ORGANIC OLIVE OIL SOAP

IES SANTA CATALINA WORKSHOP 30/09/2011

SOME INFO
How Soap is made Soap is made by mixing lye and water with fats or oil. Through a complex chemical reaction lye, which is also called sodium hydroxide, converts Fats or Oil to soap. This process is called saponification. How Soap Cleans Soap cleans by acting as an agent between water and dirt. Soap allows the water to wet the surface that is being cleaned better. In addition, soap grabs dirt and connects it to the water. Soap basically grabs dirt or grease and allows water in to wash it away. This may be an over simplification of the process but it is accurate. Soap does more than just clean. The soap you make using this online guide will contain at least 25% pure glycerin. Glycerin draws moisture to the skin, soothing and lubricating its cells. Most soap sold in stores has had its glycerin removed and sold back to the consumer in other skin care products. Also, most store soaps are actually petrochemical-based detergents, which are good cleansers but are harsh on the skin.

SOAP HISTORY
The First Soap It is recorded that the Babylonians were making soap around 2800 B.C. and that it was known to the Phoenicians around 600 B.C. The Romans and The Celts The first definite and tangible proofs of soap-making are found in the history of ancient Rome. Pliny, the Roman historian, described soap being made from goat's tallow and causticized wood ashes. Soap for personal cleansing became popular during the later centuries of the Roman era. Celts soaps were used for bathing and washing. Perhaps due to increased contact with the Celts by the Romans, using soap for personal cleaning became popular. Its traditional to make soap with olive oil in Jaens villages.

Ingredients
Olive Oil- Almost any natural oil or animal fat can be turned into soap, but Olive oil is the one with the highest quality Lye (NaOH - Sodium Hydroxide) - This is the ingredient that converts the oil or fat to soap. Water - Preferably distilled water or bottled water. Minerals in hard tap water aren't good for soapmaking. Essential and Fragrance Oils - Although not required, they can add a nice fragrance to your soap. Soap Colorants To color the soap. Chromotherapy! Other additives - Oatmeal, spices, herbs etc can also be added to soap at the trace stage.

SOAP RECIPIE

Ingredients best at Room Temperature

700 ml of Olive oil 250 g of Lye (NaOH - Potassium hydroxide) 1 litre of Water 250 g flour to thicken the mixture 1-3 drops of desired fragrance and / or desired color

Fragance and colour are completely optional

Equipment Needed
Pair of safety goggles and a long sleeve shirt or coveralls. (Important) Pair of dish washing gloves. Half gallon Rubbermaid type pitchers (dishwasher safe) one for water, one for lye Sturdy plastic stirring spoons, one for oils, one for lye/water mix. Glass (not aluminum) candy thermometers. Large enameled or stainless pot to melt oils in. (Do not use aluminum pots, only stainless steel or enameled.) Old blanket, preferably wool. (For insulating molds after pouring) Kitchen food scale or postal scale. Molds Strong hands or Kitchen Blender. Your choice!

Caution! Safely Working With Lye (NaOH)

NaOH / Lye is one of the key ingredients in the production of soap. Through a chemical reaction it converts oils and fats to what we know as soap. Lye should be handled in the same way that drains cleaner, bleach or pool chemicals would be handled. If mishandled it can be a dangerous chemical and can cause harm to you and others. Remember these tips to avoid accidents. 1. Never pour water into lye. Always pour lye into the water. (Slowly) If you pour water onto lye it can cause a violent reaction. 2. Secondly, be careful not to splash or spill the lye solution. 3. Keep lye out of the reach of small children.

READY!: Gloves and Googles

How-to Method
Step one - Prepare your molds. Molds can be anything from a greased pan to pie molds. Set up your molds on a flat and level surface and get as many as needed. Step Two - Measure out your water, flour and lye. a) Dissolve the correct amount of lye in one litre of water (Use stainless steel or glass container. Do not pour water into the lye. Pour the lye slowly into the water a little at a time. Stir until dissolved. Your previously cold water will become very HOT in seconds. b) After stirring the lye/water solution, let cool a bit and add the flour dissolved in the other litre of water carefully. The two solutions get mixed after dissolving each separtely.

How-to Method ii

Step Three - Measure and add the mix to the Olive Oil. Make sure the pot that the oil is in is large enough to hold the oil and lye solution with enough room left over for stirring without splattering. (You can use a separate container, but make sure the oil is put first!). Step Four - Pour the lye solution into the oil in a thin, steady, stream with slow, even stirring. Do not splatter the solution onto yourself or others. Continue stirring. The solution will begin to thicken or trace in any moment between 15 minutes to 3 hours. If you are using a slow trace recipe you may want to stir for a few minutes and then let the solution sit for 10-15 minutes and then repeat this process until a trace appears.

Hands on Task

How-to Method iii

Step Five - When the solution begins to thicken you can add any essential oils or fragrances as well as any other additives that you may want to add. (Oatmeal, thyme, rosemary, etc...) Stir these ingredients into the soap mix thoroughly. Step Six - Pour this mixture into your mold(s). After that, you should cover it with a towel to keep the soap from cooling to fast. This will assist the soap in curing. Step Seven - Let the soap harden for a day or two and then pop it out of the mold, cut it and let it age for about 3 weeks before using it.

OUR SOAP

Making in Blender: The tip ;)

Blending your soap mix makes for a much shorter time to the thin trace stage. Instead of 15 - 40 minutes, it might require only minutes or even seconds. Since liquid fat and oils can be used at room temperature, no thermometers are required. The blender effectively whips the lye water into the fats producing a much smoother mixture so the chances of your mix separating are greatly reduced. Your soap bars will be creamier in consistency and should float due to the air that is whipped into the solution.

Making in Blender: Step by Step

Step One - Dissolve the lye in cold water and wait until it cools and the mixture turns clear.

Step Two - Carefully pour the oil and then the lye/water solution into the blender. Be careful not to splash or spill the lye on yourself or others.
Step Three - Lock the blender in position, secure the cover, place a towel over the top of the blender for safety, and process at the lowest possible speed. Make sure you are wearing your goggles when you process the soap mixture and make sure the towel is in place to avoid any accidental splashing of the lye/oil mixture.

Making in Blender: Step by Step ii

Stop the blender and check the soap often to watch for what is called a thin-trace stage. This is when the soap mixture just begins to thicken. Each time you stop the blender, wait a few seconds before removing the cover. Sometimes the soap "burps" when it stops as trapped air comes to the top. At the thin trace stage, stop the blender and stir the soap to check for tracing and to allow bubbles to escape. Step four - At this point you can add any essential oils, colorants or fragrances as well as any other ingredients mentioned before. Blend these in for a few seconds and then stop the blender. Step Five - Pour the soap into individual molds. Cover it with a blanket for insulation. Let the soap set for a day or two and then after popping it out of the molds cut it and let it age for at least three weeks.

Good Reasons To Make Your Own Soap

Home made soap bars can easily outlast their commercial counterparts in quality for considerably less money. You get exactly what you want. You can scent, color or shape the bars. Olive Oil soaps have a 'creaminess' that just can't be duplicated by any of the soaps you find in stores. It is wonderful on your skin as the glycerin is left in the soap. Lye soap can be used to clean just about everything. . There's nothing you can't use it on: skin, stains on clothes, all type of grease problems. Soapmaking is fun and creative. Bars of custom soap make great gifts for friends and family. If you wish you can produce soap for profit. Soapmaking is a good barter able skill which can easily be turned into a profitable business. Soap making is easy and cheap!

ORGANIC OLIVE OIL SOAP

The End

IES SANTA CATALINA WORKSHOP 30/09/2011