Many soap makers will argue that soap making lye is essential for a hard bar of soap and that if it doesn't contain lye then it shouldn't be called soap.
But is this necessarily the case? Soap making lye or sodium hydroxide as it is often referred to, converts fats or oil (acid) to soap by means of a complex chemical reaction, known as saponification.
When oils or fat come into contact with the lye (base) the saponification process begins with the lye turning the oil/fat into a totally different substance that we know as soap.
Since lye is such a dangerous chemical to use and must be handled with extreme caution, most wholesalers sell blocks of melt and pour soap base which have already been put through the lye process and simply involve the soap maker melting them down and adding their own unique blend of oils.
I sometimes like to re-batch any oddments of soap bars that I have laying around and this doesn't involve the use of soap making lye.
This is a great method to use leftover bars of soap and is ideal for making small quantities for personal use in the home.
For just cents, you can transform dull boring soap into a soap that has a unique, distinctive aroma and a creamy, moisturising texture.
This is what you do: 1.
Pour a quarter of a cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried herbs, eg.
mint, lavender, chamomile into a glass bowl 2.
Add 5 to 6 drops of essential oil.
If using dried mint or lavender, you could try adding eucalyptus essential oil for a refreshing, wake me up type of soap 3.
Allow the mixture to steep for 15 minutes 4.
Transfer the mixture to a pan and bring to the boil.
Add about 2 cups of grated soap and mix well, stirring with a rubber spatula until the soap is completely melted.
5.
Let the mix stand for 20 minutes 6.
Into 6 parts, rolling into a ball shape 7.
Place on a glass plate and let the soap balls dry out for 3-4 days.
NOTE: At stage 5, you can pour the mix into small moulds, if preferred, instead of leaving for 20 minutes.
Then, when completely set, unmold the soaps and leave them to harden and dry out for 3-4 days.
Stamp moulds that you find in craft shops make attractive moulds as they come in a wide variety of shapes and would make lovely guest soaps.
But is this necessarily the case? Soap making lye or sodium hydroxide as it is often referred to, converts fats or oil (acid) to soap by means of a complex chemical reaction, known as saponification.
When oils or fat come into contact with the lye (base) the saponification process begins with the lye turning the oil/fat into a totally different substance that we know as soap.
Since lye is such a dangerous chemical to use and must be handled with extreme caution, most wholesalers sell blocks of melt and pour soap base which have already been put through the lye process and simply involve the soap maker melting them down and adding their own unique blend of oils.
I sometimes like to re-batch any oddments of soap bars that I have laying around and this doesn't involve the use of soap making lye.
This is a great method to use leftover bars of soap and is ideal for making small quantities for personal use in the home.
For just cents, you can transform dull boring soap into a soap that has a unique, distinctive aroma and a creamy, moisturising texture.
This is what you do: 1.
Pour a quarter of a cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried herbs, eg.
mint, lavender, chamomile into a glass bowl 2.
Add 5 to 6 drops of essential oil.
If using dried mint or lavender, you could try adding eucalyptus essential oil for a refreshing, wake me up type of soap 3.
Allow the mixture to steep for 15 minutes 4.
Transfer the mixture to a pan and bring to the boil.
Add about 2 cups of grated soap and mix well, stirring with a rubber spatula until the soap is completely melted.
5.
Let the mix stand for 20 minutes 6.
Into 6 parts, rolling into a ball shape 7.
Place on a glass plate and let the soap balls dry out for 3-4 days.
NOTE: At stage 5, you can pour the mix into small moulds, if preferred, instead of leaving for 20 minutes.
Then, when completely set, unmold the soaps and leave them to harden and dry out for 3-4 days.
Stamp moulds that you find in craft shops make attractive moulds as they come in a wide variety of shapes and would make lovely guest soaps.
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