Why use water when you can soap with beer, wine, goat milk, or oat milk? Here’s how and why soapmakers get wild with their liquids….

If soap making had a party, water would be the designated driver - reliable, safe, predictable. But some soapmakers like to spike the punch.

Enter: beer, wine, goat milk, oat milk, coffee, fruit purées, and even cucumber juice. These bold, bubbly, and occasionally chaotic liquid swaps are the rebels of the soap world. I mean, why use plain water when you can pour in a Guinness?

Let’s meet the wild children of the lye world- and the magic (and madness) they bring.

Goat Milk: The Creamy OG

 Goat milk soap isn’t just trendy- it’s ancient. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and creamy fats, it makes soap feel more like a moisturizing cloud than a bar.

Why Soapmakers Love It:

• Silky, gentle lather
• Soothing for sensitive skin
• Gives the soap a creamy beige tone

But Beware: Goat milk + lye = HEAT. Like, volcano-in-your-kitchen heat. Soapmakers must freeze the milk or do a slow, icy mix or the milk scorches and your soap smells like a barn fire.

Beer: The Unexpected Bubbly Hero

Yes, beer. Not just for Friday nights or awkward barbecues. Beer contains sugars, hops, and proteins that boost lather and add skin-loving nutrients.

Why Soapmakers Love It:

•  Great bubbly lather
• Rich in amino acids for your skin
• You get to say “My soap has IPA in it” and feel super hip

But Beware: You must boil and cool it first to remove alcohol and carbonation. Unless you like your soap batter to rise like bread dough with trust issues.

Wine: Because Why Not Be Fancy?

Red wine in soap? Oh yes. It’s luxurious, antioxidant-rich, and gives your soap a sultry mauve hue. It says, “I’m moisturizing, but also a little mysterious.”

Why Soapmakers Love It:

• Unique color and scent
• Loaded with antioxidants
• Perfect for spa-themed bars

But Beware:  Wine can discolor your soap and slow down trace. Basically, it’s just as unpredictable as it is fancy. Like a soap diva in a satin robe.

Coffee: Caffeinated Scrub Power

 Coffee not only smells divine in soap- it also adds exfoliation (when you use grounds) and is said to help with odors (hello, garlic hands!).

Why Soapmakers Love It:

• Strong scent
• Natural exfoliant
• Fun for kitchen soaps and morning- themed bars

But Beware: Coffee grounds can bleed brown or leave trails, and brewed coffee speeds up trace like it had a triple espresso.

Fruit Juices & Purées: The Smoothie Bar for Soap

 Carrot juice, cucumber purées, watermelon water- if you can blend it, a soapmaker has probably tried it. These add color, nutrients, and a little skin -friendly flair.

Why Soapmakers Love It:

• Naturally colored bars
• Loaded with vitamins
• Cool factor for label appeal

But Beware: They accelerate trace fast. And sometimes, they rot. Not always, but sometimes they can. Just make sure the soap batter is fully saponified and the bars are cured for 4-6 weeks. 

Other Oddities Soapmakers Try (Because Why Not?)

• Oat Milk - Soothing and gentle, a hug in a soap form
• Coconut milk- Super creamy, supper fussy
• Aloe juice - Skin-loving and smooth
• Cucumber water - Light, fresh, and very spa-core

Final Splash of Wisdom

Using alternate liquids in soap making is like inviting a rock star to your dinner party: exciting, bold, but prone to smashing your favorite vase. It’s not for the faint of heart, but when it works? Pure bubbly brilliance.

So if you ever find yourself lathering with a beer-and-goat-milk soap, just know: you’re bathing in the result of calculated chaos and a bit of magic.

Stay tuned for Episode 6, the Zap Test & Other Soapmakers Shenanigans