How to Make Hot Process Soap in an Oven

Making hot process soap is a gratifying way to enjoy this creative process. Cooking out the lye by using an oven results in a more fragrant bar of soap since the lye can morph fragrance. The challenge in this method is that once cooked, you must work quickly to maneuver the soap in your molds and embellish it as you wish.

Things You'll Need

• 12 oz. Water
• 4.80 oz. Lye
• 32 oz. Oils, such as coconut or olive oil
• Heat-safe bowl
• Measuring bowls
• Digital scale
• Stick blender or wire whisk
• Stainless steel pot
• Stainless steel large spoon
• Soap molds, lined with plastic

Instructions

1. Measure your water in the heat-safe bowl. Measure your lye in a separate bowl. Slowly add the lye to your water while stirring, allowing lye to dissolve in the water. Preheat your oven to 180 to 190 degrees Farenheit.

2. Use weight rather than volume to measure your oils on your digital scale. Pour the oils into the pot and melt on your stove top using a low heat. Stir frequently to make sure it doesn't burn. Remove the pot from heat once the oils melt.

3. Add the lye solution to the melted oils while stirring. Both mixtures should still be equally warm. Stir with your stick blender or whisk for up to 15 minutes, until the mixture has a light trace. Use the stick blender in short 20-second bursts to avoid burning out the motor.

4. Place the pot, uncovered, in your oven. Leave the soap for approximately 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

5. Check the consistency of your soap after an hour. The soap should be gel-like, easy to stir and a little translucent with no separation. If your soap is not at this stage, continue cooking for an additional 30 to 60 minutes.

6. Remove from the oven once your soap has reached the gel stage. Let the soap cool ten or twenty degrees before adding any fragrant or essential oils, or colorants. Work quickly to add these elements and mix them thoroughly with the gel.

7. Pour your soap into a plastic-lined mold, shaking the mold to get the soap to level. Fold the plastic over the soap to smooth out the top. Leave it in a secure place to cool and set for approximately 4 to 6 hours.