This Castile soap recipe was the first kind of soap that I made. The reason being that it is mostly made of olive oil. I did not have any lard or tallow at the time and did not know where I could find some. I could have gotten some lard from the store, but I wanted to use wholesome products without any additives, antibiotic or hormone usage, etc. Olive oil is something you can usually find.
Castile Soap is wonderfully gentle. For many many years people have used it on their baby’s skin, as well as any sensitive skin or skin with acne. My mother-in-law was having a problem with her skin. Other soaps had started really irritating it, but when she started on this it all cleared up.
This recipe calls for a little bit of coconut oil. The reason for that is that a Castile bar is very soft. The little bit of coconut helps it to be more stable, as well as gives the bar a some added lather. Coconut is great for bubbles. For more detailed instructions on how to make soap, go to the Homemade Soap 101 or go to the Homemade Soap menu in the navigation bar.
Castile Soap Recipe – 86% olive oil
3lbs (12 -4oz bars)
- 30 oz olive oil
- 5 oz coconut oil
- 13 oz cold water
- 4.3 oz lye
- 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves
- 0.25 oz rosemary essential oil
- 0.75 oz peppermint essential oil
- In a large stainless steel pot (no aluminum), melt the coconut into the olive oil and remove from heat.
- Carefully, using eyeglasses,a really good face mask, and gloves, pour the lye into the water and stir until dissolved.
- When oil mixture and lye water is between 90 – 100 degrees F, pour the lye water into the oil mixture and whisk together. You can use a spoon, whisk, stick mixer, or hand mixer, but mix 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off.
- When mixture forms a trace, add the peppermint leaves, peppermint essential oil, and rosemary essential oil.
- Pour into mold and incubate for 24 hours before slicing.
- Let air out for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!
Directions: For Detailed Soap Making Instructions see Soap Making 101
- In a large stainless steel pot (no aluminum), melt the coconut into the olive oil and remove from heat.
- Carefully, using eyeglasses, face mask, and gloves, pour the lye into the water (never water into the lye) and stir until dissolved.
- When oil mixture and lye water is between 90 – 100 degrees F, pour the lye into the oil mixture and whisk together. You can use a spoon, whisk, stick mixer, or hand mixer, but mix 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off.
- When mixture forms a trace (when you can see a little path after drizzling some over the surface), add the peppermint leaves, peppermint essential oil, and rosemary essential oil (or other Essential Oils of your choice).
- Pour into mold and incubate for 24 hours before slicing.
- Let air out for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!
Notice I advised to use essential oils, not fragrance oils. For more on the difference and dangers of fragrance oils Click Here.
