First, I want to thank Veronica (and her sister!) and Jan for getting me interested in making soap. It was something I always wanted to try, but never really knew how to get started!
I first started out reading this book to learn the basics. It was a great starter book that kept things really simple. Soapmaking can really be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be!
I joined this mailing list in which “soapers” post questions, ask advice, etc. It is run out of Australia, but I have found soapmaking is really the same, no matter where you are! It is fun to join together with like minded people.
Recently, they posted a soap swap challenge — since the people on this list are all over the world, we really can’t make soap and send to other people (well we could, but postage might be a little challenging), so it was decided we would each make the same soap, and share our experiences. Fun!
This is the recipe we all made. There was a lot of talk on the list about sustainability, and lot of people don’t use coconut oil or palm oil, because of sustainability issues. I don’t claim to understand it all, but I do understand the need or want to use only local oils in your soap. Personally, I don’t know what kind of oils would be local to me!
Lemon Salt Scrub Soap
110 grams lye
220 grams filtered water
760 grams pomace olive oil
40 grams castor oil
200 grams salt
1 tbsp sage
10 drops texas sandalwood essential oil
40 drops lavendar essential oil
40 drops lemongrass essential oil
2 tsp ground oats
First, measure out the water into a container of your choice. I use a bucket I got at a thrift store. Measure of the lye in a separate container.
I buy the lye at our local Ace Hardware.
When you mix the water and the lye together, you ALWAYS want to pour the lye into the water, not the other way around. Protective gear is a must!
Yes, I really do wear all of this. Lye is dangerous, and you can really get hurt. Once I decided not to wear the goggles, and I splattered some lye mixture about 1 mm away from my eye. I really could have gotten hurt, and I am super careful ever since then!
I take it outside, so the fumes are not in our house.
It will immediately cause a chemical reaction, and get super hot. Stir until all the crystals are combined.
Now, the mixture has to cool down a little, so I just leave it outside to cool as I prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Oils:
You want to heat the oils to around 110 degrees F. I use a small crockpot for this. You could also heat it in the microwave, or on the stove.
Also, prepare the salt mixture. Combine the salt and the sage and mix well. I used a fine grain salt, and a coarse grain.
Pour just a little of the salt on the bottom of the mold.
Also, prepare the essential oils and oats.
Now the fun begins! When the oils are around 110-115 degrees, and the lye is around 115 degrees F as well, it is time to mix!
Mix the oil mixture and the lye mixture together, and using an immersion blender, blend them to combine.
You are looking for what soapmakers call “trace”, where if you trace a line across the mixture, it would leave an impression. To me, I just look for when it turns into pudding consistency. This took me about 5 minutes.
At this time, add in the essential oil mixture, and beat again just to combine.
Time to pour into the mold!
I scooped in 1/2 the mixture, then put the rest of the salt on top, which will actually be the middle of the soap.
With a knife, I mixed the salt into the soap.
Add the rest of the soap mixture. I had a little extra salt, so I mixed that on top of the soap.
Now, the soap needs to “incubate” overnight. I just cover it with a towel and let it firm up. You don’t want it to cool to quickly, or too slowly. So, you wouldn’t want to put it next to a breezy window, or by a heat vent.
Let it sit 24 hours, or at least 12. Remove from the mold, and cut into bars.
I just use a regular knife to cut them into bars.
Aren’t they pretty?? They smell so good too!
Now, they need to cure for 4-6 weeks before you can use them. Because this was made cold-process, the lye is still active. Letting the bars set for a few weeks will give the lye a chance to simmer down and because non-caustic.
So – would you ever try making soap at home? It is addicting!! I have so much soap right now, we will never need to buy it again! I love that I can add healing herbal properties in my soap, and I know exactly what is in it!
Woohoo!!! That is some seriously awesome looking soap!! I have a big bag of dead sea salt I bought, just waiting to be put into a soap recipe. I’m going to have to try this! Love it, pinning it, sharing it!
P.S. I do use Palm Oil but only from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Here’s a blip from their description:
“Mountain Rose Herbs will only support Palm Fruit oil programs which adhere to strict environmental sustainability programs. As is our standard, the harvester and manufacturer of the Palm Fruit oil we offer adheres to highly detailed sustainable harvesting protocols with oversight from state and third party environmental programs including EcoSocial, and with the assistance of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil.”
Jan recently posted..Aches & Pains Balm Recipe
Very cool! That is where I get my palm oil from too, but I didn’t know that!
It must smell really, really good.
Could you please explain to me what olive oil ‘pomace’ is? Is there a reason to use it rather than olive oil that doesn’t have that added description? Thank you!
You can use regular olive oil. Pomace olive oil is a cheaper version of olive oil (not extra virgin). It is basically the fats there are left over after pressing out extra virgin olive oil. I get mine from Brambleberry – here is the link. I like it because it is cheaper than extra virgin olive oil, and it is good in making soaps!
I was just wondering where you get ALL your Essential Oils from? And was it hard to make? I have been thinking about doing this for some time but I’m a little nervous.
Thanks for all your posts!!
Thanks Julie! I have accumulated my oils and essential oils over time. I get them from Mountain Rose Herbs, as well as Bramble Berry. Some of the essential oils I find for cheaper at Vitacost, so basically I look around and see what I can get the cheapest, or best quality, depending on what I am looking for! Since a little does go a long way, they do last! I was really intimidated by soap making at first, but I love it now!! It is so much fun!
I probably would never try it, I am a wuss about chemicals and all of that stuff. Plus I love Jamestown Soapworks in PA and love to support their shop. However, your soap looks awesome.
Rhonda (@diningalone) recently posted..The Best Thing I Ever Ate – Spicy Stuff
Great job! I relived my single soap experience while watching you make yours. It turned out great! My sister has hers a lot thinner before pouring in a mold, that’s the only difference I noticed. Having it a little thinner might have helped with the air bubbles–I believe she also bangs it a little bit once poured to make sure the bubbles are out but I might be imagining that since it’s something I do with cake pans–might have transferred the memory-lol. About that pumace oil–does it have grit in it?
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Well the funny part of the story is that I did wait a little too long before putting it in the mold when I made this soap. hahaha I didn’t have the oils ready to put in, and by the time I realized it, I was already mixing it. Doh! But, it still turned out! Pomace olive oil does not have grit – it is as smooth as extra virgin. It is just cheaper, because it is made from the bits left over from pressing extra virgin olive oil. I like it for soaps because it is cheaper, and it makes a smooth and hard bar of soap. Thanks for that post on soapmaking – it really inspired me!
Thanks Jane! I love seeing your tutorial! And your soap is so pretty. I just made soap today. But I learned more from seeing your post. love,andrea
Thank you! This soap is pretty, I can’t wait to use it!
That was super cool to read about. I buy handmade goats milk soap and it is so wonderful for my super dry skin.
Tami @Nutmeg Notebook recently posted..Stuffed Banana Boat – Grill It, Bake It or Microwave It
Thanks Tami! I have made a goat soap, and it is so moisturizing! I’ll have to post about that one some day
Is there anything you can’t do??? Jane, you never cease to amaze me! I wish we could be neighbors so you could teach me your ways!
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ah thank you! You are so sweet
Is the sage you’re using fresh and just chopped up or is it the dried herb? Did I miss that? Thanks!
I used dried sage, I don’t think you would want to use fresh sage leaves in soap, but you could maybe just infused some sage into the soap! If you only had fresh sage, I would at least dry it out in a low temp oven so it doesn’t go bad in your soap. I have not tried it though! I will say this soap is not very sudsy at all