All hand-made soap is glycerin soap, because the chemical process that occurs when you combine lye with oil results in soap and glycerin. Commercial manufacturers of soap go through an additional process to remove the glycerin and sell it separately. If you make your own soap, it will be very moisturizing because the glycerin is a humectant, meaning it absorbs water from the air. The more glycerin, the softer the bar of soap will be, and it will dissolve faster. Keep any additional glycerin under 3 percent of the total amount of oil used in your soap recipe.
Step 1
Prepare the lye first. Have the vinegar and damp towel handy to wipe any splashes off your skin. Weigh the water and pour into the glass measuring cup. Weigh the lye crystals and pour into the water, stirring constantly with the stainless steel spoon until the lye crystals have dissolved. The lye will be hot; cool it until it reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Weigh and combine olive, avocado, almond and coconut oils in the stainless steel pot. Heat over low heat, until the oil reaches 120 degrees F.
Step 3
When the lye and oil reach the same temperature, about 120 degrees F., pour the lye into the oil, stirring carefully. Once the oil and lye are combined, use a stick blender to mix the soap until trace. Trace means that a little of the soap drizzled on the surface from a spoon will stay on the surface for a few seconds before disappearing.
Step 4
Add the essential oil, additional glycerin and clay or oatmeal at trace and combine thoroughly. Pour into the soap molds. Keep the soap warm overnight, in a low oven about 100 degrees F., or wrap a towel around the warm soap to insulate it overnight.
Step 5
Put the soap into your freezer for a couple of hours or overnight. This makes it easier to remove the soap from the molds. Once you remove the soap from the molds, allow it to air dry for at least two weeks.
Tips and Warnings
- Substitute milk or herbal tea for the water in the recipe. Substitute very finely ground herbs for the clay or oatmeal. Ground herbs will make a slightly more abrasive soap.
- Use vinegar and a damp towel to clean up your utensils and work surface. Keep them handy in case lye or the warm soap splashes on your skin, to neutralize the lye. Because there will still be some lye in your fresh soap (it doesn't completely disappear for up to two weeks), you'll find it cleans your sink and drains when you wash your stainless steel pot. Follow with a mixture of vinegar and water to completely neutralize the lye.
Things You'll Need
- Safety glasses
- Disposable vinyl or latex gloves
- Vinegar
- Damp dish towel
- Kitchen scale
- 2-cup glass measuring cup
- Stainless steel spoon
- Glass or stainless steel thermometer
- 2-quart stainless steel pot
- Immersion blender
- 2 oz. sodium hydroxide lye
- 4 oz. water
- 2 oz. almond oil
- 2 oz. avocado oil
- 4 oz. coconut oil
- 6 oz. olive oil
- 2 tsp. glycerin
- 1/4 tsp. floral essential oil of your choice
- 1 tbsp. clay or very finely ground oatmeal
- Soap molds
References
- Pioneer Thinking: What is Glycerin
- Front Range Living: Soap Dish
- "Basic Soap Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started";E. Letcavage, A. Wycheck, P. Buck; 2009
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