like tallow, lard, coconut oil, and small amounts of shea butter give soap durability and longevity. Soft oils such as olive oil and castor oil improve skin feel and conditioning. Superfat also plays an important role. A superfat range of five to seven percent creates a bar that lasts in the shower, doesn’t melt away quickly, and still treats skin kindly — especially important for hardworking hands.
Liquid choice offers another place for creativity. Goat’s milk, cow’s milk, and sheep’s milk all produce beautifully gentle soaps, but milk isn’t required. Water, herbal teas, and even regional beer can all be used successfully. Soap making allows room for both tradition and experimentation.
As recipes take shape, batch size and molds come into focus. Loaf molds are a favorite for good reason — they create consistent bars that are easy to cut, label, and package. Silicone molds can be expressive and fun, but they often complicate packaging, so it helps to think ahead to how the soap will actually be sold.
Many makers begin with batches in the thirty-six to fifty-four ounce range, which are manageable and forgiving. Larger batches become appealing as confidence grows. Consistency matters, especially when selling, but inspiration matters too. Soap making should feel grounding, not exhausting.
No matter how carefully batches are measured, there’s almost always a little extra batter. Keeping small molds on hand for overpours is one of those quiet tricks that prevents waste and creates opportunity. Overpours make excellent samples, donation pieces, market giveaways, and gift add-ins.
Selling soap introduces a new layer of thought: understanding who you’re selling to. Most homesteaders quickly discover they don’t have just one demographic. Many blue-collar households want soap that lasts, doesn’t melt into mush, and doesn’t dry skin out. Clean, familiar scents often outperform trendy blends in rural and family-centered communities, while boutique spaces may invite more experimentation. The goal isn’t to chase every preference — it’s to know your audience.
Fragrance oils deserve special attention. Reading soap notes is essential. Reputable suppliers document how fragrances behave in cold process soap, including acceleration and discoloration. Vanilla-based scents almost always darken to tan or brown. That doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful, but it does mean planning ahead. One common technique is reserving a small portion of unscented soap — usually four to ten ounces — to color and swirl for contrast.
When starting out, slow-moving fragrances are your friend. Acceleration leaves little working time and can overwhelm beginners. Reviews written by other soap makers are just as valuable as official notes, often offering real-world insight that saves time and frustration.
Many homesteaders source fragrance oils from companies like Midwest Fragrance Company, Aztec Candle & Soap Supply, and Nurture Soap for their balance of performance and price. Higher-priced suppliers such as Bramble Berry also offer standout scents, but every fragrance should be priced per ounce and accounted for in the batch cost.
When the numbers are done correctly, soap making becomes a powerful fundraising and income tool. Many bars can be produced for under two dollars and sold for five to eight dollars depending on the market. With a four-to-six-week cure time, soap aligns well with typical fundraising timelines — but offers far more education and pride than traditional campaigns. For youth involved in animal projects, soap sales can directly support feed, bedding, and show expenses.
Seasonal planning makes all the difference. For the first year or two, minimal production throughout the year paired with heavier production starting in August works well. October through December becomes the main selling season, with the goal of covering a full year of hay or grain costs. Once that foundation is built, growth feels steady rather than stressful.
Valentine’s Day soap is often made in late November or December, allowing plenty of cure time and avoiding post-holiday burnout. Smaller molds, gift sets, and overpours shine during this season. Trying to produce year-round before infrastructure is in place often leads to burnout. Building slowly builds longevity.
Presentation matters, too. A strong logo and consistent label help people recognize your soap instantly. Tools like OnlineLabels allow makers to experiment with shapes and sizes without large upfront costs. Keeping a variety of labels on hand makes it easier to create gift baskets and seasonal packaging as inspiration strikes.
Marketing doesn’t always require advertising. Many homesteaders find success through community involvement — donation baskets, raffles, church events, and silent auctions. Handmade items are especially prized at livestock shows and fundraisers, including those hosted by the American Dairy Goat Association, where quilts, soap baskets, and farm goods are both competitive and deeply appreciated.
What began for me as a way to use farm abundance and offset costs slowly grew into something much bigger. Soap making turned into soap making classes, and those classes opened the door to agritourism — inviting people onto the farm to learn, slow down, and reconnect with where everyday goods come from.
This past year, our farm was voted top five for best day trip, farm, and soap in the Kansas City area — something I never imagined when I first poured a small batch at the kitchen counter. We’re just 35–45 minutes outside the bustle of the city, yet people are willing to make the drive for something wholesome, hands-on, and real.
That’s the quiet power of building something intentionally. Soap was never just soap — it became an invitation. An education. A bridge between rural life and curious hands looking to learn.
And like most good farm projects, it all started small.
One good bar at a time.
