Buying guide
Cold Process Beginner Setup
Updated How we research
The oils, lye, and tools for your first CP batch. The page is split into five sections (Get the Right Lye; Hardening Coconut Oil; Conditioning Olive Oil; Blend It Fast; Weigh Everything Precisely), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 5.2 to 9.2 out of 10.
- Best overall:CYBERGIANT 13lb/0.1g Precision Digital Food Scale with Stainless Steel Platform & LCD Display. Highest overall score in this guide at 9.2/10.
- Also great value:The Boyer Lye for Soap Making, Sodium Hydroxide Food Grade, 2 Pack 2.2 lbs. Value score of 9/10, overall 9.1/10.
- Solid build:Waring WSB60 Heavy-Duty Immersion Blender. Build and materials score of 10/10, overall 8.1/10.
- Feature-rich:Bonvoisin Baking Scale 0.1 Gram Accuracy Digital Scale for Kitchen, Candle, Soap and Sourdough, Percentage Weighing (10 lb). Features score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Get the Right Lye
- The Boyer Lye for Soap Making, Sodium Hydroxide Food Grade, 2 Pack 2.2 lbsOur score9.1/10
- The Boyer Corporation Lye for Soap Making, Sodium Hydroxide Food Grade, 2.2 lbsOur score8.9/10
- Miilex Food Grade Lye Sodium Hydroxide, 100% Pure Caustic Soda, Kosher, 2lbsOur score8.4/10
- Lye for Soap Making, Sodium Hydroxide, Pure Food Grade Caustic Soda, 2 lbsOur score7.6/10
Hardening Coconut Oil
- Coconut Oil 76 Soap Making Supplies, 32 FL oz, DIY Projects Safety SealedOur score8.5/10
- Coconut Oil Organic Soap Making Supplies, 32 fl oz DIY ProjectsOur score7.9/10
- Soapeauty Fractionated Coconut Oil Cold Pressed Refined 100% Natural, 32 fl ozOur score5.8/10
- VINEVIDA MCT Coconut Carrier Oil - Gallon Bulk Carrier Oil for Soap Making, 8 lbsOur score5.2/10
Conditioning Olive Oil
- velona Olive Pomace Oil - 64 fl oz, Solvent Extracted, RefinedOur score7.6/10
- Pifito Soap Making Oils Mix No. 2, 60 Oz Pre-Measured Oils for Cold Process Soap MakingOur score7.2/10
- Pifito Soap Making Oils Mix No. 1, 60 Oz Pre-Measured Oils for Cold Process Soap MakingOur score7.2/10
- Soapeauty Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% Pure Unrefined Cold-Pressed Carrier Oil, 32 Fl OzOur score7.0/10
Blend It Fast
- Chefman Immersion Stick Blender with Stainless Steel Shaft & Blades, 2-Speed Control, 300 WattsOur score8.6/10
- Waring WSB60 Heavy-Duty Immersion BlenderOur score8.1/10
- Proctor Silex 59735 Immersion Hand Blender, WhiteOur score7.0/10
- Amazon Basics Multi-Speed Immersion Hand Blender with Attachments - BlackOur score7.0/10
Weigh Everything Precisely
- CYBERGIANT 13lb/0.1g Precision Digital Food Scale with Stainless Steel Platform & LCD DisplayOur score9.2/10
- Bonvoisin Baking Scale 0.1 Gram Accuracy Digital Scale for Kitchen, Candle, Soap and Sourdough, Percentage Weighing (10 lb)Our score8.4/10
- YONCON Digital Food Kitchen Scale 3000g/0.1g High Accuracy Mini Pocket Scale, Tare, 2 Trays, LCDOur score7.8/10
- Cotchear LCD Digital Scale 3kg 0.1g Electronic Weighing Scale Mini Precision Grams Weight BalanceOur score7.0/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1CYBERGIANT 13lb/0.1g precision digital scale with stainless steel platform and LCD display.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 0.1g precision helps weigh small amounts of lye and additives
- + 13lb capacity covers full soap batches in one container
- + Stainless steel platform wipes clean of oil and lye spills
- - Keep it dry, since electronic scales dislike lye water splashes
- - LCD may be hidden under very large mixing bowls
#2The Boyer food grade sodium hydroxide in a 2 Pack of 2.2 lbs containers, for frequent cold process soap makers.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2 Pack means a sealed spare stays dry until the first tub is used
- + Same trusted Boyer food grade lye as the single container
- + Buying two at once cuts down on reorders for busy soaping seasons
- - More lye than an occasional maker needs, and it must be stored safely
- - Both containers need cool, dry, locked storage away from children
#3The Boyer Corporation 2.2 lbs food grade sodium hydroxide, a trusted lye for home cold process soap makers.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Boyer lye is a long-established name among cold process soap makers
- + Food grade purity helps saponification behave as recipes predict
- + 2.2 lbs is enough for plenty of batches from a single container
