african black soap analized
This apparently is a recipe from
http://www.soapmakingsuccess.com/articl ... ecipe.aspx :
It seems the soap is made with a very low concentration lye solution... it would probably contain a high concentration superfat... unsaponified oil.... included in the floating scum... soap scooped of the top... that would be why this soap is described as super mild to skin...
It seems one can control all of these qualities much better with a well worked out and balanced soap calculator recipe...
What is interesting is the actual very old and interesting historic technique... And it is important that knowledge of this technique remains... but as to if soap made in this method is necessarily better I do not believe so.
a well made well superfatted and balanced soap recipe made with exactly the required amount of storebought lye leaving no extra lye washed down the drain seems less wasteful than this recipe requires.
Step 1
Strip the coconuts of their husk. Pack the husks into a hand press and replace the top.
Step 2
Press down and force the palm oil from the husk fiber. This may require considerable strength.
Buy Palm or Coconut Oil already processed......
Step 3
Remove the cocoa beans from the cocoa pods and burn them until they are ash.
Step 4
Burn the shea bark and plantain skins until only ash remains.
Step 5
Add water to the ashes and filter through a fine strainer. Make certain no large pieces of bark remain after the water solution is filtered.
This is a traditional method for preparing Lye... http://www.lifeunplugged.net/everything ... d-ash.aspx
make a weak lye solution yourself.... guess the concentration... basically what it comes down to....
Step 6
Place the palm oil in a double boiler and leave until hot. Add in the ash water from the cocoa pods, shea bark and plantain skins. Cook over low heat.
Step 7
Stir the mixture frequently until completely melted and smooth. The soap should begin to foam and rise to the surface of the boiler.
Whatever soap forms in saponification with whatever lye amount is present in the mixture floats to the top... the soap is the scum floating on top...
Step 8
Add to the mixture any additional ingredients of your choosing, such as essential oils.
Step 9
Scoop off the hot soap mixture as it rises to the surface of the double boiler. Place the hot soap onto a cooling table.
Step 10
Pour the cooled, but not yet formed, soap mixture into a mold and allow it to continue cooling. Once the soap has cooled completely, it will harden into the shape of your mold.
Step 11
Allow the hardened soap to cure for at least two weeks before use.
Normal curing of soap... scooped from soap pot surface...
African Black soap is not that exotic at all... very old technique to do exactly what we modern soap makers are doing in a much more controlled and formulated way...
