1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Handmade soap, candles and bath products: your step-by-step start

Make soap, soy candles, bath salts or balms at home and sell them to people nearby, at markets and through WhatsApp or Instagram.

  • 20 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Careful, patient makers who like testing recipes, follow safety rules to the letter and enjoy making things look good.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 45 days.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 45 days.
  • Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
  • The main risk to plan for: lye (sodium hydroxide) burns skin and eyes: gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and children and pets out of the room.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How handmade soap, candles and bath products worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Buy safety gear and a digital scale before any lye or wax3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Cost one item fully with your pricing worksheet3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Make, label and photograph your first batch in daylight3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Set up a WhatsApp Business catalogue with prices3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Book one market day or take a gift order3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Settle on two or three best sellers you can make reliably3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Make gift sets for a season (Mother's Day, year-end)3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Months two and three, task 3: Ask one local shop or guest house to stock you3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R300 to R2 500 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Digital kitchen scale (0.1g or 1g)
  • Gloves and safety goggles
  • WhatsApp Business catalogue
  • Yoco card machine or payment link
  • Label template

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.