The Benefits of Handmade Soap & A Simple Recipe
Christmas Soap - Goat’s Milk
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In today’s world of mass-produced skincare, there’s something truly special about using handmade soap crafted with care and natural ingredients. Not only do homemade soaps avoid harsh chemicals and preservatives, but they also offer a range of benefits that nourish your skin and connect you with nature’s simplest yet most powerful elements.
Oatmeal & Honey
My Passion for Soap-Making
For me, soap-making is more than just a craft—it’s a passion rooted in simplicity and quality. I’m committed to creating soap that’s not only gentle on your skin but also kind to your wallet. Quality skincare shouldn’t come with a high price tag, and I love knowing that each bar I make is both affordable and thoughtfully crafted with natural ingredients. There’s something truly rewarding about combining traditional methods with my dedication to sustainable, accessible skincare. My soaps are currently only available locally and by special arrangement. I don’t think I can take on more than that until I retire from teaching.
Lilac Lard Soap
Why Choose Handmade Soap?
Natural Ingredients
My handmade soaps are crafted with natural ingredients, such as lard, canola oil, olive oil, coconut oil, butters and essential oils. Unlike commercial soaps, which often contain artificial additives, these natural ingredients gently cleanse and moisturize, giving your skin the care it truly deserves.Eco-Friendly
Choosing handmade soap means supporting a sustainable and eco-friendly option. I carefully select ingredients that are biodegradable and responsibly sourced. By using lard and vegetable oils, we avoid many synthetic ingredients found in store-bought soap, making each bar kind to the environment and to us.Customizable for Skin Needs
Handmade soaps allow for flexibility in the ingredients to suit different skin types. Whether you have dry, sensitive, or oily skin, handmade soap can be tailored to include oils and additives that cater to your specific needs, offering a more personalized skincare experience.Traditional Craftsmanship
Each bar of soap is made with attention to detail, following traditional soap-making methods. Cold process soap-making retains the natural properties of the oils and butters, resulting in a creamy lather and a luxurious feel.Safety is truly a concern when soap making. Below I have included some details to help the beginning soap maker or anyone else who is curious about soap making.
The Importance of Soap Calculators and Safety in Soap-Making
Safety is paramount in soap-making, especially when working with lye (sodium hydroxide), a caustic substance that requires careful handling. One essential tool every soap maker should utilize is a soap calculator.
What is a Soap Calculator?
A soap calculator is an online tool or software that helps formulate soap recipes by calculating the precise amount of lye and water needed to saponify a given combination of oils and fats. Since different oils have varying saponification values (the amount of lye required to turn the oil into soap), using a soap calculator ensures your recipe is accurate and safe.
Why Use a Soap Calculator?
Precision: It calculates the exact amount of lye required for your specific blend of oils, preventing a lye-heavy (harsh) or oil-heavy (soft) soap.
Customization: Allows you to adjust your recipe according to desired qualities like hardness, lather, and moisturizing properties.
Safety: Helps prevent mistakes that could result in soap that's unsafe for skin or doesn't set properly.
Popular Soap Calculators- I have used all of the ones listed below.
SoapCalc: Offers detailed options and a wide variety of oils. You can use this one to look at many facets of your soap.
Bramble Berry Lye Calculator: User-friendly interface suitable for beginners.
Majestic Mountain Sage Lye Calculator: Provides both basic and advanced options.
Safety Precautions in Soap-Making
Working with lye and hot oils requires respect and careful attention. As a Chemistry teacher I take working with Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) very seriously. Here are some crucial safety tips:
Protective Gear: Always wear safety goggles, long sleeves, gloves, and closed-toe shoes to protect against spills and splashes.
Proper Ventilation: Mix lye solution in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling fumes. An open window or fan helps.
Safe Mixing: Always add lye to water (never water to lye) to prevent a dangerous reaction. When the lye is added to water it heats up significantly. Use only heat proof containers for this step. I using pyrex.
Accurate Measurements: Use a digital scale for precise measurements of all ingredients. This allows your to use ounces or grams when using readily available recipes.
Safe Storage: Keep lye and soap-making materials out of reach of children and pets.
Clean Workspace: Immediately clean up any spills and dispose of lye containers properly.
Avoid Distractions: Focus solely on the soap-making process when working with lye.
Simple Cold Process Soap Recipe with Lard and Canola Oil
Soap curing in my craft room.
