Step-by-Step Process to Making Your Own All-Natural Bar Soap

Knowing how to make your own all-natural hand soap is a very fulfilling, and addicting, hobby. It's also easy to learn. Here is the process I use for making all-natural bar soap.

When first starting to make all-natural hand soap, it is best to start out with a simple recipe until you get a feel for the process. Simple soap recipes can be found all over the internet. For the purpose of this tutorial, we'll use the following recipe. Always double check any recipe through the use of a soap calculator.

12.0 oz. Coconut oil
12.0 oz. Palm oil
10.0 oz. Olive oil

13.5 oz. Distilled water
5.0 oz sodium hydroxide (lye)

What you'll need to make all-natural soap:
- oils
- distilled water
- lye (sodium hydroxide)
- stainless steel spoon
- large stainless steel mixing bowl
- tall plastic pitcher
- glass or plastic measuring cup
- accurate weigh scale
- accurate thermometer
- soap mold (a shoe box would work)
- stick blender (optional)
- essential oil for fragrance (optional)
- a well ventilated area

Step One: The first step that should be taken is to prepare a mold for your all-natural soap. If you are just starting out, you can use a shoe box lined with plastic wrap or butcher paper.

When making soap, all measurements are done by weight, not volume. A good digital scale works best for this, preferably one that measures in hundredths of an ounce. Also, when you make soap, it is very important to weigh your oils, water and lye. Do not be tempted to guess on amounts. Even if the package gives you a weight, always double check by weighing out your materials yourself.

Step Two: Weigh your water into your tall, plastic pitcher. Set it in your kitchen sink.

Step Three: Next weigh your lye into your measuring cup. Make sure the measuring cup is large enough to hold your lye.

(Safety Note) When working with lye, it is best to follow safe practices and wear protective equipment. Safety glasses, a face mask, gloves and long sleeves will protect you from accidental splashes and fumes from the lye. Working in a well ventilated area is necessary. Lye should not be feared, but it needs to be respected.

Step Four: Once you have weighed out your lye, slowly pour it into the water in the pitcher. Never pour your water into your lye. Mix them together using a stainless steel mixing spoon. Be careful not to splash. It will burn.

(Safety Note) If you do happen to splash some of the lye-water on your skin, douse with vinegar and flush with cool water.

Step Five: Next, weigh out your oils. After each oil is weighed, tare out your scale for the most accurate reading.

Step Six: Melt your oils together using the double boiler method.

A temperature of approximately 100 degrees is ideal for both the lye water and the oils. If you would like to cool them down faster, place your pitcher or your stainless steel bowl in an ice bath.

Step Seven: When your oils and lye have reached the desired temperature, slowly pour your lye water into your oils. If you are using fragrance, you can also add it now. By using natural essential oils instead of man-made fragrance oils, you will maintain the "natural" status of your soap.

Step Eight: Slowly stir together the mixture. You will notice the mixture turning a milky, off white color.

What you are aiming for is what soap makers call "trace". You can recognize trace when your soap leaves a trail when drizzled over the top. (See photo) This is when you are ready to pour your soap into your prepared mold.

If you have a stick blender, this will help you reach trace much quicker. If not, you can stir it by hand. It will take longer to reach trace if stirring your soap by hand, but it will also give you more time to watch how the process works.

Another option is to use the stick blender for short bursts, then mix by hand. Keep alternating until you have reached trace.

Step Nine: Carefully pour your all-natural soap mixture into your mold and cover.

As your oils and lye morph into soap, otherwise known as "saponify", it will generate heat. Wrap your mold in towels to help keep the heat in.

Keep your soap in the mold for 24-48 hours. At this time it should be hard enough to take out of your mold. You should now be able cut your soap into bars.

Let the bars cure for about six weeks in a dry place, allowing air to reach all sides if possible. The smaller you cut the bars, the less time you will need for curing.

After your soap has cured, there will no longer be any lye left in your soap. It is completely safe to use. Enjoy!