How to make Soap Bars

There are 3 types of Soap Bar Recipes available.  Cold-processed, Hot-processed, and Melt & Pour.

This recipe is for Cold-processed soap.

Simple and Easy Soap - I00 gram bar - Makes 1 x 100g pot or 2 x 50g guest soaps

You will need:

Ingredients:

25g Coconut Oil

25g Palm Oil

50gm Olive Oil

38gm Water

14gm Caustic Soda

10ml Essential Oil 

1 ml colour if using

Equipment:

• A container as a mould - The best mold is a silicone one especially designed for soap as they do not leech colour into your soap. Or something as simple as a cardboard milk container empty and cleaned will suffice.
• Pyrex glass jug
• Stainless steel saucepan
• Thermometer
• Stainless steel spoon (for blending)
• Stick blender
• Cloths
• Towels

PPE:

• Gloves - Rubber or silicone,
• Face mask,
• Goggles. 
• White vinegar for spills

Instructions:

1. Measure out your water by weight or volume.
2. Weigh out your caustic soda carefully (and wipe up spills and beware of small children and pets) in your glass jug.
3. Either outside or under an extractor fan slowly add the caustic soda to the water and stir (never the other way round) to create your lye solution. (Stand back and do not breathe in the fumes. Wear gloves and it is recomended that you wear goggles and face mask every time you make soap) 
4. Allow to cool to between 30 and 40 degrees. 
5. Warm your pre-prepared oils in the stainless steeI saucepan until the temperature is the same as the lye.
6. Slowly pour in the caustic mixture into the oils stirring slowly. Once combined start blending with your stick blender.
7. Blend until the mixture becomes like a light custard- this is called trace.
8. You may add your colour and scent now and mix well in or you may have liked to have mixed your colour thoroughly before hand to reduce lumps). Scent should be I% to 3% of the weight of your oils.
9. Once soap has an acceptable trace you may pour into your mold and place in a warm place for at least 12 hours. Its best to wait a couple of clays before unmolding but if you are really impatient you can unmold and cut after 24 hours.
10. Wrap and store in a dry place for 6 weeks. If you really cannot wait you could use a bar of soap after 2 weeks but it will never be at its best. Your soap will dissolve very quickly and leave your skin feeling dry.