Simple Soapmaking
Castile Soap:
A Simple Guide to Making Natural Soap
Pure Castile soap is made of only two ingredients: olive oil and sodium hydroxide. Don't worry, there won't be any sodium hydroxide left when the soap is fully made! It all reacts with the olive oil to produce sodium olivate, which is Castile soap.
Ingredients
- Required:
- 400g olive oil
- 50g sodium hydroxide (lye)
- 140g water
- Optional:
- 12g essential oils
- Colourants
Method
1. Safety First:
- Wear safety equipment: long sleeves, trousers, closed shoes, gloves, goggles.
- Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling any fumes.
2. Prepare Ingredients:
- Weigh out all your ingredients in separate containers.
3. Mix Sodium Hydroxide and Water:
- Slowly tip the sodium hydroxide into the water and stir gently until fully dissolved. (Caution: Never pour water into sodium hydroxide! Always add sodium hydroxide to water to avoid a dangerous reaction.)
4. Combine with Olive Oil:
- Once the sodium hydroxide solution is ready, pour it into the olive oil and stir.
5. Blend to Trace:
- Use a stick blender to mix until the soap thickens. It’s ready when the
blender leaves a slight trace or mark when lifted.
6. Add Optional Ingredients:
- Stir in essential oils and colourants if desired. Blend for a few more seconds if necessary.
7. Mould and Insulate:
- Pour the mixture into moulds. Wrap them to keep warm overnight.
8. Remove and Cure:
- The next day, carefully remove the soap from the moulds. If needed, slice the soap into bars.
- Place the bars in a well-ventilated area, such as a drying rack, to cure for 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, the soap will harden and any remaining moisture will evaporate, improving its quality.
Safety Note:
In case of contact with sodium hydroxide, rinse the affected area with plenty of cold water immediately. Avoid using vinegar or other acids, as these can cause a dangerous exothermic reaction.
