Why Soap?
I have a strong desire to consume and use natural and healthy products. I initially started with foods. Once I started feeling better and witnessing the benefits, I started looking to add other natural products to my life. My initial foray was buying soap and shampoo bars at local farm markets. My gosh, so many wins there, including:
- Elimination of unneeded chemicals from my home and body
- Remove artificial colors and fragrances
- Reduced packaging and less plastic to dispose
Besides all of those positives, I loved the way my hair felt and looked. From there, I started thinking, “Why couldn’t I make my own soap? I might even learn a thing or two along the way.” I researched a few things and I figured the simplest way to wade into the process was to start with soap base and add homemade elements. While this was not “real” soap making, I thought it was a good place to start and help me learn. So, that is what I decided and here is how that experience went.
Preparation
I ordered a silicone mold, soap base and lavender essential oil. You can purchase all of these items on the internet or at a hobby store, if you prefer to shop in person. The soap base is available in 2 pound blocks in either glycerine (clear) or milk base (creamy). I was able to find responsibly sourced ingredients. I bought a double boiler from a resale shop. In addition to these purchased materials, I harvested some lavender from my garden and lemons from the fruit bowl. Technically, I purchased those too, I guess. No colorings since I wanted to keep it as natural as possible.
Process
I left the lavender cure inside for a couple of days. Then, I dried it and the lemon rind gratings in our counter-top oven at a low temperature for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, I separately crushed the lavendar and lemon as best I could into a powder. From here, I worked in two batches. For the first batch, I melted the soap base, added the lavender and essential oil. Once incorporated, I filled each mold halfway. In the second batch, I used soap base, lemon rind, lemon oil and turmeric for color and poured into the top half of the molds. I let the molds set for a couple of hours. Then, I popped them out of the molds and I had lemon-lavender soap. Cool!
Learning
Using soap base is a simple option. A batch of soap may be completed in less than an hour and will not need to cure. The base already contains the lye and is cured, which makes it a safe option and kid-friendly. You may add colorings, oils and other ingredients directly to the melted base, pour into molds and use the next day.
My soap had ground up lavender that acts as an exfoliant in the soap, which you may or may not like. I do enjoy the texture, but I will be more careful in the future to grind additives as finely as possible. The scent is nice, but not overpowering, which I like. Overall, I have enjoyed using my creation.
Next Time
I bought enough base for two batches. Next batch may be something more herbal like rosemary or basil, since I grow those plants at home. I am planning to create my own essential oils for use in the product, so I need to figure out how to do that as well. I also plan to experiment with natural colorants, much like I did this past time with the turmeric. That worked rather well. The goal of the next batch will be to pave the way to making soap from the ground up using lye. I will add a blog when I complete my next batch. Until then, think about a household product you currently purchase that you may be able to make right at home.