Part of my aromatherapy learning journey is to understand the different ways I can apply essential oils. I commonly use diluted essential oil for skin concerns, however, having essential oil in different forms is also a good way to understand their therapeutic and cosmetic properties, as well as figure out the best form to address a specific health concern.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy my essential oils is to add them to my soaps. I love it when the soap I create feels good on my skin. Previously I made soaps using the melt-and-pour method. You can read my first experience in soap making by going to this post. I have some reservations when it comes to taking risks, that’s why I like the melt-and-pour method. It’s a safer and easier way to make soaps. However, someone has encouraged me to make a soap using the cold process method. I was hesitant and fearful to try this method at first because it includes using the caustic ingredient, lye. But because I’ve seen that my sister is eager to create soaps using lye, and wanted to create something using raw materials, I agreed to do it. I thought that if I wanted to formally create soaps, then I have to agree to use lye and undergo the cold process method of soap making.
Listed in this post are the realizations I’ve learned while making soap.
1. Following guideline is a challenge but a must
As mentioned earlier, lye is a very caustic ingredient and it’s hot. Before I did the actual soapmaking, I read different posts online and also watched videos to learn how to make soap properly. As far as I remember, all of them warned that lye can cause some reactions. They also included guidelines so you can safely make soap using lye. Before doing the soap, I made sure that I did my homework by understanding the guidelines so I can follow them.
2. Secure protective gear for that stinging feeling
Wearing protective eyewear, long sleeves, mask, and gloves are recommended to ensure that lye won’t get on your skin and cause allergies or any reactions. At first, I thought this is just being too cautious, so while I was making the soap there were times when I would hold the utensils and pots with lye without gloves. I realized that it’s crucial to follow the safety guidelines when I experienced a stinging feeling or burning sensation after touching the lye mixture. When lye is mixed with water it reacts and gets hot. Because it’s hot you can see that the pot gets sweaty when you close it. Hence, it’s important to wear gloves when making your soap. Moreover, it’s also a must to wait until it’s safe to mix the lye mixture with the oil.
3. Inhaling lye’s strong odor
Wearing a mask is recommended while making the soaps. I realized that it would also be helpful to keep my mouth shut and occasionally control my breath while stirring the lye mixture so I won’t be too overwhelmed and get dizzy with the strong odor of lye. If you inhale while your mouth is open, you will take in too much lye’s strong odor.
4. Numbers can be intimidating and confusing
There were times when instructions were confusing to me. I am not good at math, so ratios, percentages, and complicated instructions can be intimidating to me. However, I know that I have to make some effort to understand them because I know that for me to create a good quality soap, following the accurate measurement of ingredients is crucial. Since I wanted to produce a good soap, I listed the ingredients of soap recipes that I’d seen, then I created my soap recipe. However, I realized that creating a recipe that is just based on my understanding was not enough. The suggestion from my sister was helpful. Before we start making soap she told me about the lye calculator. She said that the amount of lye to be used should depend on the percentage of oil we would have on the soap. I was not aware of that before. So her explanation was really helpful. Since I was convinced that what she says is the right way to make soap, I opted to follow it. Hence, I searched it online and found a reliable website that guides you to identify how much lye and oil should you use in your soap making. Plus, what makes lye calculator good is that it explains to you the soap properties you’re going to have by following a certain ingredient measurement. This enables you to understand things like what to add and what to lessen because it shows you the effect of measurement of your ingredients with regard to the soap’s hardness, ability to cleanse and condition, make bubbles, as well as its creaminess and longevity. Since I understand the importance of following the right percentage for lye and oil, I decided to follow the suggested measurement from the lye calculator.
5. Requires so much patience
One thing I realized about creating soaps is that it also requires patience. It is my first time creating a soap using lye so there were a lot of things to learn, discover, and adjust to ensure that I make the soap properly. Since I’m just a beginner at making soaps, my tools are not yet complete. I still don’t have utensils such as an immersion blender that can help make the process easier as well as make the ingredients blend well. So we had to keep on stirring the mixture manually for hours. Good thing I’ve seen that my sister was eager to do the soap and volunteered that she will do the stirring. The help of my sister enables me to be patient to keep on making soaps.
6. Enduring the waiting time
After pouring the soap mixture on the molds, the curing time begins. The soap needs to be cured to ensure that is hard and ready to be used for cleansing your body. As of the moment of writing the soaps we made are still in the molder and I’m waiting for them to complete its curing time. I look at it regularly so I would know if there are some adjustments I need to make while it’s still in the curing process. Although I already want to see the outcome of my soap, I still have to discipline myself in waiting.
Soapmaking using lye for beginners is challenging, but I’m really glad that the process of doing soap using this method enables me to learn a lot and realize different things. I also appreciate that it helps me overcome my fears. I hope that I can create more soaps using the essential oils I love.
Follow the right guide 💋❤
Oil Therapy 