Making Soap

All ready to go - protective gear on, equipment out, ingredients standing by.

Mixing the caustic soda with water.

The 'soap' in their moulds, just after being poured in.

Cutting the soap while still warm and soft.

In January I made my first ever batch of soap.  It was like chemistry class at school, but better because I chose to do it!

I  used Rhonda Hetzel's recipe from her book Down to Earth.  Olive oil, Rice brain oil, Coconut oil, and caustic soda.

It was relatively simple to make, and as with anything new, the more I make it, the easier it will become.  I was really happy with the soap it made and I left it to dry out for six weeks before testing it.

This soap lathers extremely well, and gives you that squeaky clean feeling.  I like the mild bran aroma, but Ulf doesn't like the smell.  I would prefer it if it didn't clean so well and rather moisturised more, but I'll have to use some different oils to get those qualities into my soap.

Of course I have plans to make it again!  I have dried calendula flowers waiting to be infused into oil and made into soap - calendula has natural anti-septic qualities.  And I would very much like to make soap the old-fashioned way one day, using good old animal fat!