Okay, so here’s the deal. I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making soap for ages. Finally got around to it! The title, “dream of fragrant soap,” is kinda cheesy, I know, but I was really hoping for some amazing scents.
First, I did a bunch of research. Watched a ton of YouTube videos, read some blogs, you know the drill. I decided to start with a simple cold process soap recipe. Seemed like the safest bet for a beginner like me. Gathered all my supplies – lye (scary stuff!), olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, distilled water, essential oils (lavender and peppermint, for that dream fragrance!), and some colorants.
Next up, safety first! Goggles, gloves, long sleeves – the whole shebang. Lye can burn you bad, so I took extra precautions. I carefully measured out the lye and slowly added it to the distilled water, stirring constantly. This part gets hot, like really hot! And the fumes are not pleasant, so I made sure to do this in a well-ventilated area.
While the lye solution was cooling down, I melted the oils and shea butter in a separate pot. Once both the lye solution and the oils were at the right temperature (around 100-110°F), I slowly poured the lye solution into the oils, stirring constantly with an immersion blender. This is where the magic happens, folks! The mixture starts to thicken, and you’re aiming for “trace,” which is when you can drizzle the mixture across the surface and it leaves a faint trail.
Now for the fun part! I added the essential oils and colorants, stirred them in well, and poured the mixture into a silicone mold. Tapped the mold on the counter to release any air bubbles and covered it with a towel to insulate it. This helps the soap go through saponification, which is the chemical reaction that turns the oils and lye into soap.
Then comes the waiting game. I let the soap sit in the mold for about 24 hours. After that, I unmolded it and cut it into bars. The soap was still soft at this point, so I had to be careful not to squish it. I placed the bars on a wire rack to cure for 4-6 weeks. This allows the excess water to evaporate, making the soap harder and milder.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the soap was ready! I tested it out, and… it was actually pretty good! It lathered well, felt nice on my skin, and had a subtle lavender and peppermint scent. It wasn’t exactly the “dream fragrance” I was hoping for, but hey, it was a first attempt!
Lessons Learned:
- Definitely need to be more precise with the essential oils next time. I think I was a bit too timid with them.
- Experiment with different colorants. The colors turned out a bit muddy.
- Patience is key! The curing process is crucial for a good bar of soap.
All in all, it was a fun and rewarding experience. I’m already planning my next batch! Thinking of trying a different recipe and maybe adding some herbs or exfoliants. Stay tuned!
