How to Make Hot Process Lye Soap

Create your own special soaps.

Making your own soap can bring a personal touch to an everyday item, turning it into a custom craft. Making soap requires a certain amount of care when handling ingredients, but it is a relatively simple process. Begin with a simple hot process lye soap recipe that uses small amounts of ingredients. Once you have the basic skills, you can experiment with this recipe using different colorings, scents and other ingredients to make a soap that is distinctly yours.

Things You'll Need

• Stainless steel pot
• Measuring cup
• Wooden spoon
• Glass jar
• Soap mold
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles
• 2.6 oz. lye
• 6 oz. coconut oil
• 6 oz. olive oil
• 5 oz. vegetable shortening
• 1 cup water
• Cooking thermometer

Instructions

1. Place the water in the glass jar and slowly add the lye, carefully stirring the mixture until it is fully dissolved. Wear safety glasses and gloves during this step. As you add the lye, the water will become very hot. Once fully dissolved, allow the mixture to cool to 95 degrees F.

2. Combine the coconut oil, olive oil and vegetable shortening in the stainless steel pot, stirring the mixture until it is completely melted. Using your cooking thermometer, heat the mixture until it reaches 95 degrees F.

3. Add the lye and water mixture to the oils. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens to the point where a spoon drawn through it leaves a "trace" or depression. This process can take up to one hour.

4. Pour the mixture into the soap mold. Allow 24 hours for the soap to set.

5. Once completely set, release the finished soap from the mold and cut into bars. Allow the soap to cure and harden for two to three weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Never add water to lye. This can cause an explosive chemical reaction. To combine these two ingredients safely, always add the lye to the water.

References

• Country Living & Farm Lifestyles
• Happy Living Magazine