Handmade

Handmade soap, candles and bath products

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

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

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

In South Africa: Good: supplies are sold online nationwide and the products travel well by PAXI or Pargo.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 5 hours a week · age 18+
  • Sewing, crafts or handmade (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

R50 to R65 per bar

Handmade 100g soap bars at R50 to R65 (Hydro-Essence, Riverlea, 100 Degrees Fahrenheit). Hand-poured 200g soy candles at R220 to R240 (Senti, Custom Candles). Sales volumes are not published, so we do not model monthly income.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R300 to R2 500
Every month
Oils, lye, wax, wicks, fragrance, jars, labels and packaging for every batch. Market stall fees if you trade at markets.
Payment fees
Cash or EFT for local orders; Yoco 2.30% at markets; Bob Shop 7.25% excl. VAT (Health & Beauty, Crafts); AYA Africa 20%.
Margin
Can be healthy once you buy materials in bulk, but small batches are expensive per item. Cost every gram, jar and label before you set a price.

How it is paid: Price per item, gift sets and bulk orders (weddings, year-end corporate gifts). Our viability score for it: 45 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Make one small test batch from a tested recipe and use it yourself for two weeks
    • Give five samples to people who will be honest, and ask what they would pay
    • Success signal: ten paid orders from people who are not family

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Pick one product to start: candles or melt-and-pour sell sooner, cold process soap needs a 4 to 6 week cure
    • Buy safety gear and a digital scale before any lye or wax
    • Cost one item fully with your pricing worksheet

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Make, label and photograph your first batch in daylight
    • Set up a WhatsApp Business catalogue with prices
    • Book one market day or take a gift order

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Settle on two or three best sellers you can make reliably
    • Make gift sets for a season (Mother's Day, year-end)
    • Ask one local shop or guest house to stock you

Cold process soap needs about 4 to 6 weeks to cure before you can sell it. Candles and melt-and-pour soap can be sold sooner, after test burns. First income usually takes 14 to 120 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

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

20 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Gift buyers, people who like natural or locally made products, corporate and wedding gift orders, guest houses.

A gift or treat that feels personal and local, at a price below big-brand luxury.

Is there demand?

Many small SA soap and candle makers sell online at published prices: handmade 100g soap bars at R50 to R65 (Hydro-Essence, Riverlea, 100 Degrees Fahrenheit) and hand-poured 200g soy candles at R220 to R240 (Senti, Custom Candles). Supplies are easy to buy locally. We found no reliable data on how many units a new maker sells.

WhatsApp Business catalogueInstagramWeekend and craft marketsBob ShopAYA AfricaCorporate gift orders

Getting customers

Friends and family first, then gifts for colleagues, a market stall to meet buyers, and an Instagram or WhatsApp catalogue for repeat orders.

Word of mouth and referralsDirect messagesIn-person networkingListing on online marketplaces (Takealot, Bob Shop, Etsy, Teacha!)Responding to enquiries

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Lye (sodium hydroxide) burns skin and eyes: gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and children and pets out of the room
  • Candles are a fire risk: test-burn every wick and jar size before selling and print burn warnings
  • Skin reactions: list every ingredient and never claim to treat a skin condition
  • Unsold stock and materials tie up cash

Competition: High: many hobby makers and cheap imports. Stand out with a clear look, one signature product and good photos.

Room to grow: Batches scale better than one-off pieces; wholesale to shops and corporate gifting are the usual growth routes.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Soap, balms and bath products are cosmetics under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972.
  • The detailed cosmetics labelling regulations are still in draft (2017), but the Consumer Protection Act already requires a truthful description, and the draft label list is good practice: product name, your name and address, weight, ingredients, batch number and warnings.
  • Never make medical claims such as "cures eczema".
  • Candles: print burn and safety instructions on every label.
  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every sale and every material you buy (materials are a business cost).
  • Check your municipality's home-business rules if customers come to your home.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start handmade soap, candles and bath products in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R300 to R2 500. Recurring costs: Oils, lye, wax, wicks, fragrance, jars, labels and packaging for every batch. Market stall fees if you trade at markets.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 45 days, and between 14 and 120 days. Cold process soap needs about 4 to 6 weeks to cure before you can sell it. Candles and melt-and-pour soap can be sold sooner, after test burns.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

Soap, balms and bath products are cosmetics under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972. The detailed cosmetics labelling regulations are still in draft (2017), but the Consumer Protection Act already requires a truthful description, and the draft label list is good practice: product name, your name and address, weight, ingredients, batch number and warnings. Never make medical claims such as "cures eczema". Candles: print burn and safety instructions on every label. Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every sale and every material you buy (materials are a business cost). Check your municipality's home-business rules if customers come to your home.

Sources (14)

Free tools for this

Test handmade soap, candles and bath products with your own numbersEstimate the tax on this side income

Not sure this is the one?

The free test ranks every option against your skills, time and budget.

Take the free test

Read next

Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy