How to Make Lanolin Soap

Lanolin soap makes a great moisturizer for your entire body. Here is a quick and easy recipe to make your own at home.

Things You'll Need

• 2-qt. glass container
• 12-qt. enamelware pot
• Wooden spoon
• Candy thermometer
• Rubber gloves
• Soap molds
• Cardboard insulation or blankets
• 23 oz. olive oil
• 58 oz. tallow
• 10½ oz. lye
• 2 pt. water
• 2 oz. pure liquid anhydrous lanolin

Instructions

1. Prepare the lye solution. Slowly add lye (potash or sodium hydroxide crystals) to cold water in an enamelware pot, stirring with a wooden spoon as you pour. The water temperature should rise to 200 degrees F as the crystals react with the water.

2. Allow the solution to cool, and pour it into a 2-qt. glass container.

3. In order to make soap, the temperature of the fat and the lye solution should be between 95 and 98 degrees F before mixing them together. Mix the olive oil with the tallow, and place in container in hot water. In a separate container, place the lye solution in a pot of hot water.

4. When both the fat and lye have reached the desired temperature, stir the fat mixture first, and add the lye all at once, continuing to stir.

5. After the mixture turns dark, then lighter again, drop one drop of water onto the surface. If it remains on the surface for a moment, the mixture is ready. It should have the consistency of sour cream.

6. Add 2 oz. pure liquid anhydrous lanolin to the mixture, and pour liquid soap into a wax paper-lined or greased mold, cover it with blankets or cardboard, and leave it sitting in a warm location.

7. After 24 hours, remove the soap from the mold and leave it sitting uncovered in a well-ventilated location for approximately 4 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Use lye crystals in place of lye solution for more soapmaking precision. To create crystals, boil potash in a stainless steel or enamel pot until black salts form. Leave on heat until crystals turn gray-white.

• Always wear gloves when working with lye.

Resources

• More Soap Recipes