How to Make Spicy Shaving Soap

This recipe for making homemade shaving soap contains cinnamon oil to help lift hair for a close shave. It's an effective soap, but the scent might make you hungry while you're shaving.

Things You'll Need

• Pan for heating oils
• Stainless steel plastic container for mixing lye solution
• Rubber spatulas
• Stainless steel thermometers
• Goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Scale
• Molds
• Plastic wrap
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Blankets or towels
• 32 oz. water
• 12 oz. lye
• 38 oz. vegetable shortening
• 24 oz. olive oil
• 24 oz. coconut oil
• 4.2 oz. cinnamon oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Weigh the oils and place them in a pan. Spray wooden molds with a non-stick cooking spray.

2. Pour 32 oz. distilled water and 12 oz. lye and into separate containers. Pour lye carefully into the water. Stir until dissolved. Lye must be prepared outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.

3. Dissolve 38 oz. vegetable shortening over heat. Add 24 oz. of olive oil and 24 oz. of coconut oil.

4. Combine the lye and fat mixtures when both reach 100 to 110 degrees. Put lye into the fat and stir until the soap begins to trace.

5. Drip 4.2 oz. cinnamon oil quickly into the soap mixture while stirring continuously. Add a tablespoon of ground cinnamon.

6. Pour quickly into a soap mold as soon as the cinnamon has been mixed in. Cover the molds and insulate them by wrapping in blankets or towels for the first 24 hours.

7. Check the soap for firmness in 48 hours. Cut into bars. Allow the bars to cool on a screen for 3 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Always prepare lye in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. Wear safety goggles and gloves.