Cold Process Soap Making Method

One of the most common methods of making soap is called cold process. This method of making soap you are combining oils, distilled water and lye and bring the mixture to trace. Trace is when the oil, distilled water and lye thickens. Then you add the fragrance and pour it into the mold while it is still pourable. With the cold process method, sapnification will actually take place in the mold. After a few weeks, the soap will cure and harden.

There are a few disadvantage to making soap by this method. First of all, it takes a long time for the soap to harden. Which means that you have to find a convenient place to store the soap while it cures and saponifies. And another disadvantage is that you need to use twice as much fragrance or essential oils which can get costly. See what happens is that when the lye and oils combine there is a chemical reaction which produces heat. Once you add your favorite fragrance to the mixture, it will dissipates because of the heat. A common problem occurs is the active lye and the fragrance react with each other. They soap can suddenly thicken, curdle or the oils may separate and will not mix back together which causes seizing. You must also realize that when your soap by this method that your measurements must be very accurate. If you put too much of an oil or use water from the tap instead of distilled water it can ruin your batch.

There are many books on this subject. As far as classes. The Nova Studio in Point Richmond, CA offers classes on this subject. Check her website at www.thenovastudio.com for upcoming classes.