The earliest soap was produced by the Babylonians about 2700BC. But, good quality soap did not emerge till the later half of the 17th century. And, the mass production of soap only started after the Industrial Revolution. In this tutorial we will learn how to make soap at home either for personal use or for sale and distribution.

Ingredients required:

• 24 ounces of normal olive oil
• 24 ounces of ordinary coconut oil
• 38 ounces vegetable shortening or vegetable fat
• 12 ounces of lye (sodium hydroxide)
• 32 ounces of distilled water
• 4 ounces of your choice of fragrance
• Safety goggles and gloves
• Weighing scale
• A kettle to heat oil and a glass container to hold the lye
• wooden spoons
• thermometer
• a couple of towels
• soap mold

Method:

Measure 12 ounces of lye, that is, sodium hydroxide, and keep aside. Take about 32 ounces of cold water in a glass container. Now very slowly add the lye to the water while stirring gently. This step is dangerous and should never be done by children. Adding lye to water will generate a lot of heat and fumes. Do not inhale these fumes as they are dangerous. Also make sure you are wearing protective gloves. Use only wooden spoons as plastic will melt and metal could cause unwanted reactions and the resulting soap could be bad for your skin. Once done, set aside and allow the mixture to cool. Take 24 ounces of coconut oil and 38 ounces of vegetable oil shortening (vegetable fat) and pour into a pot. Melt the oil and keep stirring gently all along. Once molten add another 24 ounces of olive oil. When the lye solution and oil solution is at about 35C  add the lye slowly and steadily to the oil mixture. Use a glass vessel as metal, as mentioned above, would cause unwanted reactions. Also use a wooden spoon only. After 10-15 minutes you will notice a change in the texture of the solution. This is called saponification. You will notice the stirring spoon now leaves a trail behind. This is called tracing. Once tracing starts happening add fragrance. Do not use alcohol based perfumes. Use only special fragrances manufactured for making soap, alternatively you can use some natural essential oils. Some oils can cause your soap to set more quickly. Now the mixture will have a thin cream like appearance and the surface will have droplets of soap. Pour the soap solution into molds. Be very careful and always use protective gear including hand gloves and goggles. Raw soap is caustic and will cause burns on the skin. If some soap does splash on you wash under water and then clean with vinegar and then it might still be a good idea to visit your doctor. Cover the molds with a couple of towels and keep it in a place away from air conditioners, winds and sudden changes in temperature for around 18-20 hours. The soap in this stage will generate heat and look like a gel. Now uncover the soap and let it be for another 12 hours. At the end of this time period if all went well you should have soap. If the soap has an oily film on top throw it away in a safe manner as this will be caustic and harmful. I know this can be frustrating but use your head, as you don’t want to burn your skin or someone else’s. Do not use the soap if it hasn’t set at all or has white pockets in it. Good soap might have some white ash like layer on the top but this is perfectly normal and should be scraped away. Only once you have good soap, it is safe to take any sort of metal next to it.

Tips:

• You can apply vasoline to line your molds to make it easier to remove the soap.
• To cut soap into bars use thin nylon strings or a thin wire, this will be much more efficient than a sharp knife.
• Leave the completed soap in a cool and dry environment for about 4-6 weeks before using.
• Do not use the soap if it has small balls of lye in it, or if hasn’t set, or if the oil separated from the soap, as this soap will be harmful and caustic. Find a safe way to dispose it off.
• Never use metal in the soap solution or your soap will definitely go bad.
• Keep lye away from animals and children. Always use safety goggles and gloves. Never inhale the fumes from the reaction. If you get some lye or lye solution on your skin wash it with water and then clean with vinegar. You might also want to consult a doctor.

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