This is a moisturising Soap Recipe which lathers well due to the Castor Oil content, and the Palm Kernel Oil makes a silky smooth bar of soap. Then we add Bentonite Clay which gives "slip", you can also choose French Kaolin Clay which gives a whiter bar than the Bentonite Clay. The Clay allows the razor to glide over the skin. We suggest you use the amount of water specified because the Bentonite Clay is a Smectite or Swelling Clay, which means that it will absorb quite a bit of water from the recipe.
This soap can be poured into a PVC Pipe Mould or empty Pringles can, to make a round Log of Soap which can be sliced and then popped into a tin or clay pot. Alternatively, you can actually pour the traced soap directly into Shaving Mugs or Tins which are lovely for market stalls and gifts.
SAFETY REMINDER
- For your own safety PLEASE WEAR GLOVES AND GOGGLES.
- NEVER ADD WATER TO CAUSTIC. ALWAYS add caustic to your water. When you mix caustic soda and water together, the reaction generates a great deal of heat - this heat will break a glass jug or crack a brittle (non pliable) plastic jug.
- Never breathe the fumes and mix your solution outside or in a well-ventilated area.
- Don't allow children or pets in the immediate area.
- Don't allow yourself to get distracted and leave caustic unattended.
If An Accident Should Happen:
- If you splash caustic water or raw soap into your eyes: Do not rub your eyes, instead rinse with cold running water thoroughly and attend an Accident & Emergency Department immediately.
- If splashes of caustic water or raw soap occur on your skin: Immediately wash affected area with vinegar & rinse off with water. Keep a container of vinegar nearby whenever you are using CAUSTIC SODA. Any splashes can be quickly neutralised by the vinegar, lemon juice works too, and in an emergency even lemonade is better than pure water - all contain an acid, vinegar (acetic acid) and lemon (citric acid), which neutralises the alkaline action of the lye.
How to make it happen:
- Weigh the water in one container and caustic soda in another. Take into the open air or a well ventilated area and pour the caustic soda into your water and stir with a durable plastic spoon or scraper. This will become VERY hot. Be careful not to breathe the fumes.
- Whilst this is cooling weigh ALL Oils (do not use liquid volume measurements) and place into large and durable stainless steel stock pot and melt the oils.
- When temperature of the Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) Water and Oils are approximately the same, between 30-40ºC, pour the lye water into the oils.
- Use the stick blender to emulsify until it looks like thin whipping cream.(This is thin trace).
- At this point remove 2 cups of thinly traced soap and place into an icecream bucket or stainless bowl, and stir in the Bentonite Clay to moisten it well.
- Pour this mixture back into the main batch and stir to combine.
- Add the Essential Oil.
- Stir/blend until mixture until you can leave a trail on top when you pour a little across the surface. This is how you know it is ready to pour.
- Pour into the mould/s cover and insulate.
- Check after a few hours, and if gelled, remove insulation and allow the soap to cool
- After 24 or so hours, remove from the mould and slice
- Allow four - six weeks to cure and dry fully.
If you prefer to pour a Log or Slab of Soaps, this recipe suits our Wooden Log Moulds or a Nizzy 12 bar Mould
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