INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
BOTANICALS IF DESIRED
Dissolve lye in water. This is best done under an exhaust fan or outdoor.
Stand back and avoid fumes. Set aside to cool. In the stainless steel stock
pot melt the Crisco and coconut oil. Add the olive oil and allow to cool.
Grease your soap mold now. Some soap makers prefer silicone spray but my
purpose in making my own soap is to avoid using things like that. I use
Crisco. Fit the freezer paper into the bottom and two sides of the mold to
make removing the soap easier. Grease the paper.
When both the oils and lye mixtures have cooled to 90* you are ready to
blend. You can speed cooling by using a sink of cool water and setting the
mixtures in to cool. If one cools too much you can warm it in a sink of
warm water.
You need to have 10-40 minutes of uninterrupted time now. Slowly pour the
water/lye mixture into the oils. You'll quickly see a reaction. Stir in a
consistent manner. Don't beat as you would eggs but stir quickly enough to
keep the mixture in constant motion. If you're creating bubbles in the
mixture you are going too fast. Continue to stir until the soap "traces."
You'll feel a slight difference in consistency as the soap begins to
saponify. When tracing has occurred you'll be able to drizzle a small
amount of soap back onto the top of the soap in the pan and it will leave a
trace before sinking back into the rest of the mixture. After a batch or
two you'll recognize when tracing has occurred by the feel of the soap
while stirring.
If you want to add botanicals/grains to your soap now is the time to do it.
Remove one cup of soap (doesn't need to be exactly a cup, whatever it takes
to mix with the botanical/grains) and stir in with whatever you're adding
in a separate bowl. Oatmeal makes a nice complexion soap, corn meal adds
texture to scrub dirty hands. As soon as it's mixed pour it back into the
pan and stir. If you're going to add essential or fragrance oil pour it in
slowly now. Continue to stir until well mixed then pour into prepared mold.
Cover mold, wrap it in towels or blanket to keep warm and leave it
undisturbed for 18 hours. No peaking! The soap will rise to approximately
160* and then cool down. Don't uncover until it's cooled.
Allow soap to sit in the uncovered mold for 12 hours. Loosen sides and turn
over onto a clean sideboard. You should cut your bars from the large mold
within three days. You can cut it at any time but three days seems to be a
good window. The soap doesn't become difficult to cut and smaller bars dry
faster. Allow to cure 3 weeks before using.
Posted to MM-Recipes Digest V4 #016, by wannerl@seiu.org on Wed, 15 Jan
1997.

A Message from our Provider:

“God cares”