In my family, we all have itchy skin. It's kind of a family curse. All sorts of things will cause our skin to itch: Not drinking enough water, direct contact with grass and bushes, or using store-bought laundry detergent. This is why I started making my own laundry detergent a long time ago. It's also why I started making my own bar soap.
Nowadays, even basic bar soap is full of strange, caustic chemicals and perfumes. I don't need any of that. I just need something that will clean my skin and leave it feeling nice and soft. Something made with coconut or olive oil, perhaps… or both!
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Which is why I absolutely love this soap recipe I found at Becky's Homestead. Here are the ingredients:
- 29 ounces of coconut oil (liquid).
- 51 ounces of olive oil
- 11.8 ounces of lye.
- 29.5 ounces of distilled water.
- 3.3 ounces of organic rosemary oil (optional).
- Organic pink coloring (optional).
You'll also need the following supplies:
- Soap molds.
- Electric mixer with stainless steel blades (or you can use a large, stainless steel spoon).
- Safety gloves.
- Mask.
- Safety glasses.
- Vinegar (in case you get any of the solution on you, vinegar will neutralize a skin burn).
- Kitchen scale.
- Thermometer.
- Plastic cup.
- Container for lye crystals.
- Container for the water.
- Large, stainless steel bowl for the oil.
Watch the video below to see her make the soap (she starts that part at 3:12).
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Hi! I’m new to soap making and just had a question. If I use this recipe, what other essential oils are nice to add instead of rosemary? And would I use the same amount for a different essential oil?
Thank you!
There are so many options… I like benzoin because it smells like vanilla. There’s cinnamon, eucalyptus, orange, spearmint, lavender is very relaxing. It just depends on your preference. I’m pretty sure you should just use the same amount of oil no matter what kind you choose.
Thank you! That helps a lot. It gets so confusing when using essential oils and how much to use.
use crock pot method cuts curing time down to days
I do not know if it’s just me or if everyone else encountering issues with your blog. It seems like some of the written text in your posts are running off the screen. Can somebody else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This could be a issue with my web browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Appreciate it
You’re the second person to say this, but everything looks fine on my end. Can you tell me which Internet browser you’re using?
I don’t understand why all the safety gear? Isn’t this supposed to be gentle and safe for your skin?
It is once it’s done, but the individual ingredients and fumes can be harmful. Just because something is safe doesn’t mean the ingredients by themselves are safe. Case in point: table salt. It’s harmless, but the ingredients (sodium and chloride) are dangerous by themselves.
I agree, I make lye soap and can’t stress enough on the safety gear! But after the process is done the soap is so worth it.
How I could make a soap without the yellow color of olive oil?
The soap will be pure white, even though the olive oil is yellow.
Hi
Just wanted to know what your clean up routine was after making candles – in particular with the lye, whats the best way?
Thanks
I have used this recipe several times and absolutely love it!! When I have gifted it, the recipients also comment on how much they love it!!
Thank you!
Thank you for this vid and recipe. You make it look so much easier. I’ve dipped my toes in gardening, I make my own bread (with hand kneading only), I’ve learn how crochet basic things, I’m going to start learning to sew (with a sewing machine for big items like quilts), and hope to soon get into canning. Can’t wait to add this to my “I know how to do it on my own” list!
Just a quick note:
If you’re looking to stay away from palm oil, don’t use Crisco. It’s ingredients are: “Soybean Oil, Fully Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Palm Oil, Mono And Diglycerides, TBHQ And Citric Acid (Antioxidants).”
thesage.com has a bunch of palm-free recipes in addition to every supply soaping supply you could ever need.
Use water to clean raw soap on your skin. The reaction of vinegar and lye can make the burn worse.
Hey there !
Im wondering if i can use this recipe for hair shampoo bar .
Thank you and lav lav lavvvv your energy !
I have used home made hand soap for years on my hair. I use a 50/50 mix of pickling vinegar and water for a rinse. Leaves my hair so soft.
I am wondering how many pounds of soap this makes.
I will like to make this soap.where can I buy the ingredients
So you don’t measure the oils by weight on the scale? And don’t have to heat them?
Most of us who have made soap know to weigh EVERYTHING. Also, that the oils should be usually somewhere between 100 and 120 degrees (depending upon recipe and all). Another glitch with this recipe…….. 3.3 OUNCES of Rosemary oil? If this is essential oil, that is ALOT! If an essential oil 1/2 to 1 ounce is more than enough. If it is an infused oil, that is different.
she made her recipe with the weights of the oils as packaged, so the one jar and one bottle were all that was needed. If you don’t want to make a years’ supply, use a soap calculator to figure the correct amounts. hope this makes sense.
Also, what temp should the lye solution be when mixing with oils?
Hello I am wondering is this recipe for fluid ounces or dry ounces because i made this and my soap came out crumbly and dry i used fluid ounces and am i supposed to heat the oil.I used fluid ounces for everything.
Hello if I make this Recipe scent free should I add an extra 3 oz of oil to the recipe to you make it for the Essential oil that was left out….Thank you so much you are one of the 1st soap making tutorials I watched on YouTube
The Rosemary Oil…… Is that Rosemary ESSENTIAL Oil or Rosemary INFUSED oil? There is a huge difference, and it does matter. If essential oil, 3.3 ounces is WAY to much.
Thank you for this recipe!
Newbie question: I would like to use a 30% w/w sodium hydroxide solution I bought to make this soap. Because this solution is 30% lye and 70% water, is it already at the correct ratio of water and lye by itself? It looks to me that it is already at the recommended ratio of 2.3 parts water to 1 part lye. Or do I still need to add the extra distilled water?
Looking forward to your answer, thank you!
I find Pears glycerine soap or my own homemade glycerin soap the gentlest and most moisturizing and shy away from any recipe that uses lye. Also Castile soap is gentle. Pears is very inexpensive, homemade a little more-so.