First batch recipe needed!

[fightingirish]

Hi guys! I'm new here and brand new to soap making. I've read quite a bit about the process and I think I'm ready for my first batch of soap. Does anyone have a good basic recipe for me to try out? I have fairly dry skin and I like a good amount of lather. I also would like a fairly short cure time (I'm impatient) at least for my first batch. I'd like to stay away from animal fats too. I know, that's a lot to ask for my first batch! Thanks in advance for the assistance!

 

[smeetree]

This is considered an old stand by and great starter recipe.

http://www.summerbeemeadow.com/content/classic-3-oils-soap-recipe

You can add a little castor oil and 1tsp sugar for bubbles.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I would go for

20% coconut oil
35% olive oil
45% palm oil

Soaps pretty much need 4 weeks cure as a minimum. Can be used before then, but the performance - including not drying the skin and creating more bubbles - comes with a cure. Some soaps need longer, others (castiles - 100% olive oil soaps) need 6 months at least!

 

[fightingirish]

Thanks for the suggestions! I got my oils and lye ordered and waiting for their arrival. I just built a wooden soap mold!

 

[Susie]

That recipe from SummerBeeMeadow is very high in coconut oil, and will be drying. I would use the one Effy said, or something with lard(I LOVE lard in soap!)

Lard 55%
Coconut oil 20%
Olive oil 20%
Castor oil 5%

This gives a rich, conditioning soap that is well behaved. If you don't have castor oil, just add 5% to the olive oil.

 

[fightingirish]

What about crisco? Would I use the same amount of crisco as lard?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

You could - just be sure to recalculate the lye needed when you change a recipe.
I say 'could' because some people find that the crisco doesn't perform as well as palm or lard does

 

[Seawolfe]

I used crisco on one of my early soaps, I think it turned out nicely. I also learned that I like lard better, and I'm not a big fan of palm. This is all a process, learning what you like, and what works best for you.

 

[Susie]

I was seriously underwhelmed with Crisco as a soap ingredient. And in every single blind test I inflicted on my family, lard won. I ended up donating the Crisco (and also Great Value shortening)soap batches to the local shelter. No one wanted to use them, including me.

If you have reasons not to use animal fats, substitute palm oil for the lard. Just recalculate. And be sure your superfat is set at 5% for your first batch. You can experiment with superfat amounts on later batches. Just get a first batch under your belt to have something to compare other batches to. Be sure to try the soap once a week while it cures so you can learn the difference a good cure makes.

 

[fightingirish]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll just go with the palm, olive and coconut oils for my first batch. Just got my lye delivered today, so Monday I'll be soapin' away! (I work all day tomorrow.)