Soapmaking Recipes

Ounces (oz) are determined by weight unless otherwise stated. Lye is "sodium hydroxide technical grade" granular or flake form.

Soap I -- Pure Soap
(This is the only recipe I've discovered that remains scent-free and doesn't require essential oils) A bit harsh for bath soap, but great for cleaning, washing dishes, delicate laundry, etc. Great lather and no fragrance..
- 16 oz weight coconut oil
- 1/2 cup mink oil or (4 T. Castor oil)
- 2.9 oz lye
- 1 cup water (8 fluid oz.)
- Oil room temp

Mix and use lye when the water turns clear
Put all ingredients in the blender. Follow the instructions for "Blender Soap" Don't let this soap trace. Process until the mixture is smooth (no oil streaks) and pour it into molds. Leave in molds 2 days, freeze soap 3 hours to release it from the molds. Age 3 weeks.

Soap II -- Pure Soap Mink Oil Shampoo
- 16 oz weight coconut oil
- 1/2 cup mink oil or (4 T. Castor oil)
- 2.9 oz lye
- 1 cup water (8 fluid oz.)
- Oil room temp

Mix and use lye when the water turns clear
Put all ingredients in the blender. Follow the instructions for "Blender Soap" Don't let this soap trace. Process until the mixture is smooth (no oil streaks) and pour it into molds. Leave in molds 2 days, freeze soap 3 hours to release it from the molds. Age 3 weeks.

Soap III
- 6 oz coconut oil
- 6 oz olive oil
- 5 oz vegetable shortening
- 2.6 oz lye
- 1 cup water (8 fluid ounces)
Fat and lye/water temperature about 120 degrees F
Time in molds: 48 hours
Age: 4 weeks
Soap IV
- 9 oz vegetable shortening
- 4 oz coconut oil
- 3 oz lard
- 2.4 oz lye
- 3/4 cup water (6 fluid ounces)
Fat and lye/water temperature about 120 degrees F
Time in molds: 24 hours
Age: 3 weeks
Soap V - Sorta a traditional and blender soap combination
The fats are expensive, but milk allows for about 12 bars, vs. only 6 bars of the same recipe without milk. Pretty sneaky, huh?
- 8 oz weight cocoa butter
- 5 oz weight palm oil
- 3 oz weight castor oil
- 2.2 oz weight lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 1 cup cold milk (I used 2% right from the frig)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon essential oil (I added 2 chamomile tea bags and 2 jasmine tea bags, dry)
Fats: 100 degree range
Lye/water/milk combination: 125 degree range

Add the lye/milk/water mixture to the fats and stir about 5 minutes. Add the fragrant oil and put the soap mixture into a blender. Process about 30 seconds, or until the mixture looks smooth and a uniform color. It will not trace. Pour it into the molds (it won't separate, trust me)

Soap VI
- 16 oz lard or beef tallow
- 2.3 oz lye
- 3/4 cup water (6 fluid ounces)
Estimated tracing 45 minutes
Fat and lye/water temperature about 120 degrees F
Time in molds: 24 hours
Age: 3 weeks
Soap VII -- Beeswax Castile
- 13 oz weight olive oil
- 2 oz beeswax
- 1 oz palm oil
- 2.1 oz lye
- 1 cup water (8 fluid ounces)
(melt the beeswax with the fats)

Fat and lye/water temperature about 150 degrees F. Tracing time: about 12 minutes FAST! (This is not a good blender soap candidate!) Time in molds: 48 hours. Place the soap in a freezer for 3 hours, then remove it from the molds. Age: 6 to 8 weeks for the bars to harden.

Soap VIII -- Beeswax Soap II
(follow directions at "Soap VII". This is not a good blender soap candidate.)
- 16 oz weight olive oil
- 2 oz weight beeswax
- 2.2 oz weight lye
- 1 cup water (8 fluid ounces)
Soap IX -- Goat Milk Soap (by measurements, not weight)

- 1 cup lard, melted
- 1 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 cup goat (or other) milk
- 1/4 cup Red Devil lye granules (not flakes or crystals from other sources)
- 1/4 cup water

Ingredients near 110 to 120 degrees F. Tracing time about 1 hour 15 minutes. Leave in molds 2 days, place in freezer 3 hours, remove soap from molds, age 3 weeks.