- - Lye absorbs moisture from air, so reseal the container right after use
- - Needs full safety gear and a careful routine every single time
#4Chefman immersion stick blender with stainless steel shaft and blades, 2-Speed Control and 300 Watts.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + Stainless steel shaft handles caustic soap batter well
- + 2-Speed Control lets you pulse gently to avoid air bubbles
- + 300 Watts is plenty of power for typical soap batches
- - Should be kept for soap only, never back to kitchen use
- - Only two speeds limits very fine control
#5A 32 FL oz safety sealed tub of Coconut Oil 76, the melt-point grade soap makers use for hard, bubbly bars.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Coconut Oil 76 is the standard grade called for in many soap recipes
- + Adds big fluffy lather and hardness to cold process bars
- + Safety sealed container arrives clean and ready for weighing
- - Generic listing without a brand, so sourcing details are limited
- - Solid at room temperature, so it needs melting before use
#6Miilex 2lbs kosher food grade sodium hydroxide, 100% pure caustic soda for cold process and liquid soap recipes.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 100% pure caustic soda labeling supports accurate lye calculations
- + Kosher and food grade claims suit makers with strict ingredient standards
- + 2lbs is a sensible supply for regular hobby soap making
- - Less known than Boyer, so community feedback on it is thinner
- - Must be stored airtight and away from kids, pets and moisture
#7Bonvoisin 10 lb baking scale with 0.1 Gram accuracy and percentage weighing for kitchen, candle and soap.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Percentage weighing is useful for scaling soap recipes
- + 0.1 Gram accuracy handles lye and additive measurements
- + 10 lb capacity weighs full oil batches comfortably
- - Percentage mode takes some practice to use correctly
- - Newer brand without a long reliability track record
#8Waring WSB60 heavy-duty immersion blender, a commercial-style stick blender for large soap batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 10/10 · Value 6/10
- + Heavy-duty build handles big batches and long mixing sessions
- + Waring commercial equipment is built for demanding use
- + Long shaft reaches deep into large soap pots
- - Commercial blender is heavy and costly for hobby makers
- - Too large for small batches in narrow containers
#9A 32 fl oz tub of organic coconut oil sold for soap making and DIY projects, for natural cold process recipes.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Organic coconut oil suits makers building natural soap lines
- + 32 fl oz is a good amount for many batches at standard percentages
- + Coconut oil brings cleansing power and lather to bar soap
- - Check the melt point grade before entering it into your lye calculator
- - Store-brand tub, so check the organic certification details on the listing
#10YONCON 3000g/0.1g mini pocket scale with tare function and 2 trays, for precise small soap measurements.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 0.1g accuracy is great for weighing fragrance, colorants and lye
- + 2 Trays make it easy to weigh powders without a separate bowl
- + Tare function subtracts container weight automatically
- - 3000g limit is too low for weighing large oil batches
- - Small platform makes big pitchers wobbly on the scale
#11A 2 lbs tub of pure food grade sodium hydroxide lye for cold process and hot process bar soap making.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Food grade sodium hydroxide keeps impurities low for predictable batches
- + 2 lbs covers many small batches of cold process bar soap
- + Pure lye means lye calculators give accurate results with this product
- - Sold in small 2 lb bags, so frequent soap makers will need to restock often
- - Caustic chemical, so gloves, goggles and ventilation are essential
#12A 64 fl oz bottle of velona refined olive pomace oil, listed as undiluted with no additives or fragrance, a mid-size supply for olive-heavy cold process recipes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pomace grade olive oil that the listing describes as a favorite among soap makers for creamy lather
- + 64 fl oz sits between small 16 oz bottles and gallon jugs, enough for several batches
