Lye?

[mappam564]

We moved to Ecuador and I FINALLY found some lye! But the container says 98% Sodium Hydroxide - not 100%.

Can I still use this and will it react the same? Or is there an adjustment I can make. I can not find out what the other 2 % is - label doesn't say!

Also I have been able to find Sunflower oil, coconut oil (not the "lotion" consistency but a real oil??), lard - both beef and pork and olive oil.

Anyone know of a good recipe using these oils?

THANKS for any and all info or help you may be able to offer! I am struggling to find ingredients here and happy that I have found what I did.

 

[snappyllama]

Howdy and welcome!

If your CO is liquid, is it in a hot area? Most CO melts at 76F. Will it harder up below 76F? If not, you probably have fractionated CO. I think you'd want to save that for lotions/massage oils.

You really cannot go wrong with a high lard recipe. I LOVE Susie's recipe: 55% Lard, OO 20%, CO 20%, 5% Castor. I SF at 5-7% depending on who my target audience is. Castor gives lovely bubbles. If you cannot get Castor (check a pharmacy), I'd put the remaining 5% as more olive. You could also do a 5-10% sunflower in place of some of the liquid oils, I wouldn't go much higher than that though.

 

[RogueRose]

We moved to Ecuador and I FINALLY found some lye! But the container says 98% Sodium Hydroxide - not 100%.

Can I still use this and will it react the same? Or is there an adjustment I can make. I can not find out what the other 2 % is - label doesn't say!

Also I have been able to find Sunflower oil, coconut oil (not the "lotion" consistency but a real oil??), lard - both beef and pork and olive oil.

Anyone know of a good recipe using these oils?

THANKS for any and all info or help you may be able to offer! I am struggling to find ingredients here and happy that I have found what I did.

The Lye is fine. Most lye isn't 100% pure and I'll be 98% is very close to food grade.

As far as a recipe, you need to tell us what you want the soap for and who is using it (their skin type/needs)

Just remember that Sunflower, Olive and Lard have ZERO cleansing properties while Coconut has a factor of about 67/100 and Tallow 8/100.

 

[mappam564]

I have no idea what to expect here - the elevation is 8400 ft and some of the soap I made in the USA acts a little differently than it does here.

Of course when I grabbed the bars I didn't pay attention as to what recipe I used for which ones LOL.

I want creamy with lather.

The coconut oil may be the fractionated - I have NO IDEA - my Spanish needs a LOT of work! It is clear and smells like coconut. Does that help??

I can also get almond oil.

Thanks for the LYE info - I will try a batch using the same amount I would have used in the States. I will start with a small batch and find out - can't hurt to try!

Recipe ideas would be most welcome! Anyone live at a higher alt that has seen a difference in the way different recipes work?

THANKS again!

 

[Susie]

Use the recipe Snappyllama gave. Add 1 tsp sugar/PPO. That is creamy with lather. I don't live at high elevation, but you may have harder(or softer) water than you are accustomed to.

Be sure you run that recipe through a lye calculator.

 

[marilynmac]

Anyone live at a higher alt that has seen a difference in the way different recipes work?

THANKS again!

I'm at 10,000 ft now, but started soapmaking at sea level. The difference I see is that the soap tends to volcano (and maybe gel) at a lower temp. Like water will boil at a much lower temp up here.

 

[mappam564]

Susie - I am having a senior moment = ppo?? How much sugar to a pound of soap (example as I am starting with a really small batch as a test).

Marilyn - what is your favorite recipe NOW at this alt?

Have any of you tried "crisco" type veg oil? I found some at a local grocery store yesterday. I need to go to a really local market for the tallow/lard and will do that next week.

I love soap making but had no idea how hard it would be to "translate" here in Ecuador! I can't wait to try!

Thanks again for all the tips and info! Pam

 

[Luv2Soap]

Use the recipe Snappyllama gave. Add 1 tsp sugar/PPO. That is creamy with lather. I don't live at high elevation, but you may have harder(or softer) water than you are accustomed to.

Be sure you run that recipe through a lye calculator.

I'll third this. Susie's recipe is awesome - just like her

 

[mappam564]

Hmmm I need to see if I can find Castor here?

This starting over is a pain! I had all kinds of oils in the States - but couldn't bring them with. I really miss my Emu oil as I loved this in lotion! I almost cry when I think of all the fragrance/essentials I had to leave behind!!

Can I modify this recipe WITHOUT using the castor? What would you change?

I can't thank you all enough for the help - I really DO feel like a newbie!

We were in Hot Humid Florida now in the mountains of Ecuador! It is cool all the time and not very humid - so it is like starting all over again!

 

[Susie]

PPO=per pound of oil. If you are using 32 oz/1 kg(by weight) of oils, you need 2 tsp sugar.

Castor oil just stabilizes the lather. You can probably find it in a local pharmacy by the laxatives(old time remedy), but if you can't find it, just add that 5% to either the OO or the lard. Your choice.

 

[marilynmac]

mappam - At this altitude, I stay away from additives like goat's milk, sugar, food, and anything else that might cause overheating. I use a lot of sustainable palm, lard, and CO. Basic soap has not been a problem.

 

[mappam564]

Thanks Susie - I will check the pharmacies and see if it is available here.

 

[mappam564]

Mar - thanks - didn't see your post when I answered Susie!