How to Make Soap Using Monoi De Tahiti Oil

Monoi de Tahiti oil is extracted from the Tahitian Tiare flower.

Making soap is a satisfying hobby that anyone can enjoy. Using essential oils, a crafter can produce a product that can turn an ordinary bath or shower into a sublime experience. Monoi de Tahiti is one of the premier essential oils used by soap-making enthusiasts. It is prized for its moisturizing properties. It is produced on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia and is a combination of coconut oil from the Tumu Ha'ari (cocos nucifera) tree and from extracted oils of the local Tiare flower (gardenia tahitensis). A batch of soap takes less than two hours to make. This recipe makes 20 2-oz. bars.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses
• Apron
• 2 qt. glass canning jar
• 6 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. 100-percent lye
• 2 cups water
• Wire whisk -- stainless steel only
• 3 cups shortening
• Large stainless steel or enamel pot
• 1 cup coconut oil
• Molds
• Boxes
• Mineral oil
• Wooden spoon
• 2 thermometers that measure up to 140 degrees
• 1 oz. monoi de Tahiti essential oil
• Newspapers
• Sharp knife
• Blankets
• Vinegar

Instructions

How to Make Soap Using Monoi de Tahiti Oil

1. Make lye solution. Wear apron, rubber gloves and eye protection. Place 20 tsp. lye in 2-quart glass jar; add two cups water; stir with wire whisk. Set aside in a well-ventilated area. Keep away from children and pets.

2. Prepare fat. Melt 3 cups shortening over low heat in large stainless steel or enamel pot. Remove from heat as soon as all shortening is melted. Add 1 cup coconut oil.

3. Prepare molds. Grease molds with mineral oil. Do not use metal molds.

4. Monitor temperatures. Stir lye mixture with wooden spoon; take temperature. Ideal temperature is 95 to 98 degrees. Check temperature of melted oil/coconut oil. Ideal is 96 to 100 degrees.

5. Mix lye and oils. Slowly pour lye solution into the fats. Stir constantly with wooden spoon; the chemical reaction of saponification will begin. The chemical reaction turns the lye into glycerin and soap.

6. Continue stirring the lye/oil mixture until a trace forms. A trace occurs when the wooden spoon traces a design in the mixture. This generally takes from 10 to 20 minutes.

7. Add 1 oz. monoi de Tahiti essential oil after the trace has formed, stirring quickly and blending well.

8. Mold soap. Protect the work surface and floor with newspaper. Pour mixture into molds. For molds use juice containers, candy molds, shoe boxes or soap molds purchased from a craft store.

9. Store molds. Store molds in a deep box or covered container. Surround the molds with blankets. Do not disturb for 24 hours.

10. 

    Stack cut bars so air can circulate freely.

    Cut and stack soap. Remove soap from mold. Using sharp knife, cut into bars. Stack cut bars in a loose pyramid in box, which allows air to circulate freely and soap to cure. Leave in box two to three weeks. To test for usability, touch tongue to soap; if it does not tingle, it is ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• Cooling soap too quickly can cause the oils in the soap to separate. Cool at temperatures above 65 degrees.

• Never use cast iron, tin or aluminum pots or utensils.

• Wear an apron, rubber gloves, and eye protection throughout soap-making process.

• Lye is sodium hydroxide and reacts quickly when it touches the skin. If spilled on skin, saturate area with vinegar and rinse with warm water. Repeat until area feels like it is no longer burning.

• Lye can also damage work surfaces. If spilled, wipe immediately and use vinegar to neutralize.

References

• "The Soapmaker's Companion"; Susan Miller Cavitch; 1997
• "Making Soap for Fun and Profit"; Linda Inlow; 1998
• "The Soapmaker's Companion"; Susan Miller Cavitch; 1997

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Source for Monoi de Tahiti essential oil
• History of Tiare flower