- + Listed as 100 percent pure with no additives or fragrance, and bottled in the USA
- - This is straight olive pomace, not an olive and rice bran blend, so adjust your recipe if you used a mix
- - Solvent extracted and refined per the title, so it is not the choice if you want extra virgin oil in the bar
#13Pifito Soap Making Oils Mix No. 2, 60 Oz of pre-measured oils, a shortcut blend for cold process beginners.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Pre-measured blend removes the need to buy and weigh several oils
- + 60 Oz mix is ready for a full batch with a matching lye amount
- + Mix No. 2 gives an alternate recipe profile to compare against No. 1
- - Blend includes palm and coconut oil, so it is not a pure olive oil soap
- - You cannot tweak the oil ratios once the blend is premixed
#14Pifito Soap Making Oils Mix No. 1, 60 Oz of pre-measured oils, for first-time cold process makers wanting a set recipe.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Mix No. 1 is a ready recipe, which cuts down on beginner math errors
- + 60 Oz of blended oils saves storing half-used bottles of each oil
- + Pifito provides matching recipe guidance for its oil mixes
- - Exact blend composition matters for lye, so read the label carefully
- - Less useful once you want to design your own olive-heavy recipes
#15Soapeauty 32 Fl Oz extra virgin cold-pressed olive oil, an unrefined option for makers wanting a premium olive bar.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 6/10
- + Extra virgin olive oil makes a very mild, conditioning cold process bar
- + Unrefined cold-pressed oil suits natural and castile-style recipes
- + 32 Fl Oz bottle is a good size for several olive-heavy test batches
- - Extra virgin grade costs more than pomace, which soaps just as well
- - Greenish oil can tint bars and slow trace compared with pomace
#16Proctor Silex 59735 immersion hand blender in white, a basic budget stick blender for bringing soap to trace.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Low-cost stick blender is a good dedicated soap-only tool
- + Simple immersion design brings cold process soap to trace fast
- + Lightweight body is easy to hold during long mixing
- - Plastic shaft parts may not stand up to lye long term
- - Basic motor can overheat if run continuously
#17Amazon Basics multi-speed immersion hand blender in black with attachments, a budget blender for soap.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Multi-speed control helps avoid splashing lye batter
- + Low price makes it easy to dedicate to soap making
- + Attachments add uses if you keep a separate craft kit
- - Check whether the shaft is metal or plastic, since plastic can wear with lye
- - Attachments are unnecessary for soap making
#18Cotchear 3kg 0.1g LCD mini precision digital scale for grams weighing and small measurements.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 0.1g readings suit small additive and fragrance amounts
- + 3kg capacity handles small to medium soap batches
- + Compact size fits easily on a crowded work table
- - Mini platform is awkward for large mixing containers
- - Generic listing gives little detail on build quality
#19Soapeauty 32 fl oz fractionated coconut oil, a liquid carrier oil that is a poor match for making hard bar soap.
Fit for the job 4/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10
- + Stays liquid, so it is handy for massage oils and lotion recipes
- + Cold pressed and refined oil has almost no scent to interfere
- + Useful for diluting essential oils in finished soap-shop products
- - Fractionated oil lacks the fats that give coconut soap hard, bubbly bars
- - Not a replacement for regular coconut oil in cold process recipes
#20VINEVIDA gallon bulk MCT coconut carrier oil, 8 lbs, a liquid oil that suits lotions better than bar soap.
Fit for the job 3/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10
- + Gallon bulk size is economical for makers of oils and serums
- + MCT oil stays liquid and absorbs quickly in leave-on products
- + VINEVIDA is a known bulk carrier oil brand
- - MCT oil does not give the hardness and lather of regular coconut oil
- - Poor fit for cold process bars despite being listed for soap making
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Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Soap Making Nest curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.