This beginner-friendly recipe uses lard and canola oil as the main ingredients, creating a soap that's mild and conditioning. Remember to run this recipe through a soap calculator before starting to ensure accuracy, especially if you make any substitutions. This will give around 7% excess fat. I have also included links where you can find ingredients and equipment.
Ingredients
(Yields approximately 2 pounds of soap)
Lard: 14 oz (397 g) available at grocery stores
Canola oil: 6 oz (170 g) available at grocery stores
Coconut oil: 4 oz (113 g)
Distilled water: 7 oz (198 g)
Lye (Sodium Hydroxide): 3.2 oz (91 g) I purchase mine at Westlake Hardware and Amazon depending on price
Instructions
Lard ready to be melted
Prepare Your Workspace
Set up a clean, well-ventilated area free from distractions. Gather all your equipment and ingredients. Wear protective gear: safety goggles, gloves, and long sleeves.Measure the Ingredients
Use a digital scale to accurately measure each ingredient. Precision is key in soap-making. Never “eye-ball” it!Mix the Lye Solution
Slowly add the lye to the distilled water in a heat-resistant container (never the other way around).
Stir gently until the lye is fully dissolved. The mixture will heat up rapidly and release fumes—avoid inhaling. Never use anything aluminum. I use these spatulas to mix.
Set aside the lye solution to cool to about 100°F (38°C). For temperature I use a thermal gun.
Melt the Oils
In a large stainless steel pot, melt the lard and coconut oil over low heat until fully liquefied. (You can also gently melt in the microwave in a heat safe bowl. I do 30 seconds at a time.)
Remove from heat and stir in the canola oil.
Allow the oils to cool to around 100°F (38°C), similar to the lye solution. A good rule of thumb is the oils and lye need to be withing 10 degrees of each other. I prefer to to soap between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time.
Combine Lye and Oils
Slowly pour the lye solution into the oils, using a stick blender (immersion blender) to mix.
Blend in short bursts, stirring in between, until the mixture reaches " light trace." This is when the soap batter thickens and leaves a light trail on the surface when drizzled.
Add Optional Ingredients
If using additives like rose clay, activated charcoal, or essential oils, now is the time to incorporate them. I usually mix my clays with a small amount of water or oil to ensure there are not clumps. I use a mini mixer for this.
Mix thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Pour into Mold
Pour the soap batter into your prepared mold, tapping gently to remove air bubbles.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
Insulate and Saponify
Cover the mold with a piece of cardboard and wrap it in a towel to retain heat. This encourages gel stage with will make colors more vibrant. Be sure to check on it for cracking. If it begins to crack put it in a cooler location.
Allow the soap to sit undisturbed for 24-48 hours as it undergoes saponification.
Unmold and Cut
Once firm, unmold the soap and cut it into bars using a sharp knife or soap cutter.
Cure the Soap
Place the bars on a drying rack in a well-ventilated area.
Allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks. This process evaporates excess water and ensures a harder, longer-lasting bar.
In the bowl color swirl
Enhancing Your Handmade Soap for Specific Skin Needs
One of the beautiful aspects of making your own soap is the ability to customize each batch with natural additives that cater to different skin types and concerns. Here are some popular options:
Rose Clay - My absolute favorite!
Benefits: Gently exfoliates and purifies, ideal for sensitive or mature skin.How to Use: Add 1–2 teaspoons per pound of oils. Mix the clay with a small amount of oil before adding to the soap batter to prevent clumps.
Activated Charcoal - Wonderful in soap - messy to work with.
Benefits: Deep-cleansing, great for oily or acne-prone skin.How to Use: Add 1 teaspoon per pound of oils. Disperse in oil before mixing into the batter.
Oatmeal
Benefits: Soothes dry, irritated skin and provides gentle exfoliation.How to Use: Add 1–2 tablespoons of finely ground oatmeal per pound of oils at trace. I use my coffee grinder to grind oatmeal.
Honey - I like to use locally produced honey.
Benefits: Natural humectant that retains moisture, suitable for dry skin.How to Use: Add 1 teaspoon per pound of oils at trace. Be cautious, as honey can accelerate trace.
Essential Oils
Benefits: Adds natural fragrance and skin benefits.How to Use: Add 0.5 to 1 ounce per pound of oils, depending on the oil's strength and your preference or refer to a soap calculator.
With the help of soap calculators and adherence to safety precautions, you can confidently create handmade soaps tailored to your skin's needs. Soap-making is a rewarding blend of science and artistry that allows you to produce high-quality, affordable skincare products right in your own kitchen.
If you have any comments, concerns, or questions please contact me below!
Happy soap-making!
In the mold
