My Soap Opera on Soap Making

 

The first time I made a batch of soap, I followed instructions I learned from Rachel, the owner of Blue Moon Elise at 26 Valley River Ave, Murphy, NC 28906. In this session, I learned about the history of soap making and how sodium hydroxide was derived from the ashes of firewood, which was then mixed with animal fat to create a lather. However, I didn’t fully understand the ratio of lye to water. The only thing I remembered was the phrase "snow on the lake," which emphasizes that you should always add sodium hydroxide to water, never water to sodium hydroxide, to avoid a dangerous reaction.

During my first attempt outside the classroom, I nearly caused an explosion because I had too much lye and not enough water, and I wasn't using a heavy-duty glass bowl or stainless-steel container. I quickly learned the importance of using proper equipment, such as stainless-steel bowls or temperature-resistant glass bowls, for mixing.

After this experience, I researched extensively. My first few batches of soap were lye-heavy and crumbled easily. However, I kept reading and attending soap workshops until I felt confident in making soap that wouldn't irritate my super sensitive skin. Now, I can use my soap on all areas of my body without any issues.

 

Simple Soap Recipe for Starters 

Here is a small batch of soap that I have created which is fairly inexpensive to make. Please note that this soap may strip your skin if used all over. Consider this a practice run to get familiar with measurements and comfortable using the ingredients.

Ingredients:

  • 7.0 oz vegetable oil
  • 2.0 oz coconut oil (any brand typically used for cooking)
  • 1.25 oz water
  • 1.32 oz sodium hydroxide (lye)
  • 0.35 oz of Frangrance Oil or Essential oil don't use to much this can cause skin irritations.          Batch size is 9.0Oz

Instructions:

  1. Prepare your workspace: Ensure you have safety goggles, thick rubber gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, and a stainless-steel spoon.

  2. Mix the lye solution: Slowly add the sodium hydroxide to the water (never the other way around) while stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to cool down.

  3. Heat the oils: In a separate pot, heat the vegetable oil and coconut oil until they reach around 100°F.

  4. Combine lye and oils: Slowly pour the cooled lye solution into the oils while stirring. Continue to stir until the mixture reaches trace.

  5. Pour into mold: Pour the soap batter into a mold and allow it to set for 24-48 hours.

  6. Curing: Remove the soap from the mold and cut it into bars. Allow the bars to cure in a well-ventilated area for 4-6 weeks.

Please let me know your thoughts and send me an email after you finish making your first batch of soap!