Yesterday i made my first soap - I used the soap cal site to determine my recipe. I included Olive oil, Caster Oil, Coconut and Shea butter. I ended up adding a FO coconut lime. I am not expecting any great out comes but was just learning the process.
i gathered all my ingredients and ended up putting all the oils together in a pot and warmed on the stove. (Our microwave died many months ago and we still haven't replaced it) The only issue i ran into was that my scale would turn off as i was slowly adding so that i could get to a precise measurement. I don't think it thew me off too much.
It was a perfect day to mix the lye outside -- a balmy 20 degrees and a little breezy. I just left it outside in a safe spot to cool. At the same time i had my oils cooling inside and had transferred them from the pot to the glass measuring cup i would use for mixing.
When it came time to combine it seemed to take a few minutes to come to a medium trace. At that point i added my FO and blended/stirred a little more. I could have probably mixed it a little further but ended up pouring at a medium trace. I sprayed with 91% Etoh - That is the highest i could find at my local pharmacy. I know 99% is usually recommended. It did come in a good spray bottle so that was a plus not to have to buy a separate container for that.
I bundled up my mold with a towel in a cardboard box. This was around 1pm. I couldn't help it so i did check on it before bed. It seemed to be hardening!!
We shall see what today brings when i go to unmold and cut.
I thought that i got a small lye burn when pulling off my gloves, but i think it was just a little cut but it burned when i washed my hands.
All in all i think that this is a hobby that i can totally get into. I think because i was being so careful it took about an hour and 15 min to get it all together, poured and cleaned up. It is tough to get into a hobby that take a lot of time when you work full time and have kids to consume your other free time.
I can't wait to see what i can try next!
i gathered all my ingredients and ended up putting all the oils together in a pot and warmed on the stove. (Our microwave died many months ago and we still haven't replaced it) The only issue i ran into was that my scale would turn off as i was slowly adding so that i could get to a precise measurement. I don't think it thew me off too much.
It was a perfect day to mix the lye outside -- a balmy 20 degrees and a little breezy. I just left it outside in a safe spot to cool. At the same time i had my oils cooling inside and had transferred them from the pot to the glass measuring cup i would use for mixing.
When it came time to combine it seemed to take a few minutes to come to a medium trace. At that point i added my FO and blended/stirred a little more. I could have probably mixed it a little further but ended up pouring at a medium trace. I sprayed with 91% Etoh - That is the highest i could find at my local pharmacy. I know 99% is usually recommended. It did come in a good spray bottle so that was a plus not to have to buy a separate container for that.
I bundled up my mold with a towel in a cardboard box. This was around 1pm. I couldn't help it so i did check on it before bed. It seemed to be hardening!!
We shall see what today brings when i go to unmold and cut.
I thought that i got a small lye burn when pulling off my gloves, but i think it was just a little cut but it burned when i washed my hands.
All in all i think that this is a hobby that i can totally get into. I think because i was being so careful it took about an hour and 15 min to get it all together, poured and cleaned up. It is tough to get into a hobby that take a lot of time when you work full time and have kids to consume your other free time.
I can't wait to see what i can try next!
