I’ve been making my own soap for quite a while now, using both the cold process and the hot process with a crockpot. At first, it might seem daunting to make your own soap, but everyone I know who gives it a try finds it surprisingly simple.
Both methods involve using water, lye, and a mix of oils, with the hot process adding an extra step of heating the mixture to speed up saponification, creating soap faster. There are pros and cons to each method: hot process is quicker, whereas cold process results in a smoother texture, although both are great for my skin.
I’ve dabbled a bit with a third method: melt and pour soap bases like cocoa butter or goat’s milk. These don’t require lye and are quicker and easier for those who want to skip the chemistry side of things. You can still add essential oils, clays, and other natural ingredients, but I prefer controlling the oil ratios, so I stick with hot or cold processes.
Melt and pour soap is perfect for beginners who are wary of using lye. However, I’ve found that making soap from scratch is the most cost-effective and natural way. In my original recipe, I mentioned that lye is a reagent, meaning it triggers a chemical reaction to create something new. In soap making, a specific water-lye mixture is combined with oils in a process called saponification. There’s no leftover lye in properly made soap, so while you need to handle unreacted lye with care, don’t shy away from this time-honored tradition. Use a soap calculator to get the right balance of water, lye, and oils.
If you’re looking for lye, some hardware stores carry it, but many no longer do. I couldn’t find it locally, so I ordered it online. A small independent hardware store might also be able to special order it for you. I’m now comfortable using lye, taking necessary precautions and ensuring kids aren’t around when I’m making soap. Always remember to add lye to water, not the other way around, to avoid any dangerous reactions.
As for adding clay and charcoal to soap, I was a bit uncertain at first but found they don’t leave any residue and are perfect for oily or acne-prone skin due to their antibacterial and toxin-removing qualities. Although I initially created these as body soaps, I now love using them as gentle facial cleansers. They’re a great complement to my oil cleansing routine when I need a quick face wash.
I include activated charcoal powder and bentonite clay in my recipes, which also helps extend the soap’s lifespan. I use SoapCalc.net to figure out the ideal oil ratios and highly recommend it, especially for beginners. I chose a mix of coconut, olive, and castor oils and used a digital scale to precisely measure by grams, ensuring no leftover lye and full saponification. Here are the tools and supplies I keep handy for soap making:
While this soap might leave some residue in the shower over time, it’s easy to clean with a quick wipe down using microfiber cloths. Have you tried making your own soap? How did it go for you?
