Soap is not hard to make as long as you get yourself very organised before you begin. It only takes a couple of hours to make a decent batch of soap. I used lye, lard, coconut oil and water, then added lavender for fragrance. After reading all the sites you sent me to, this weekend I began the practical research in making Lavender Soap for Charlotte.
First I made a Cold Process soap. I added the lye to the water and stirred it then added this to the fats and stirred that with the stick blender, it came to trace very quickly (Trace is when your stirring stick leaves a trace in the pudding like mixture) so I poured it into the mold and wondered why it had been so easy. After reading a number of other recipes I realised I had done piles of stuff wrong. I had forgotton to take the temperature of the lye. I added lye to unmelted lard. I had forgotton to cool the lye first. I had forgotton to cover the soap afterwards so that it stayed hot to cure (though I quickly rectified this once I realised).
(Surprisingly the next morning the soap had forgiven me and it was hard enough to cut into slices) Much to my amazement I had made soap.
There are two ways of making soap, both begin the same but end differently: Cold Process Soap and Hot Process Soap. I had elected to start with the Cold Process as it looked simpler. Making Hot Process Soap means that after adding the lye water to the lard and stirring it to the trace stage, you then cook it, so with my second batch I did this in the slow cooker.
And once again I made soap. I got the recipe for this one from chickens in the road.
I chose to add lavender instead of vanilla and cinnamon (we all know how I feel about cinnamon) and it came out beautifully as well.
So either soap making is really not as hard as I thought or I have used up all my beginners luck.
Just be careful not to inhale the lye water, and mix the lye into the water not the other way around. And have everything measured and in order before you begin.
I used shoe boxes lined with white plastic bags for molds.
As I have no plastic jugs and bowls, glass and stainless steel is fine. Everything washed up beautifully in the dishwasher.
Make sure to cover the soap in its mold straight away with a piece of cardboard then with old sweatshirts and towels. The first stage of the curing is a hot one and it needs to stay warm as long as you can.
The bars of soap are now resting in the cellar to cure. I have about forty creamy lightly scented bars. For the Cold Process the curing may take up to 6 weeks. For the Hot Process the soap will be ready to use after only a few weeks (though some people use them straight away) as the heat from the cooking escalates the curing process. I am instructed to turn these every few days so they cure evenly.
I was so focused on my soap making ventures that I did not notice Boo the Bad very quietly creeping into my reading chair for a quick recharge.
Now that I know the basics I am going to make more soap. Designing a soap for each of my children and their families as their Christmas presents. There is excema in our family and lard soap is supposed to be very good for the dry skin.
After the soap I spent the rest of the weekend making bread and ice cream and tomato sauce and the usual things.
But I am as proud of making this soap as I am of growing my own apples.
Have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm, celi
ps This is bread, not soap. No mixing the two up!! Good morning!
pss, (later in the morning) just found this link with some really good soap making info: 4 steps to making soap. Worth a look.
The Kitchen's Garden 
96 responses to “Making soap for the first time”
My parents rendered lard when I was growing up. I can still smell that horrid smell that makes me want to gag. Hopefully the soap making process does not involve too many horrid smells. A woman from my church makes soap. I should visit her sometime to observe the process.
I read about that smell, sounds dreadful. So imagine my delight when i discovered I could buy it already rendered from the butchers! Perfick! The soap making process does not smell bad at all. And the soap smells even better this morning.. c
I have been rendering fat back for lard, and it really doesn’t smell that bed – in fact to me it just smells like bacon! I do have all the doors and windows open though. Just lately I have re-discovered the art of making ‘real’ pastry, using the lard and butter. Made a quiche on friday and an apple pie yesterday, and both were just like Mum used to make!!
could you FB me your recipe Lyn, I tried a pastry on friday and it was DREADFUL! I need to get a good recipe! c
My Grandma used to make pastry with lard. I don’t believe the back fat is as bad for you as they say. There are Italian communities who eat lots of their own processed meat full of “bad fat” yet their cholesterol is low. I am sure it is more the processed and commercially made foods that are far more damaging.
I hear you.. processed is ALWAYs worse than a natural fat that our bodies are evolved to digest.. and commercial.. I rest our case. You are onto it! c
What do they call a soap maker.? A celi… well done on achieving that, I’m impressed…
I will become a seasonal chore to add to the list. I love home made soap but it is so expensive to buy. I am also impressed. .. c
That soap looks good enough to eat!
