How to Make Cold Process Soap for Beginners: {with a recipe}

Making cold process soap is an art that allows creativity to flow while creating something useful and beautiful. Whether you are completely new to soap-making or looking to brush up your skills, this guide will take you through a simple and practical approach to crafting your own soap at home.

Understanding Cold Process Soap

Cold process soap making involves mixing oils with lye to create a chemical reaction called saponification, which produces soap. The beauty of this method lies in the endless possibilities of fragrances, colors, and textures you can achieve using a variety of ingredients. For beginners, it's recommended to start with a classic recipe that uses vegetable oils.

Before diving into the process, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the basic terms, tools, and materials used in soap-making.

Essential Tools and Ingredients

To get started with making your cold process soap, gather the following tools and ingredients:

Tools:

• A kitchen scale (for accurate measurements)

• A stick blender (to blend the mixture)

• A thermometer (to check the temperature)

• Soap molds (to define the shape of your soap)

• Soap cutter (for slicing your soap once it's hardened)

• Safety gear (goggles and gloves)

  
  

Ingredients:

• Sodium hydroxide (lye)

• Distilled water

• Vegetable oils (such as olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil)

• Optional: micas and colours, fragrances, and any additional botanicals.

  
  

To find suitable products, you can browse Riverlea Soap's oils and moulds categories.

Safety First: Handling Lye and Soap Making

Safety is paramount when working with lye, a caustic substance that can cause burns if not handled properly. Here are essential safety tips:

1. Wear Protective Gear: Always wear safety goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and skin from lye, long sleeves and an apron.

   
   

2. Work in a Ventilated Area: Perform soap-making in a well-ventilated environment to avoid inhaling fumes.

   
   

3. Add Lye to Water, Not Water to Lye: Always add lye to water slowly to prevent a volcanic reaction. This is crucial for safety.

   
   

4. Keep Children and Pets Away: Ensure that your workspace is free from distractions, especially from children and pets.

   
   

5. Have Vinegar Nearby: Vinegar can neutralize lye spills. Always keep some on hand just in case.

   
   

These precautions ensure your soap-making process is safe and enjoyable.

Step-By-Step Cold Process Soap Recipe

Now that you are familiar with the tools, ingredients, and safety measures, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of making cold process soap.

Step 1: Measure Ingredients

Accurate measurements are critical in soap-making. Use your kitchen scale to measure the following amounts: be sure to run your recipe through a soap calculator and never substitute oils

• 200 grams of olive oil

• 200 grams of coconut oil

• 200 grams of palm oil

• 84.82 grams of sodium hydroxide (lye)

• 190 grams of distilled water

  
  

Step 2: Mix the Lye Solution

In a well-ventilated area, slowly pour the sodium hydroxide into the distilled water while stirring with a heat-resistant spatula until dissolved. The mixture will heat up significantly and release fumes. Set it aside to cool safely.

Step 3: Prepare the Oils

In a separate container, combine the olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil. Heat the mixture until it reaches approximately 38-43 degrees Celsius. A stick blender works well to mix the oils.

Step 4: Combine Lye and Oils

Once both the lye solution and oils are at a similar temperature, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils. Blend them together using the stick blender until you reach "trace." This means that the mixture is thick enough to leave a trail when drizzled over the surface.

Step 5: Add Color and Fragrance

At this stage, you can customize your soap! Add in desired fragrances and colors from Riverlea Soap's fragrances and micas and colours. Stir gently to incorporate them evenly.

Step 6: Pour into Molds

Carefully pour your soap mixture into the molds. Tap the molds gently to remove any air bubbles. If you're using a multi-cavity mold, you can choose to swirl in additional colors here for visual effects.

Step 7: Insulate and Unmold

Cover the molds with a towel or plastic wrap to retain heat. Allow the soap to sit for 24 to 48 hours. Once hardened, gently remove the soap from the molds.

Step 8: Cut and Cure

Using a soap cutter from Riverlea Soap, slice your soap into bars. The bars need to cure for about 4-6 weeks, during which time they will harden and the pH will drop to a safe level.

Sliced soap bars ready for curing

Learning and Growing in Soap Making

One of the joys of soap-making is that there is always something new to learn. As you gain experience, begin experimenting with new techniques, such as layering, including natural additives like herbs, or creating unique shapes. Joining a community or online forum can provide valuable insights and inspiration, making your soap-making journey even more enjoyable.

Whether you are replicating tried-and-true recipes or creating your own signature scents and styles, remember that soap-making is a creative process that allows infinite exploration and expression.

Your Next Steps in Soap Making

Now that you have a comprehensive guide to get started with cold process soap making, it’s time to embrace your creativity. Whether you’re intrigued by the science, the artistry, or simply the joy of crafting something from scratch, this hobby awaits you. With each batch, you’ll discover more about oils, lye, and the endless possibilities that come with crafting your own soap.

So gather your materials from Riverlea Soap's oils, moulds, and have fun creating! Your first batch of homemade soap is just a few steps away. Happy soap-making!