Salt Bar Recipe Question

[Guywithsoap?]

Hi,

I am looking to make a salt bar. Would I be correct in thinking that i could make a normal Olive Oil soap ( Olive Oil, Water, Lye) and add the salt at trace?

I want to make sure that I add the salt at trace and not before.

Thanks

Also, what kind of salt does everyone use: Sea Salt, Kosher Salt?

 

[Jezzy]

You are going to want to use a high Coconut Oil recipe, Coconut is the only oil that is going to give you bubbles with salt. (I don't think Olive Oil would work for a salt bar) I use 100% CO and 20% SF I love using pink himalayan salt. If I don't have on hand I will use a normal sea salt or just table salt..
I ad the salt at a medium trace so it doesn't sink.

I love salt bars!

When you make it keep your eye on it. You have to cut quick! like after 1-2 hours of pouring. It is still warm!

 

[nup]

I made a salt bar using 60% olive and 40% coconut. About a year later it doesn't lather much but it is very conditioning. I used sea salt at about 70% I think. I love it in the shower! HTH

 

[Bama]

I would love to make some salt bars they sound wonderful. Where do I find a recipe please

 

[Araseth]

I would love to make some salt bars they sound wonderful. Where do I find a recipe please

Try first with Jezzy's recipe, I use the same. Add salt at trace equal to 100% of the weight of oils. See how you like that and then if you're not happy you can change the salt weight or add some castor etc to make the recipe suit your needs.

To answer the Guywithsoap?'s question I use marine salt from justasoap. I used to just use table salt but I read the marine salt description and it sounded so lovely, not sure it makes a difference though hehe.

 

[Guywithsoap?]

Is a 100 percent Olive Oil soap not going to work?

I do not have any coconut oil and cannot see getting any for the foreseeable future. The only stuff i see in stores is really expensive organic stuff. Shipping from most of the soap suppliers for soap grade coconut oil is pricey.


Would a salt/olive oil soap not work at all?

 

[Jezzy]

Go ahead and get the organic! Oo is expensive too. No. I don't think it would work! Because of the salt you don't need much oil. Castor won't help it lather either. To make it more conditioning i use yoghurt.

 

[Jezzy]

Oh... I would start out at 75% salt That is really nice too!

 

[Araseth]

I was only suggesting castor from the smf tutorial page http://www.smftutorials.com/how-to-make-salt-soap.html

This is how I made my first salt soap and I used a 100% salt, I just thought it would be a good starting place rather than a lower percentage it is a personal preference though

I'm not sure where you live but I ran out of coconut oil the other day and managed to get some cheap from a tiny ethnic food store. I had to look around though and it came in a bottle...going to have to heat it up before measuring hehe.

 

[Jezzy]

You can add castor. I did my first batch too. I just personally don't think it adds much. Salt bars can be tricky finding the right time to cut. My first batch was 75% salt and that gave me a little more time to find the right time to cut. I make 100% too and I have to watch it like a hawk. I literally had to cut al a little under an hour. 100% is my fav too!

 

[Dragonkaz]

I'm also keen to make salt soap ... and I'm curious about when to add the EO/FO's. Do you add it before adding the salt?

Thanks for the good advice above.

 

[falldowngobump]

My salt bar was mostly coconut oil, olive oil and castor oil. I used fine sea salt at about 70%. I added the fragrance before I added the salt, it gets thick fast once you add the salt. I also superfatted to 20%--I usually superfat at 7% for my normal soap. It hardens very fast and I used individual molds so I wouldn't have to try to cut it into bars. Good luck using the olive oil!

 

[Jezzy]

I add the fo/oo before the salt. Usually to the oils before the lye. Depending on the fo.

 

[ctay122]

I believe that coconut oil is the only oil that will lather with salt. I have seen coconut oil in the grocery store (Though I order mine from Soapers Choice, 7 lb at a time). The stuff in the store is not that expensive if you're only making a batch or two. The brand I have in my pantry is Spectrum Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. They have refined ($7.29) and unrefined ($8.99). It comes in a 14 fl oz jar. I use a recipe I found on the internet and have made 4 logs now. I use a 2 lb wood log mold. Here is a link to the recipe. It really doesn't use alot of coconut oil, and it does use avocado oil and castor.

http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2008/07/ ... works.html

I found fine sea salt at Costco for $2.79 for 30 oz. I might try to find a medium grade and see how it does. So far I just love how it's turned out. However, as far as the recipe above, I have left the log in my oven for 2 hrs and 20 minutes. Once I take it out, I let it cool about another 20 minutes and then it's ready for cut. But everyone's oven is different so you just have to watch it. Some people don't use an oven, but I tried this recipe first and it's worked for me.

I'm curious as to how long people let their salt bars cure.

They are fun to make and look really cool. I can't wait to try it!

 

[kelleyaynn]

I've read on this forum that you should let the soap cure at least 3 months or so. I couldn't wait and tried one of mine after about 5 - 6 weeks. The lather is fantastic, so I don't think you HAVE to wait that long. The soap should get milder as it ages, but I figure the batch I made will have me in in salt soap for several months, so I'll see.

 

[ctay122]

I've read on this forum that you should let the soap cure at least 3 months or so. I couldn't wait and tried one of mine after about 5 - 6 weeks. The lather is fantastic, so I don't think you HAVE to wait that long. The soap should get milder as it ages, but I figure the batch I made will have me in in salt soap for several months, so I'll see.

Love your blog! So interesting from a scientific point of view too! Thanks for the info.

 

[Guywithsoap?]

If it is the case that coconut oil is the only oil to work then I would probably make a small batch.

The cheapest stuff I see is the one sold at Vitamin Shoppe, the grocery store sells one that is close to twice the price.

I prefer to make very big batches when I make soap but a smaller batch might be better to begin with on the salt bar anyway.


thanks

 

[ctay122]

If it is the case that coconut oil is the only oil to work then I would probably make a small batch.

The cheapest stuff I see is the one sold at Vitamin Shoppe, the grocery store sells one that is close to twice the price.

I prefer to make very big batches when I make soap but a smaller batch might be better to begin with on the salt bar anyway.


thanks

I think I read somewhere the majority (at least 75%) of the oil has to be coconut. I also read not to use Dead Sea Salts or epsom salts.

 

[falldowngobump]

I find coconut oil at my local walmart. It's sold right along with the olive oils, canola oils, lard, crisco and such. It's Louana brand. If you live close to a wal-mart it might be worth a shot to look. It looks like this:

 

[Guywithsoap?]

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked the wallmart near me back before i made my last batch.

They did not carry coconut at the time. I'm in the northeast so maybe there is less demand. I will try again.