How cold process soap is made?

There are different ways of making soap. This includes hot process and melt & pour. The article tells you about the cold process through which natural soap can be prepared. Cold process soap is made without using heat. Saponification is the process for making this handcrafted soap that is done by blending oils and lye of sodium hydroxide. This makes the soap an organic one that is natural. 

Ingredients needed

To explain the soap making process, the soap recipe used is that of an Aloe vera soap. The

You need the following ingredients:

• 1.92 oz lye (6% super fat). This is a strong chemical and you need to handle it with care. Wear rubber gloves and goggles. Ensure there is no contact with your skin.
• 2 oz fresh Aloe Vera (you can extract the gel by pressing the leaf and then blending the extract in a food processor).
• 2.5 oz distilled water.
• 6 oz olive oil.
• 3 oz coconut oil.
• 2 oz sweet almond oil.
• 2 oz shea butter.
• 1 oz castor oil.
• Half teaspoon chlorella powder and 1 tsp French green clay for coloring.
• You can add 10 drops of rosemary oleoresin extract to increase its shelf life. You can add half a teaspoon of sodium lactate to harden the soap.
• A weighing scale.
• A thermometer.
• A soap mold – you can make it using a baking mold or a carton.
• Containers to mix lye and water. Ensure it is waterproof.
• A blender.
• Spoons and a knife to cut the soap.

Steps

1. Sprinkle the lye solution into the distilled water after putting the water in a container.
2. Add the chlorella powder and French green clay.
3. Leave the solution to cool for a little over half an hour. Check the temperature should be around 100 to 115 F.
4. Add the sodium lactate.
5. Mix shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil, and sweet almond oil in a container. To this add rosemary oleoresin. You need to use heat here. Once it is done, cool it to 90 to 115 F.
6. Blend the Aloe gel into the oil mixture using a blender.
7. Now slowly add the lye and water mixture to the oils mixture.
8. Blend the mixture by hand or using a blender. Do it until it reaches trace, which means when you drizzle the soap mixture it leaves a trace and then sinks back.
9. Pour the mixture into the soap mold quickly. Then smooth the top using your spoon. Pick up the mold and tap gently on the table a few times so any air bubbles would be removed.
10. Cover the soap mold, so it remains warm. You will need to leave the mold for around 24 to 48 hours.
11. By this time, the soap would have set. Slice the soap into soap bars. Allow it to cure in the open air for around 4 weeks.

Your handmade soap is now ready to use.

Making cold process soap is fun and you get the pleasure of making your own soap. In case you find the process complicated don’t worry, you can get an all natural soap like Suds.