Herbal Garden Homemade Cold Pressed Soap

"Herbal Garden Cold Pressed Handmade Soap!

I recently decided to get my old fashioned homemaking skills on and try cold pressed homemade soap!  It worked!  It has a lovely scent of rosemary, lavender and peppermint.  It was so satisfying to make!

Before making soap be sure to read through all directions carefully and visit www.pinemeadows.net (this is the place I got my ingredients from)

You will need:
One large glass bowl or heat resistant plastic bowl (for lye)
One very large metal pot for gently heating oils
One scale (preferably electric)
One electric blending stick or wooden spoon
One instant read thermometer
Rubber Gloves
Goggles
Newspaper/paper towels to put down on your counter to protect it from lye
molds to pour soap (I used a cardboard box lined with a large garbage bag)
Vinegar, in case lye gets on your skin and you need to relieve the burn

Ingredients:
40 oz. coconut oil
32 oz. palm oil
24 oz. olive oil
12 oz. canola oil
4 oz. cocoa butter
16 oz. lye (sodium hydroxide)
52 oz. distilled water
1.5 oz essential oils (optional)

Put on your gloves and goggles with newspaper under the counter to protect it from the chemical reaction between lye and water.

*Warning!!! Always add lye to liquid, NOT liquid to lye!!!

Measure by weight in your scale the right amount of water, put it into bowl, then measure lye and carefully add to water. Mix with wooden spoon thoroughly, (be careful of fumes) and set aside.

Measure oils by weight and place in pot over a very low heat just until melted. You can use the blending stick to help break up the oils. Be careful to do it slowly and do not raise temp higher than lye temp mixture.

Check the temp of both lye and oil separately of course. When both are in between 125`- 100` then they are ready to come together. (Keep then as close together in temp as possible) Carefully add your lye mixture to the oil mixture without splashing. (I actually used a very large 6 gallon bucket) Start to mix thoroughly with blending stick or wooden spoon, (perfect time to add essential oils) until it starts to trail (leaving a trail of soap behind when it drizzles off the spoon). It will harden quickly! When this happens it is ready to pour, again be careful not to splash. Cover soap with plastic wrap and blankets to keep from cooling to quickly. Soap should be ready to cut within 24-48 hours. Once cut stack on a cooling rack allowing for air flow. Do not use soap for 4-6 weeks while it cures. Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions. ! :)