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my soap recipe...



for all those i didn't e-mail (helene - i couldn't seem to get thru to
you...?!?!)
here it is:

375g cautic soda (lye)
1kg water
750g coconut oil
1,2kg vegetable shortening
750g olive oil

put coco oil and veg shortening in  a pot and melt over low heat.
then take off heat and add olive oil

put water into bucket (stainless steel pot/container) and wearing
safety goggles and gloves slowly add caustic soda (it will bubble and
boil)

when both mixtures are between 30 - 48 degrees celcius slowy pour the
cautic soda mixture into the oil mixture stirring constantly.

stir the mixture for about 10 mins, until the mixture becomes thick
and creamy (ours was still pretty runny tho').

add any colours, dry ingredients, oils etc. (our best one used
cinnamon oil (just a little bottle) and ground cinnamon)

pour into molds and cover well (we put towels around them - they
should cool slowly)
let stand for 18hrs, uncover and let stand for another 8-12hrs. then
take the soap out of the molds and cut. let dry for a futher 2-3
weeks.

this recipe made about 30 normal sized bars of soap.

here's some hints i got from various replies:
Coconut oil makes the soap hard and lathers well.  The best
soaps include some coconut oil.  Too much makes a brittle soap,
though. 
Try experimenting with other oils: almond oil, peanut oil, etc.  You
can
also make a wonderful milk soap by using milk in place of water in the
same proportions.

Essential oils usually work better than chopped herbs. The lye eats
through organic materials leaving them brown and ugly.  If you like
the
lavender, try it in a re-batch.  Make some plain white soap, let it
harden
a few days.  Cut it into small pieces and heat over very low heat
until it
melts.  Add a tiny bit of water if necessary (not too much!).  Add in
any
oils or herbs and stir well.  Pour into molds.

Very important!! Don't use *any* aluminum with lye (caustic soda).  It
reacts with the lye violently.  This includes teflon, utensils, molds.
tinag@bsw.co.za
South Africa