Basic soap recipe sounds so boring, but this is my “go to” recipe. I really like this recipe because it is simple, and it has always worked out great. It makes a wonderfully hard bar that lasts a very long time, and I can add whatever kinds of lovely extras to it like essential oils, flowers, or exfoliators like ground oats or coffee grains.
Keep in mind that you can substitute Vegetable Shortening for the Tallow if you like, just make sure it is of high quality. A lot of vegetable shortening has extra ingredients to stabilize and preserve it. Those go into the soap and then your skin will absorb them.
For more information on soap making see Soap Making 101 and the “Homemade Soap” tab in the Navigation menu at the top of the page.
If you are searching for Lye, you can find some HERE. It’s good lye, though I laugh at the idea of “food grade” lye. It may cure olives at a seriously diluted consistency, but don’t go putting it near your skin! If you’re looking for some local, try a hardware store and look in the plumbing section. I’ve had a few mishaps with lye having rocks where I had to sift it, or even had my lye water turn neon blue from some crazy chemical they added. So don’t buy them out on your first visit. Find a brand that works.
Basic Soap Recipe
- 20 oz [url href=”http://amzn.to/2kAE8JR” target=”_blank”]Grass-fed Beef Tallow[/url]
- 17 oz [url href=”http://amzn.to/2lRx90Q” target=”_blank”]Olive oil[/url]
- 15 oz [url href=”http://amzn.to/2kVuKUD” target=”_blank”]Coconut Oil[/url]
- 20 oz Cold Water
- 7 oz [url href=”http://amzn.to/2kVePWs” target=”_blank”]Lye Crystals[/url]
- 1-2 oz [url href=”http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=1050606&b=140557&m=19017&afftrack=&urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Estarwest%2Dbotanicals%2Ecom%2Fcategory%2Fpure%2Dessential%2Doils%2F” target=”_blank”]Essential Oil of your choice[/url]
- Combine tallow, olive oil, and coconut oil in a stainless steel pot and heat to 100 degrees F.
- Outside, pour lye crystals into water and let cool to 100 degrees F.
- Pour lye water into oils when both are the correct temperatures and mix with a hand or stick mixer until trace.
- Add essential oils and mix.
- Pour into mold and incubate for 24 hours.
- Remove from mold and cut.
- Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks to harden.
Shared on some of these great blogs.
