Many people love cold process soapmaking and consider it to be the only real soap making method. I suggest that you test the waters and see what fits the best with you. The cold process method does mean that you will handle lye (sodium hydroxide). Safety precautions and equipment will need to be used. Note that because of the caustic effect of lye, the equipment that you use should only be used for making soap.
Many suppliers sell some great cold process soapmaking kits.
Instructions
Remember you need to wear a pair of goggles and gloves when you handle lye. NEVER pour water into lye – ALWAYS pour lye into water.
It is best to have all your equipment and ingredients ready.
Your workspace should be covered.
Mold(s) are prepared and set out.
Print a copy of the your recipe for a quick reference. Use a digital kitchen scale to measure all ingredients.
- Measure and set aside your essential oils or fragrances and any additives you will be adding to your homeade lye soap recipe.
- Weigh out your lye (sodium hydroxide) and your distilled water. Place your lye – water solution in a roasting pan in the sink.
- Dissolve the lye (sodium hydroxide) by slowly pouring lye (sodium hydroxide) into distilled water while stirring. Make sure that you do this in a well ventilated room or even outside. Take your time to make sure that it is completely dissolved.
- Weigh out your oils and butters.
- Place all of your oils and butters in the bowl (in a water bath) that you use to mix the soap OR in saucepan and heat them on low-medium heat. Use your thermometer to monitor that the temperature does not go over 150F.
- Remove from heat when your oils are between 120F and 140F. Aim for 120-125F if your lye mixture is still quite warm and 130-140F if it has cooled off. We want the combined mixture to be under 140F.
- Use a stick hand blender to mix the soap solution. You should be still wearing your goggles and gloves. Be careful not to splash. Continue to mix intermittently (10-15 seconds every 2-3 minutes) until you’re the mixture reaches trace (this means that the mixture has thickened enough that when you drizzle some on the top of the mixture, it leaves a trail (trace) on top).
- Add your additives and scents (essential oils – fragrance). Blend all these together for a few seconds with a spatula or hand blender.
- Pour the soap mixture into mold(s). Cover mold(s) with plastic wrap and cover/wrap these with towels for insulation.
- Let the soap set for 24 to 48 hours or so before taking it out of the mold(s). Unmold and cut the soap into bar. Sometimes I put my molded soap in the freezer a few minutes to make it easier to unmold.
- Place the soap bars on a covered rack to dry out and cure for a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks before using them.
- Enjoy your handmade soap.
What you will need
- Rubber gloves
- Goggles
- Digital scale
- Cooking Thermometer
- Glass or plastic mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring spoons (for essential oils)
- Stick blender
- Saucepan or pot
- Knife or soap cutter
- Mold(s)
- Plastic wrap, parchment paper
- Kitchen towels