Supply List:

1 thermometer

2 Pyrex or heatproof jugs (not metal) 1 large 1 medium size

1 spatula

Empty jam jar with lid 

Protective Rubber gloves

Protective Face mask

Protective eye goggles

Silicone moulds

Stick blender

 

Ingredients:

199g Water

133g Caustic Soda (sodium hydroxide) 

950g Extra Virgin Olive Oil

50g Coconut Oil

 

Ensure your work area is protected using paper if you are worried about spilling the corrosive caustic soda and protective gloves are worn.

 

Note, all ingredients need to be measured by weight and not measured in millilitres.

 

**Safety tips**

Never ever touch lye solution with your bare hands, it will burn. If you do get some on your skin, run under cold water for at least 10 minutes.

 

Seek medical attention immediately if you get any lye solution in your eyes.

 

Do not leave your lye solution to cool where a child or pet could access it.

 

METHOD:

Wearing the gloves first weigh out the water to the medium jug. Now using the jam jar weigh the caustic soda place lid on and set asside.

 

With all protective items donned we make the lye solution by adding the caustic soda to the water whilst slowly stirring with spatula to dissolve crystals. You will notice steam/gas occurring, hence the mask.

 

Add the thermometer and set aside in a safe place until solution has cooled to below 45°C.

 

Measure out the olive oil into the large jug and then zero out scales and add coconut oil, if coconut oil is not in liquid form simply microwave to dissolve.

 

With the stick blender turned off in the jug of oil, carefully add the lye solution and stir with blender, once all lye solution added slowly blend together for approximately 1 minute until emulsified. You may notice that the oil is visible on top of the mixture indicating that emulsification has not yet occurred.

 

Remember to TURN OFF the blender when removing it from the mixture for checking purposes, keep blending and stirring until you can see a trace on top as it dribbles.

 

Pour the mixture into the moulds using a spatula for scraping out if necessary. Cover and set aside for 24hrs to jell.

 

Remove from moulds and place onto metal cooling trays. The soap is white, no longer yellow.

Let cure for 1 month before we see the bubbles.