DIY Natural Soap Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide to Handmade Soap | Plant based products
Making soap from natural ingredients can be a fun and rewarding DIY project. Here's a basic recipe for making homemade soap using the cold process method. Save it now and try this creative DIY project, with some besties as suggestions!
Ingredients:
- 500g (17.6 oz) coconut oil
- 500g (17.6 oz) olive oil
- 200g (7 oz) lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 350ml (11.8 fl oz) distilled water
- Essential oils for fragrance (optional)
- Natural colorants (optional, such as dried herbs, spices, clays)
Equipment:
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Digital scale
- Heat-resistant containers
- Stick blender
- Thermometer
- Soap molds
Instructions:
Safety First: Make sure you're wearing proper safety gear like goggles and gloves and working in a well-ventilated area. Lye is caustic and can cause burns if mishandled.
Prepare Ingredients: Measure out your oils and lye accurately using a digital scale. Keep in mind that you'll need to follow precise measurements for the soap to turn out well.
Mix Lye Solution: In a well-ventilated area, slowly add the lye to the distilled water, stirring constantly. Never add water to lye, always add lye to water to prevent splattering. The mixture will heat up and release fumes, so be cautious. Allow the lye solution to cool to around 100-110°F (38-43°C).
Melt Oils: While the lye solution is cooling, gently heat the coconut oil and olive oil in a large heat-resistant container until melted. Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool to around 100-110°F (38-43°C).
Combine Oils and Lye: When both the lye solution and oils are around the same temperature (100-110°F or 38-43°C), slowly pour the lye solution into the oils while stirring gently with a stick blender.
Blend: Blend the mixture with the stick blender until it reaches "trace," which is a thick, pudding-like consistency. This may take a few minutes.
Add Fragrance and Color: If using essential oils for fragrance and natural colorants, add them to the soap mixture and stir until well combined.
Pour into Molds: Pour the soap mixture into your chosen soap molds. Tap the molds gently on a flat surface to release any air bubbles.
Cure: Allow the soap to cure in the molds for 24-48 hours. After this initial curing period, remove the soap from the molds and cut it into bars if necessary. Place the bars on a rack in a cool, dry place to cure for 4-6 weeks, turning them occasionally.
Even though the process is a little bit complex, you will get familiar after some first attempts. This DIY project could become a business idea. We hope you have great moments and we look forward to hearing from you.
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