Soapmaking recipes, cold process

Precautions
1. Do not use aluminium containers. The soap and the pot will be ruined.
2. Treat sodium hydroxide with the utmost respect. It is a dangerous chemical.
3. It is ESSENTIAL to wear eye protection and gloves.
4. If you spill sodium hydroxide on your skin, it will sting. Flush with cold water until the stinging stops. Dabbing with vinegar or lemon juice helps too.

Utensils needed

Safety glasses
Rubber gloves
Plastic, glass or stainless steel pot or bowl
Spatula
Stick blender (very useful and, after making a batch without one, you will say   essential!)
Thermometer
Container to use as a mould
Baking paper to line mould (essential)

If you are going to make a habit of soapmaking, have utensils dedicated for that purpose.

Method for all cold-process soap recipes

1. Melt gently the solid oils.
2. Add the other oils and cool to 40 deg C.
3. Put on safety glasses and gloves. Add sodium hydroxide to COLD water. Don’t breathe in the fumes.
4. Cool to 40 deg C. Keep in a safe place away from people and animals.
5. Put on safety glasses and gloves. Add sodium hydroxide mixture to oils. Stir briskly until thick. A stick blender will shorten this process but don’t mix too fast. Stop and stir in the OFF position often.
6. Add essential oil. Stir until the soap is like thick porridge.
7. Pour into plastic container lined with baking paper. Must have that baking paper! Cover to keep warm for 24 hours.
8. Uncover, unmould and cut into bars.
9. Separate bars to dry for 3 weeks before using.
Variations: botanicals, dried flowers, colours, etc, can be used. Add these before the mixture becomes too thick and before adding the essential oil.

Everyday lavender soap

450g coconut oil
450g olive oil
450g organic palm shortening
450g cold water
200g sodium hydroxide
50g lavender essential oil

Small batch of soap 1kg (fits in a 2L icecream container)

300g coconut oil
300g organic palm shortening
300g olive oil
300g water
140g sodium hydroxide
30g essential oil

Goat's milk soap

Use one of the recipes above but replace half the water with goat's milk, eg, instead of 300g water, use 150g water and 150g goat's milk.