Throughout the years I have always altered recipes as I make them, I want to tell you before you get started, if you normally do the same thing DON'T DO IT THIS TIME. Soap making requires that you follow the directions. There are many recipes in the book below, however I chose a vegetarian one and am VERY happy with it.

Equipment you will need:
A 2-3 quart glass bowl
A 8-12 quart enamel or stainless steel pan
A heavy cardboard box about 25” by 14” about 4” deep
Wax paper or parchment paper to line the box
Masking tape to hold the paper in the box
A paring knife
A ruler
Safety goggles
Rubber gloves
A plastic or rubber spatula
A glass measuring cup
A thermometer that measure temps as low as 70-90 degrees

Ingredients you will need:
3 cups distilled water
64 fluid oz. olive oil (not virgin or extra virgin)
1 # sodium hydroxide (lye)
48 oz coconut oil
1 quart palm oil
1 oz grapefruit seed extract
2 oz sweet orange essential oil (other scents may be used)
2 cups finely ground oatmeal

Line your mold with wax paper
Gather all ingredients as well as equipment. Once you start timing can be crucial.
Measure each ingredient so that you can easily add when needed.

Put on gloves and goggles! Combine water and sodium hydroxide. I do this outside with the breeze carrying the cloud of vapors away from me. To inhale these fumes would be toxic!!! When combined the mix will become very HOT. It must cool to 80 degrees F. This may take hours. I leave it outside until it stops steaming. The process may be speeded by placing the bowl in a sink of cool water. If you plan to cool it overnight cover it to keep it from weakening.

While lye bath is cooling, mix olive palm and coconut oils in saucepan and warm to 76 degrees. You will want it to be 80 degrees when you combine it with the lye however it will continue to heat from the pan.

Wearing gloves and goggles slowly drizzle lye into warmed oil stirring briskly. Do not beat or whip the mixture. Try not to get residue on the edge of the pan as this will be wasted. It will leave lye chunks throughout your soap.

Continue to stir until drizzling mix over the top leaves a faint pattern on the surface of the mixture in the pan.

Now add the essential oils of you choice orange works well. Add the oatmeal and grapefruit seed extract. Stir well for about 30-45 seconds. Do not over stir, but mix well.

Pour the soap into the prepared mold. Mix should be smooth with no lumps. Distribute evenly in soap box with a spatula. Cover with cardboard and allow to harden about 18 hours. Cut the bars with knife, trying to keep uniform in size and shape with your ruler.

Allow to cure for about 10 days. Re cut the bars if needed Tip them on their sides to dry on paper bags or parchment paper for another 4-6 weeks turning them once to allow all sides to dry. Once the bars are desired firmness, scrape white powder from outsides of the bar. These are lye crystals and must be removed prior to using the soap or it will burn the skin.

Wrap bars in something breathable. I just stack them loosely in a box, or tie them with rattan to give as special hand made gifts.

The best book I have seen for in depth details on soap making is in the book “The Natural Soap Book” By Susun Miller Cavitch.