INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

When grease and lye are heated together, a chemical reaction called
saponification occurs.  The resulting product is soap. To put it in simpler
terms, soap is made by a boiling process. Cold water, lye, and grease--your
choice of hydrogenated vegetable oils (like Crisco), tallow, or lard--are
heated and boiled. Liquid vegetable oils also may be used. Once the mixture
thickens to a gravylike texture, it is saponified and needs to be removed
from the heat and cooled. Saponifi- cation is the chemical reaction that
takes place in the boiling process of soap making. What occurs is
chemically complex. Simple fats do not combine with the alkali (lye) to
form soap. First, they decompose (water acts as a solvent base) into fatty
acids and glycerols, which then combine, forming soap. Pour the hot liquid
into the molds before it has completely cooled. Do not let it cool too long
in the pan. Soap hardens as it cools. If left in the pan, it will
completely harden into one giant glob of soap, something you will not want.
Cut the soap into similarly shaped bars after you have poured it into a
shallow pan. You should use a wire to cut the soap because it will be able
to cut the soap evenly and make attractive cakes of similar width and
length.  Do not use a knife, or you might have bars that are not equal in
appearance. You want people to be impressed by your homemade soaps, not to
laugh at you. Soap making is easy, but it requires concentration to detail.
Children and pets should not be present when soap is being made. They are
too distracting and likely to be unaware of the serious hazards involved in
making soap. Lock the doors and keep them out of the room when making soap.
If necessary, hire a babysitter, or drop the kids and pets off with mom and
dad. Be sure that there are no other distractions while you make your soap.
Take the telephone off the hook and turn off the television and radio. You
must give your total attention to the task at hand. That is the only safe
and practical way to make soap. There are no special skills required to
make soap. However, you must follow instructions for success and for
safety's sake.
SOURCE:  MAKING POTPOURRI, COLOGNES AND SOAPS by David Webb. There are also
candle, shampoo, bubble bath, deodorant, room freshener, perfume, cologne,
aftershave, toilet water, sachet and potpourri recipes.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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