Olive oil makes a soft bar of soap with small creamy bubbles. Other oils can be added to change the characteristics of the soap, according to your taste. Palm oil and coconut oil are solid at room temperature and make a firmer bar of soap. Coconut oil makes larger bubbles. There are many other oils that can be used, each with its own characteristics.
Home Made Olive Oil Soap
Step 1
While wearing safety glasses and gloves, measure water in a glass measuring cup. Weigh the lye crystals carefully, being careful not to inhale any crystals. Pour the lye into the water and stir until the lye is dissolved. Set aside and allow to cool to about 110° F. Don't inhale the lye vapors.
Step 2
Combine oils and heat gently to about 110° F in the large stainless steel pot. You may need to keep the oils warm if it takes a while for the lye to cool.
Step 3
Pour the lye carefully into the oils. Stir until the mixture traces. You can use the immersion blender to stir if you want to speed up the process. "Trace" means that if you lift your spoon and drizzle some of the soap on the surface of the mixture, it will leave a trace on the surface for several seconds. At this point, much of the lye has chemically bonded with the oil to form soap.
Step 4
Pour raw soap into your prepared molds. This recipe will make about 20 four ounce bars of soap. Put the soap in your freezer for 24 hours and then pop the bars of soap out of the molds and allow to air dry for two weeks. After the bars are firm on the outside you can store them in a cupboard on towels to finish aging.
Tips and Warnings
- If you plan to pour your soap into a large mold and cut it into bars later, allow it to air dry in the mold for a few days before turning it out and cutting the soap. Let it age for about two weeks after that. If you use your soap too early it will be harsh. After it has cured completely, it will be soft and soothing, an excellent bar of soap. If you want to make your own soap recipes you can find a lye calculator at Majestic Mountain Sage website and you can find more information and instructions at Snowdrift Farm website.
- Keep vinegar and a damp cloth nearby. If any lye or raw soap splashes on your skin, pour vinegar on the towel and use it to wipe off the lye or soap. Never make soap without your safety glasses and gloves. This is not an appropriate activity for small children.
Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Vinegar and a damp dish towel
- Thermometer
- 6 quart stainless steel pot
- Large stainless steel spoon
- 2 quart glass measuring cup
- Kitchen scale
- Immersion blender
- Soap molds
- 32 ounces olive oil
- 16 ounces palm oil
- 16 ounces coconut oil
- 1 to 2 ounces essential oil or fragrance oil
- 9 ounces of lye crystals
- 20 ounces water
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