How to make Olive oil soap

Soapmaking is one of the most rewarding hobbies you could ever try. Some try soapmaking just for fun while some develop their own soap recipes to help with skin issues that may arise from using commercial soaps. Either way it can be so much fun and very addictive once you get the basic under control and learn to understand the chemical reactions of working with fats and lye to make soap.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 18 oz of LYE
• 5 cups distilled water
• 20 cups of olive oil (160 oz)
• container to mix lye
• pot
• plastic rubbermaid container to pour soap in
• measuring cup
• wooden spoon
• gloves, protective eyewear
• old towels

1. This is a relatively easy recipe and great for a new "soaper" to try. No oils to order, you can pick up everything at the grocery store. Most soap recipes are calculated on weight meaning you use a scale to weigh the oils and lye. This is a volume recipe so you don't need a scale. A simple measuring cup will work fine.

2. Add your 18 oz of lye to 5 cups of distilled water. I use an old plastic bucket. DO NOT USE GLASS. The lye mixture gets very hot and can break glass. Add the lye slowly stirring with a wooden spoon. Do not inhale the fumes. Set your lye mixture container aside out of the reach of children pets and busy family members. It will need to cool to 90- 100 degrees. Use your thermometer to check the temp.

3. Heat your 20 cups (160 oz )Olive oil until it reaches 95- 100 degrees. Pour in lye mixture and stir until soap reaches a trace. (pudding like texture)The stirring can take as long as 30 mints to thicken up to trace. Once it has traced, stir in 2oz of fragrance oil to soap.

4. Pour soap into plastic container close lid.Place box of soap in a warm area to begin it's set up process.Cover with towels to keep it will insulated for at least 24 hours.After 24 hours take soap out of mold and cut into bars.Place on a baking cooling rack to cure for up to 6 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Lye recently has become unavailable in many stores.Check for online sources.
• Use gloves and protective eyeware when making soap.
• Olive oil makes a very soft soap if you need a firmer soap, research reworking this recipe by adding coconut oil or any other oil known to make a firmer bar.
• Please do not make soap when you are rushed.Set aside time. You are working with LYE and it is very caustic.
• Do not let small children help you.
• If you plan on making soap regularly keep lye mixing containers and lye well out of the way of family.Clearly mark EVERYTHING.