HANDMADE SOAP
Historically, soap was made using animal fats and wood ashes. Modern soap makers use sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in solid soap making and potassium hydroxide in liquid soaps, which allows precise calculation of each recipe so that the end product, once fully cured, contains no caustic material. True soap CANNOT be made without lye!
Most of my soaps are made using the 'Cold Process' (CP) method of soap making. This involves adding heated oils to a mixture lye and water (or other liquid - such as milk, coffee or even beer... imagination is about the only limit!) and blending until a reaction starts to take place. Once it has reached a certain point, known as 'trace', essential oils or fragrances, colours & any extracts are added and the mixture is poured into a mould. The saponification reaction takes place over the next 24-48 hours. After this, the soap is removed, cut and left to cure for several weeks. This ensures that 1./ saponification is complete (i.e. that there is no caustic material remaining) and 2./ that excess water has evaporated, leaving a hard and long-lasting bar.
A small number of my soaps are made using the 'Hot Process' (HP) method. Instead of pouring into moulds soon after blending, the mixture is cooked, usually for 1-2 hours. Applying this external heat accelerates saponification - essentially the reaction is already complete when the mixture is poured, or more accurately, often "glopped" into the mould; this is why many HP soaps have a slightly rough, more rustic appearance compared with CP soaps. Although not strictly necessary, my HP bars still have approximately 8 weeks cure time - as with CP this ensures a hard & long lasting bar.
The advantage of any handmade soap, regardless of production method, is that it retains the naturally formed glycerin, which is typically removed from commercial soaps for use in other cosmetic products.
Historically, soap was made using animal fats and wood ashes. Modern soap makers use sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in solid soap making and potassium hydroxide in liquid soaps, which allows precise calculation of each recipe so that the end product, once fully cured, contains no caustic material. True soap CANNOT be made without lye!
Most of my soaps are made using the 'Cold Process' (CP) method of soap making. This involves adding heated oils to a mixture lye and water (or other liquid - such as milk, coffee or even beer... imagination is about the only limit!) and blending until a reaction starts to take place. Once it has reached a certain point, known as 'trace', essential oils or fragrances, colours & any extracts are added and the mixture is poured into a mould. The saponification reaction takes place over the next 24-48 hours. After this, the soap is removed, cut and left to cure for several weeks. This ensures that 1./ saponification is complete (i.e. that there is no caustic material remaining) and 2./ that excess water has evaporated, leaving a hard and long-lasting bar.
A small number of my soaps are made using the 'Hot Process' (HP) method. Instead of pouring into moulds soon after blending, the mixture is cooked, usually for 1-2 hours. Applying this external heat accelerates saponification - essentially the reaction is already complete when the mixture is poured, or more accurately, often "glopped" into the mould; this is why many HP soaps have a slightly rough, more rustic appearance compared with CP soaps. Although not strictly necessary, my HP bars still have approximately 8 weeks cure time - as with CP this ensures a hard & long lasting bar.
The advantage of any handmade soap, regardless of production method, is that it retains the naturally formed glycerin, which is typically removed from commercial soaps for use in other cosmetic products.