Cold Process Soap Making Tips!

Cold process soap making is one of the oldest forms of soap making and history shows it dates back hundreds possible thousands of years. There have been many plant and animal extracts, which have been found naturally to have cleansing properties.

From the use of animal fats and caustic alkalise, seaweed and other plants even the centre of some cactus have a natural cleansing property. The most common ingredient that is still used today in cold process soap is caustic alkalise in years gone by this was wood ashes or carbonates from plant ashes but more recently with the discovery of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in the 17th century. This ingredient is the main ingredient to the production of cold process soap and is known world over to soap makers as LYE.

Any cold process soap recipe will include the basic ingredients of lye, distilled water and various fats (this can be animal or vegetable) or a mixture of both.

Any cold process soap recipe will include the basic ingredients of lye, distilled water and various fats (this can be animal or vegetable) or a mixture of both.This then gives you the chance to vary the textures of your soaps and add fragrances and colouring agents, which can be either natural or synthetic. These should be added at trace for the best results.

Contrary to the name Cold process soap making is not a cold process it is a chemical reaction and even though (excluding and ingredients that require melting prior to mixing) it is made with all cold ingredients it reaches temperatures well above boiling point and should there for be made in a safe outdoor environment following all the correct safety procedures and the requirements. Gloves and eye protectors are essential.

The recipes for soaps should be followed precisely e.g. quantities of lye, water and oils. Any experienced soap maker will advise you to be prepared.

Measure all your quantities the night before you intend to make a batch of soap and have all your necessary equipment at hand so you can complete the process without interruption or inconvenience. Always have your distilled water refrigerated before use as to avoid the chemical process getting too hot when you mix the lye with the water.

Children and young adults should only work under adult supervision and using a lye calculator is advised. All cold process soaps require a period to cure and loose their acidic quality after about 24 hours most cold process soap are hardened but not cured and this can take up to 6 weeks depending on the soap, please be aware cold process soaps can still be very acidic until cured completely.