It’s not scary to make your own soap. The process is really simple once you get the hang of it. We use to buy soap and haven’t bought it in a while, making it at home is very economical and we know the ingredients that is in it.
You can use many herbs and flowers from the garden such as rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender, rose petals, calendula, and many more. Lye crystals are made of sodium hydroxide which is a natural compound. When it is mixed with water it activates and raises the temperature. Adding herbs to a soap lye does not take out its beneficial properties since it is only added when the mixture has cooled down. Lye crystals are available from hardware stores or can be ordered online. For oils, you can use any of your choice including tallow.
SAFETY NOTE
Be careful when working with lye, avoid direct contact with your skin. Make sure to wear protective gloves, long sleeve shirts, goggles and work in a well ventilated area. If lye splashes on your skin, use a strong vinegar to neutralize the lye and wash it right away. Always add the lye crystals into the water and not the other way around.
INGREDIENTS
- 300g lye crystals
- 670g distilled water
- 1000g coconut oil
- 1000g olive oil
TOOLS
- Molding container
- Hand blender
- Bowls to mix the soap
- Glass jar to mix lye and water solution
METHOD
Start by measuring your ingredients.
Using a glass jar, fill it with distilled water and carefully and slowly add the lye crystals and mix together.
Set aside and let it cool
Then melt your oils into liquid form and place in a mixing bowl.
Check the temperature of the oils and lye water solution and make sure that they are within 10 degrees of one another.
Using a hand blender, run it on low and gently pour the lye water solution until it forms a trace (thick consistency)
Add a few drops of essentials oils or powdered herbs and flowers
Pour the content into a molding container and wait for 1-2 days to harden
Cut into 1” bars and let it cure for 6 weeks or more. You can do this by leaving it to air dry in a well ventilated area. Curing will completely remove any trace of lye and also harden the soap.
