How-To: Homemade Soap - Recipes

Basic Soaps

Lard Soap- Hand stir method
2 pound recipe

Basic soap

• 1 ½ cups of melted tallow
• ½ cup of olive oil (can substitute with extra tallow)
• 6oz of cold, distilled water
• 4 Tbs. of lye
• molds

Optional:

• essential oils or fragrance oils- about 1 tsp. per pound of fat
• preservative of your choice
• colorant of your choice

1. Prepare the lye solution by adding 4 Tbs.'s of lye to 6oz of distilled water. Stir it constantly until the granules have completely dissolved. Let it sit until cooled to room temperature.
2. Melt the fats and oils together in a large glass or stainless steel container. The fats should also be at room temperature when you mix it with the lye solution. (This can be checked by simply feeling the outside edges of the container. Never dip your fingers in to check.)
3. When both the lye solution and the fats are at room temperature, slowly and carefully pour the lye solution into the fats. Stir immediately and continue to stir for 15 minutes (if you are using grapefruit seed extract as a preservative, this is when you should add it). You can then take a break for 5 minutes, then stir for 5 minutes (the 5-5 method). Do this until the soap mixture traces. This particular soap usually takes an hour. If you are using grapefruit seed extract, the trace time is significantly decreased. Don?t be alarmed, just be ready to pour your soap!
4. At trace, add your essential oils, herbs, or colorants if you choose and make sure to fully incorporate them into the soap mixture.
5. Now you are ready to pour your soap into the molds. Be careful while pouring because the mixture has active lye in it. Insulate your molds and leave them covered for at least 24 hours (old towels or blankets will do quite nicely for this purpose).
6. After 24 hours, unmold you soap and cut into bars if necessary. Store it in a dry place with good ventilation for 2-4 weeks.

Hand Milled Soaps

Lemon Scrubber

This bar is considered to be an abrasive soap and is good for toning the skin and removing dead skin cells. Lemongrass adds a zesty aroma which is uplifting and fresh.

• 1/8 cup of yellow cornmeal
• 2 tsp. of Lemongrass essential oil
• ½ tsp. vitamin E oil
• 3 oz. Water
• 1/3 pd. Grated soap

Lavender Scrubber
This bar is an abrasive soap and is good for toning the skin and removing dead skin cells. The lavender in the bar is antiseptic and soothing. The blue cornmeal in this bar gives it a light lavender color.

• 1/8 cup of blue cornmeal
• 2 tsp. of Lavender essential oil
• ½ tsp. vitamin E oil
• 3 oz. Water
• 1/3 pd. Grated soap

Pumice Soap

This bar contains pumice and is considered to be abrasive. You should not use this particular bar if you have very sensitive skin due to the risk of scratching. Be sure that the pumice you use is very finely ground.

• 1 Tbs. pumice
• 2 tsp. Musk fragrance oil
• ½ tsp. vitamin E oil
• 3 oz. water (replace half the water in the recipe with goat milk or milk)
• 1/3 pd. Grated soap