1 lb Soap base of your choosing (suspension-friendly) 4 oz rolled oats (can add more or less to suit your tastes) 1. 5 tsp almond oil (optional) 2 oz roasted almonds (optional) 1 to 2 tbsp honey (optional) Pot and/or heat-proof container for melting soap Large bowl or measuring cup for mixing Whisk or spoon for mixing Soap mould or pan measuring roughly 9 x 4 inches Wax paper or parchment paper (optional)
Soap bases are often called “melt-and-pour” soap bases by crafters, since all you need to do is melt down the base, add your ingredients, pour it into a mould, and then let it cool. If a soap base isn’t easy for you to obtain, you can also purchase a regular bar of soap and just melt it down, add the oats, and let it cool. Any soap bar will do, although one with higher-quality ingredients will make your skin feel nicer.
If you use metal or plastic containers that aren’t specifically made for soap, be sure to line them with wax paper or parchment paper before pouring your soap into them. This will make it much easier for you to remove the soap once it’s cooled. Some soap-makers even line their professional soap moulds. This helps prevent the soap from getting stuck in the corners of rectangular and square moulds. If you’re using moulds with more detailed shapes, you won’t want to line them as this will obscure the design.
If you’re using a food processor, it will likely take between 5 and 10 minutes to get the oats down into a fine powder.
If you’re using a food processor it will likely take another 5 to 10 minutes to get the almonds ground down into a fine powder.
You can also melt the soap base down in the microwave. For this option, you’d put it in a heat-proof container (ceramic or glass) and then microwave in short intervals (probably a minute at first, then 15 to 30 seconds at a time) until it’s completely melted. For all three options, be sure to stir the soap constantly to make sure it’s fully melted and doesn’t get scorched. If using the microwave, take the soap out and stir it in between intervals.
If you’re also adding honey and almond oil to the mixture, add these wet ingredients to the melted soap before you add the oats/oat-almond mixture. This will ensure the liquids are evenly distributed. This is the point at which you can add any other ingredients you’d like to add to the mixture. Common ingredients that soap-makers like to add to their bars include vitamin E oil, essential oils (lavender and orange blossom are popular scents), and poppy seeds (alone, not with oats).
You might even score the block of soap before cutting it, just to ensure the blocks are fairly even. If you have a metal ruler, you can use this to help you draw lines on the soap block with your knife.
If you’re giving the soap away as a gift, make it look extra fancy by wrapping it in parchment paper and tying it with twine.
6 oz distilled water 2. 25 oz pure lye (aka sodium hydroxide) 10 oz olive oil 6 oz coconut oil 0. 45 oz (1 tbsp) castor oil Oats
Safety goggles Thick, long rubber gloves Face mask Scale that can weigh items down to 0. 25 oz Digital food thermometer 2 Heat-proof 32 oz (4 cup) glass measuring cups Plastic, ceramic, or glass bowl Plastic or silicon stirring spoon Container or mould for soap (lined cardboard box will do) Plastic bag, cling wrap, or wax or parchment paper (for lining the mould) Knife
Regardless of whether you’re using a proper mould, a plastic container, or a box, line it with some cling wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper to make the soap easier to remove once it’s cooled.
If lye gets on your skin, brush off any solid material and flush with water or saline for 15 to 30 minutes, remembering to protect your eyes. [6] X Research source If it gets in your eyes, flush them with lots of water for a minimum of 15 minutes. [7] X Research source Inhaling lye can cause breathing difficulties. Many soap makers only use gloves and goggles, but really you should be wearing a mask, too. [8] X Research source
You can also make your own distilled water by boiling tap water in an enclosed container that is connected to another container. The steam rises from one container and condenses into the other one, forming distilled water. [9] X Research source
You should NEVER add water to lye. Adding water to lye will cause a strong reaction, with the solution erupting up out of the container, possibly causing injury to you. If you want to reduce the cooling time of the water-lye solution (remember, it’ll generate heat!), you can start with cold distilled water.
Place the cup in a saucer of simmering hot water, or microwave it in 30-second intervals until the oils have all melted together. Only heat the oils to the point of melting. You want to avoid them being too hot, otherwise it’ll slow your process down as you want the oils and your lye water to be the same temperature when you mix them.
Use the digital thermometer to ensure that this is the case before mixing them together. Make sure that you mix the oils and lye water while they’re still warm, otherwise they won’t mix together as well. Closer to 110 degrees Fahrenheit is preferable.
You should be able to lift the hand mixer or whisk out of the mixture, and the drippings should appear on the surface of the mixture rather than disappearing right into it. You can also check the mixture’s temperature to make sure it’s ready to go. If it has risen a couple of degrees Fahrenheit from when you last checked it (i. e. when you combined the oils and lye water), you’re doing well. [11] X Research source
For the best skin-soothing results, use colloidal oatmeal, which is simply oatmeal that has been ground into a fine powder. You can make it yourself simply by grinding regular porridge oats into an even, fine powder using a coffee grinder. [12] X Trustworthy Source DermNet NZ Online clinical resource website written and run by dermatologists providing evidence-based information about dermatology and skin health Go to source If you don’t have a coffee grinder, you can also grind the oats up manually using a mortar and pestle, or by crushing them with a rolling pin.
Be sure to wear your protective gear because the lye will not have completely neutralized at this point, and can still cause you harm. If your soap looks crumbly, crusty, or has liquid or powder floating on top of it, you’ll need to throw it out and start again. If you’ve followed this recipe exactly, though, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Allowing the soap to “cure” will give it time to harden, dry out, and become more gentle as the pH of the soap lowers over time. A bar of soap that hasn’t been properly cured will feel softer, slimier, and stronger than a well-cured one. [14] X Research source
