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Last spring, a dear friend offered to teach me how to make soap. I have been wanting to make soap for years, but the whole idea seemed a bit daunting. I’m a very visual person, and watching someone do something really helps me a lot more than just reading about it. After watching my friend, I couldn’t wait to try it. So, I gradually gathered my supplies, and waited for the perfect time to begin.
In my mind, the perfect time would have been when all the children were over at Grandma’s, but that time never came. I was so worried about the lye, and having someone accidentally inhale it, spill it, ingest it, and then dying, going blind, or getting their skin burned.
One year after watching my friend make soap and gathering all my supplies, I decided it was time. I waited until my precious-but-very-busy-and-inquisitive two-year-old was napping. Then I sent the other children outside. I carefully set out all my supplies, measured all the oils and essential oils, and then I was ready for the lye. And as I poured and poured and poured lye into the container on the scale, I realized that the scale was set on pounds, not ounces, as it should have been. I knew that the recipe didn’t call for that much lye.
As the realization slowly dawned on me that I had measured all the oils and other ingredients incorrectly, I also had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach as I realized that I needed to get all that lye back into the child-proof container that it came in. The one with the very small opening.
{And I also had the added complication of my goggles fogging up! I couldn’t even see because they were getting so foggy. I realized [too late] that there were little plastic things that were supposed to be removed to provide ventilation. I’ll know next time, but it was rather hilarious and scary to be fearfully measuring lye and not really being able to see! I was creating more of a hazard for myself by having the fogged-up goggles on in the first place!}
With gloves and {foggy} goggles on, I very carefully headed out to the woods at the back of our yard. I went a ways into the woods and very carefully poured all the lye back into the container. After quickly remeasuring all the other ingredients, the rest of the process was simple.
Despite my lye-paranoia and the minor mishap, making soap was so much fun! I loved the whole process of mixing the essential oils, watching the soap trace, pouring it into the mold, and then the anticipation of waiting to see how it would all turn out. And as I waited, I loved the delicious herbal scent that filled the whole house.
The most satisfying part for me was cutting the soap into bars. My bars are irregular and rather plain-looking, but I am in love with them! To me they represent the fulfillment of a dream. I can’t wait to make more.
Where is the recipe to make soap?
I would love to try it
I’m sorry, I haven’t published a soap recipe at this time, but I hope to in the future!
Hi! Do you have a “recipe” for making soap??
Hi Christie! I don’t have my recipe on the blog yet, but I’m hoping to share it in the near future!
Yes, it was quite an adventure, Sarah! Thankfully I only had a few moments of feeling a little stressed, but the rest went smoothly! (We did get a good laugh out of it, though!) 🙂
It sounds like you had quite the soap making adventure, Joy! Once again, your soaps turned out lovely! And I am glad that it went so well for you (save for the little mis-measure with the lye. 🙂 Things like that make the process more memorable, though, don't they?!)
Heather,
I haven't figured out the cost yet. I hope to do that sometime. It would really depend on a lot of variables, though, so each soapmaker's costs will be different.
For example, some oils are more expensive to use than others. Also, it will depend on where you purchase your oils. I was able to get some of mine from the local Amish, so they cost less. I bought my lye from a friend. I used recycled containers for some of the mixing and measuring. So, each person's costs will vary.
If I ever get my cost per bar calculated, I'll be sure to post it. 🙂
Amanda,
Thank you! By the way, I'm so much enjoying your soap (the honey oatmeal one)–it's wonderful!
I'm curious how much this cost to make. I am interested in making soap, and I love the idea of knowing exactly what's in it. I do want to make sure it costs less than the store bought soap we're currently using.
Any idea what your per bar cost was?
It turned out just perfect!You've done a fine job of capturing it's beauty too:)