How to Make an Organic Soap
Organic health and beauty products have increased in popularity but have not decreased in price. It is much less expensive to make your own products. Soap is a product that is relatively easy to make with organic ingredients in bulk.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 3/4 cup of cold distilled water
- 3/8 cup of Sodium Hydroxide or Lye
- 1 cup organic almond oil
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
- 3/4 cup organic olive oil (not extra virgin)
- 1/8 tsp. rose essential oil (*optional)
- 1/2 cup rose petals (*optional)
- Wax paper
- Plastic wrap
- 9-by-12-inch cake pan
- Candy thermometer
- Glass jar or measuring cup
- Double boiler
- 2 wooden spoons or disposable chopsticks
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Organic Soap Making
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1
In a well-ventilated area, stir the lye into a glass jar or measuring cup holding cold distilled water. Stir it with a wooden spoon or disposable chopstick. Put a candy thermometer in the mixture, and allow it to cool until it reaches 100 degrees.
-
2
In a double boiler, slowly melt the coconut oil until it reaches 100 degrees. Once it has melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the almond and olive oil.
-
3
Once both mixtures are at 100 degrees, slowly pour the lye/water into the oil mixture. Stir the mixture constantly with a wood spoon or chopstick as the lye/water mixture is being poured in.
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4
The mixture should be stirred until it thickens and has a creamy appearance. Once it reaches the consistency of thin yogurt or pudding, stir in the rose essential oil and rose petals.
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5
Pour the mixture into soap molds or a cake pan covered with wax paper. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and a towel, then set aside for 18 to 24 hours so it can harden.
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1
Tips & Warnings
After the first 18 to 24 hours, let the soap mixture sit uncovered in the pan for another 12 to 24 hours before cutting it into bars. Use fishing line tied between two dowels to cut into bars. Once the bars are cut, stack them and allow them to sit in room air for about five weeks to fully cure. Once the bars have fully cured, wrap each in plastic wrap and store in a cool, dry place.
Always wear safety glasses and elbow-high rubber gloves when working with lye because it is extremely caustic. Don't use a knife to cut the bars as lye soap should not be ingested.
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References
Comments
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Amanda Smith
Aug 13, 2008
I have been using organic soaps since learning about all of the chemicals in my old soap. The bars I have been buying are rather pricey. Now that I know how easy it is to do it myself I will save a ton of money. -
Amanda Smith
Aug 13, 2008
I have been using organic soaps since learning about all of the chemicals in my old soap. The bars I have been buying are rather pricey. Now that I know how easy it is to do it myself I will save a ton of money.
