How to Make Soap

Soap Making Process

This isn't meant to be a recipe. Rather it's a general description

of how soap is made. Goggles are highly recommended since lye

can burn the skin and eyes. Make soap in a well-ventilated area.

First, weigh the lye

Then add the lye to water. (Ventilation is crucial at this point.)

Immediately, the lye solution heats up. Let it sit until the temperature

drops. Keep kids and pets away from the solution since lye will burn skin and eyes.

In the meantime, weigh the different types of fats. This happens to be coconut oil.

Then melt the fats on the stove. You can see the lye water solution on the left.

Check the temperature of both the lye solution and the fats.

When the temperatures are similar, it's time for the next step.

Pour the lye/water solution into the melted fats.

Mix with a stick blender! When the mixture appears thick as pudding

and you can drop a plop into itself and see a line –

this is referred to as "trace."

Trace is the time to add essential oils, botanicals and/or coloring.

Pour into molds and let it sit for one to two days. During this

time, saponification occurs: fat is converted into soap.

The lye is a catalyst and is used up in the process of converting

fats to soap.

Remove from the mold, cut into bars and let the soap cure

for two to three weeks so that you have a long-lasting bar

of soap. Enjoy the great smell, texture, and fine quality of

hand-crafted soap! Your skin will thank you!