The Ultimate Guide to Making Soap at Home: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Making soap at home can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity. Whether you're looking to enhance your skincare routine or simply enjoy a fun DIY project, this guide will walk you through the process of creating your very own handcrafted soap using the cold process method.

What You'll Need

Ingredients: 20 oz. coconut oil 10 oz. olive oil 9 oz. distilled water 4.78 oz. 100% pure lye sodium hydroxide 20 to 40 drops of essential oils (optional) Colorants (optional) Dried herbs or flowers (optional) Supplies and Tools: Slow cooker Plastic glass or stainless steel container for measuring lye Heavy-duty plastic glass or stainless steel container for mixing lye and water Digital kitchen scale Silicone spatulas for soap-making only Immersion blender with a stainless steel shaft Candy thermometer for soap-making only Silicone loaf mold or individual molds Safety goggles, rubber or latex gloves, oven mitts, long-sleeved shirt, and apron

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Weighing the Water and Lye

Begin by zeroing out the weight on your kitchen scale. Measure out 9 oz. of distilled water and place it in a container. Slowly add 4.78 oz. of 100% pure lye sodium hydroxide to the water, mixing carefully. Allow the lye mixture to cool.

Step 2: Weighing and Melting the Oils

Next, weigh 20 oz. of coconut oil and 10 oz. of olive oil. Melt these oils in a soap pot until they reach approximately 100°F (37.8°C).

Step 3: Combining Lye and Oils

Slowly pour the cooled lye mixture into the melted oils while stirring gently. Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until it reaches a stage known as “trace,” where a trail can be seen when drizzled.

Step 4: Adding Fragrance and Color

If desired, add 20 to 40 drops of essential oils for fragrance. You can also mix in colorants or dried herbs/flowers for added texture and visual appeal.

Step 5: Molding the Soap

Pour the soap batter into a silicone loaf mold or individual molds. If desired, add texture to the top. Spray with rubbing alcohol to prevent soda ash. Cover the mold and insulate the soap for proper curing.

Step 6: Unmolding and Curing

Unmold the soap after 24 hours. Cut it into bars and cure it for 6 to 8 weeks before using it.

Important Safety Precautions

Always handle lye with care and avoid using aluminum containers for lye. Ensure you have safety goggles, rubber or latex gloves, oven mitts, a long-sleeved shirt, and an apron on hand during the soap-making process.

Make soap at home with confidence and enjoy the satisfaction of using homemade, artisanal soap in your skincare routine. Happy crafting!

Resources and Further Reading

Making Soap from Scratch: Ingredients, Safety, and Basic Steps - Healthline Learn How to Make Homemade Soap - The Spruce Crafts Soap Making Tutorial for Beginners - Full Demonstration: Cold Process Soap Beginner Recipe - Bramble Berry How To Make Soap: Homemade Soap Recipe for Hand and Body How to Make Simple and Gentle Soap - Perfect for Beginners! - Bramble Berry Make Your Own Soap: Basic 4-Oil Soap Recipe - The Spruce Crafts How to Make Organic Soap at Home: Easy Natural Recipe - wikiHow

Enjoy your homemade soap and the benefits of creating something unique for yourself and your loved ones!