How Do I Make Soap?

The most important ingredient to make soap is fat. This holds the aromas and various flavors together. The fat can be animal fat or vegetable fat. The fat requires a certain amount of lye to be converted into soap. The amount of lye will be determined by the type of fat in the soap. The lye is mixed with the fat in boiling water to make soap.

The process to convert lye and fat into soap is called saponification. The lye and fat should be mixed at a temperature that is slightly greater than the boiling point of fat. These need to be mixed for many hours so that the mixture does not stick to the end of the ladle or the vat. It as this stage that perfumes to produce various fragrances can be added to the mixture. After mixing has happened, the newly formed soap is filled into molds and stored for cooling. The cooling stage lasts for a couple of weeks if traditional cooling methods are used.

There are three basic ingredients that are needed to make soap. The ingredients required are water, Lye or sodium hydroxide and fat or oil. At first lye is added to cold water, and not cold water to lye, then the oil in the form of animal fats or vegetable oils can be used. You will also require colouring dyes which are available at most soap supply stores. These have to be added to the soap mix at temperatures in excess of 150º Fahrenheit. Then there are scenting oils that are added. Mostly they are types of essential oils that are extracts of other oils. The soap is then set into moulds in a setting tray made of wood or plastic. A thin piece of cloth is used between the soap and the tray. After it has formed the mould is formed it is removed and kept in a cool, dry and dark place for two to three weeks before using it again.