Diving back into hobbies
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Eucalyptus soap - plant based oils.
My Soap Making Journey
Diving back into hobbies has been so refreshing! I backed off on several of my extra duties at school and have been making up for lost time by exploring new and old interests. One reader commented that my posts give her whiplash! It’s true, I don't let grass grow under my feet. (She said it with a smiley emoji, so I'm taking it as a positive!) I definitely go in many different directions. I've always loved to sew and bake. I'm so thankful I have the time to do it now.
Earlier this summer, I decided to explore a topic that I used to cover in Chemistry class many years ago in the Chemical Reactions Unit—Saponification. Put simply, it’s the reaction that creates soap. Not to bore you with the chemistry, but soap is just potassium or sodium salts of long-chain fatty acids. During the reaction, the ester (in the fats & oils used) reacts with hydroxide (from lye—Sodium Hydroxide) to produce alcohol and soap. The results differ based on the types of fats & oils used.
The batch I made tonight with goat's milk. It smells like Christmas!
Long story short, I have been making several different kinds of soap. I have experimented with the plant oils (olive, coconut, vegetable, etc.), lard, goat's milk, additives (pumpkin puree, aloe juice, herbs, essential oils, yogurt, and pigments). I did start with some melt and pour base, but that was not very interesting to me. It does cure much quicker than the cold process soaps. The curing times for cold process soaps can be 4-6 weeks. You can use the soap pretty soon after making it, but if allowed to cure, the bar lasts much longer. Don’t let the term fool you. Cold process soaps get hot during the reaction between the lye and the oils.
I have found lye calculators where you can input your desired oil percentages, and it calculates the amount of lye you need to use. If math isn't fun for you, this is a handy tool. A nice one is on the Brambleberry.com website. They also have recipes and kits ready to go so you can experiment. It is somewhat pricey, so you may want to start with some lard recipes since it is inexpensive. At first, I was reluctant to use lard, but I have found it produces a beautiful white hard bar of soap. I was pleasantly surprised! I honestly recommend starting with lard.
Lilac scented soap made with lard.
Safety Precautions When Soap-Making
Working with lye (sodium hydroxide) is the most critical part of soap-making, and it's essential to follow safety precautions:
Wear Protective Gear: Always wear long sleeves, gloves, and safety goggles when handling lye. It can cause serious burns if it comes into contact with your skin or eyes.
Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Mixing lye with water releases fumes that can be irritating. Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated space or work near an open window.
Add Lye to Water – Never the Other Way Around: Always add the lye to the water slowly while stirring. Adding water to lye can cause a violent reaction that might splash and create a dangerous situation.
Use Heat-Resistant Containers: Lye gets extremely hot when mixed with water, so always use heat-resistant glass or plastic containers. Avoid aluminum, as it reacts with lye.
Keep Vinegar Nearby: In case of a spill, vinegar can neutralize lye. Have some on hand for emergencies, but remember it won’t be effective for severe skin exposure—immediately rinse with water and seek medical attention if you get burned.
Label Your Equipment: Dedicate equipment to soap-making and clearly label them "Soap Only" to avoid accidental ingestion or cross-contamination with your kitchen supplies.
Store Lye Safely: Keep lye in a well-sealed container out of reach of children and pets.
Soap curing on my drying rack. Nothing fancy. It was formally an over the toilet shelf setup.
Essential Equipment for Soap-Making and the links
If you’re inspired to start soap-making yourself, here’s the equipment you’ll need, based on my experience:
Digital Scale: Accurate measurements are crucial in soap-making. A digital kitchen scale with a tare function is perfect for weighing oils, lye, and additives. Look for a scale that measures in both grams and ounces. This one does that and more.
Heat-Resistant Bowls and Pitchers: Use stainless steel or heat-resistant glass bowls for mixing lye. A dedicated glass or plastic pitcher with a spout is great for handling lye safely.
Silicone Spatulas: Essential for stirring and scraping every last bit of your soap mixture. Silicone is easy to clean and handles heat well.
Stick Blender (Immersion Blender): This makes the process much faster and ensures your soap reaches "trace" (the stage where it thickens) efficiently. You don’t need an expensive one—a basic model will do. I found mine at a thrift shop. When it quits I’m ordering the linked one since the frother attachment can be used to mix pigments. They tend to clump and the frother works great.
Thermometer: A candy or infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature of your oils and lye solution. Maintaining the right temperature is crucial for a successful soap-making process. The infrared one is so easy to use.
Soap Molds and kits: Silicone molds work best, as they’re easy to unmold and clean. Alternatively, you can repurpose items like silicone baking molds or even use a shoebox lined with parchment paper. The silicone molds are a nice convenience. Lining boxes with parchment is not fun for me.
For the More Advanced Soap-Maker:
Soap Cutter: While a knife works, a multi-bar soap cutter can save time if you’re producing larger batches. Invest in a wire soap cutter with adjustable bars to cut even slices.
Soap Stamps: Personalize your soaps with your logo or fun designs! These can be pressed into the soap while it’s still soft.
Soap Making Silicone Liner: A reusable liner that fits inside your mold makes unmolding and cleanup easier.
PH Strips : This helps test the pH of your soap to ensure it's within the safe range (between 8-10).
Where to Find Supplies
Brambleberry: Offers high-quality ingredients, lye calculators, molds, and equipment. Great for both beginners and advanced soap-makers.
Amazon: A convenient place to find soap-making tools and oils in bulk. I order this oil mix. It comes with some sample pigments to play with.
Wholesale Supplies Plus: Ideal for purchasing oils, essential oils, and additives in larger quantities at reasonable prices.
A good basic soapmaking book
Final Thoughts & Upcoming Plans
If you want to start making soap, watch a lot of YouTube videos, read blogs and books, and just experiment. It’s a hands-on process that you learn as you go. I’m excited to be taking some of my favorite soap creations to local craft fairs this fall. I’m not ready to ship and sell on my website yet, but that may be a future endeavor!
A few batches that are ready.