A whole new meaning to wash your mouth out with soap!~ c
oh that sounds great! i might have to try =)
I hope you can! I am also going to experiment with making milk soap. I know you have a good supply of milk. c
Celi, more than one person has mentioned how your soap looks good enough to eat. It does rather remind me of Vanilla Fudge. 😉 Well done! You make me want to try it. Some day perhaps when I am not up to my neck in reconstruction perhaps?
OK, I didn’t want to bother you with asking, but I just searched your blog for “cinnamon” and came up with zilch on “… how [you] feel about cinnamon.” So, how do you feel about cinnamon? 😀
I hate cinnamon. I don’t mind a trace or hint of it but I think i am the only person in america who feels like that, cinnamon is BIG out here.. c
OH! Yes, it is. I also love cinnamon. That said, I HATE all the scented pine cones and such that are sold in the stores. The strong fake smell burns my sinus and takes the top of my head off! Hence, I hate shopping during the holidays too. 😛
I think it is the fake cinnamon smells that i dislike the most too.. c
When you next go to Chicago, smell some cinnamon quill…….very subtle and aromatic.
Would you consider making soaps for Christmas with coriander seed, star anise and cinnamon quill; I often buy a soy candle with this combination and its delightful
yum, i could smell the fragrance in my imagination.
Your soap looks perfect…and it really does look like fudge! So did you use fresh lavender in yours, or dried or lavender oil? Lavender is my favorite scent for soap. 🙂
I bought some lavender oils, though John knows how to extract oils so I might try and get him to make some next summer! c
Pity our laptops and mobile phones don’t take themselves off to be recharged like Boo did. Soap looks good and much easier than I thought 🙂 Well done! That bread looks delicious too. Laura
Morning Laura, I would LOVE my phone to charge itself, those things just don’t stay live ling enough! c
Nothing makes me happier than seeing a creature, Boo this time, all cozy and comfy. Nothing!
Am I wrng to think the lard you used is Charlotte’s contribution and that is why you are calling it Charlotte?
From now on all the soaps will be called charlotte’s soap. I am going to make labels .. she won’t be forgotton.. Does that sounds strange? I hope it does not sound strange.. I am not sure which animal the lard came from though.. unless I rendered it myself there would be no telling really. c
I always thought homemade soup was a huge farkle to make. Well done you!!!
Love that word farkle!! morning misky
You’ve inspired me, I can’t wait to make my own soap but I live in an apartment and the only place I have to make soap would be in my kitchen. You wore goggles and rubber gloves while you made the soap so I wonder whether it wold be OK to make soap in the house?
I made it in the kitchen, no problem at all, just clean up well afterwards.. and keep your lye utensils seperate.. My goggles were my sunglasses!! (don’t tell anyone!) c
Your soaps are so pretty! Boo looks like he needed a nap. He’s just keeping your chair warm. 🙂 The bread looks good enough to eat–your food photography is coming right along.
Minnesota Prairie Roots!!! I am in awe of you!!! Making horseradish is a labor of love for sure! I grew some and it spread like prairie wild fire!!!! I did everything to get rid of it, short of hiring some sheep!!!! They can take care of it for sure!!! LOL I sure wish we were neighbors! I’d love to barter for some of it!!!! 😀 Celi you know some very intersting people! 😉
Wild applause on your success. The bars look so beautiful – I can almost feel the lovely texture.
I heard the “oldsters”talk about making soap and lye when I was very little, but never saw it done.
But I have switched to using “crafted” soaps since the big brands seem to be giving me a rash..maybe I’ll try making some…when it’s cooler.
Well done! (Boo can’t help it…it’s your chair and he needs a hug – net best thing?)
Clever girl. I hope it washes as well as it looks. Boo looks very cosy in your chair.
Don’t work too hard – remember to take 5 bars rest occasionally. Love, V
PS I cooked supper tonight, fish pie – my first meal for two months – and now I’m whacked!
Your soap is BEAUTIFUL. It looks creamy just sitting there. I wonder what “lye” is in italian? I wonder what it is in French? I wanna make this too. Thanks for the inspiration.