HOW 2
REVENGE OF THE SOAP
THE MAKING
WITH SIMBA
Only the worthy make it this far. Or you probably just have wifi. Either way, you have come to be taught the way of the soap, and that is what you shall receive. All you have to do is believe.
Since many of my friends (yes, soapmakers can have friends) have sensitive skin, i sometimes decide to make 'all organic soaps', which simply means i don't use dyes or chemical fragrances.
I'm using Australian 'Rose kaolin clay' for the colour and exfoliant, and 'Pine + Lime' essential oil for the fragrance.
1. Start by slowly pouring the lye into the water. Don't pour the jug of water into the lye, or else BOOM. Stir with a metal spoon.
Simba's Comments: You'll notice that it will start getting really hot. This is why we use ice water, because the quicker it cools, the quicker we get to make soap.
2. Pour in the olive oil and coconut oil to the bucket
3. Pour in the lye water once it is cooled and BLEND THEM ALL
Simba's Comments: Make sure the lye water is at room temperature.
As soon as you pour the lye in, the mix is gonna get thick, so you'll have to make sure you finish before it gets solid.
4. Pour in other ingredients
At this stage you can add in any other soap-compatible products like colour dyes, exfoliants, herbs, etc. that you want to add. In this case i added some Rose Clay, to give the soap a nice, brown texture and a smooth scrub.
5. Measure and add in fragrance oil
Simba Protip #1743: The amount of fragrance you use has some leeway, because some are stronger than others 👍.
6. Mix until thick, and then pour the mix into a lined container
Continue to mix until a thick 'trace' occurs. 'Trace' occurs when you can see the marks left behind by your mixer in the soap. Kinda like the consistency of yoghurt.
Good job! It's that easy. You can finish here, but the next couple of steps are where you can change the aesthetics of your soap.
7. (Optional) Separate some the mix and change the colour to achieve different patterns. Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
After you make a couple of batches you can try to experiment with ideas like this. You can make all types of patterns, swirls, shapes and colours. This is the part where your finesse as a soapmaker is tested, and also where you never stop learning.
8. (Optional) Experiment with the top of the loaf
You can sprinkle some herbs or ingredients like I did, or you could make some swirls or something. Or just keep it flat. Up to you!
9. After waiting ~ a couple of days, Cut it up
And you're done! Pretty easy, right? If you're better at it than me, don't tell anyone! Then you'll start stealing all of my regulars!
The soap will have to keep hardening over the next 4-6 weeks before you can use it. Otherwise it'll go all slimy and yucky in the shower. So put the bars in your room for a month or two, and it'll smell like your soap!