Soap Making Method Without Lye

Learning more about a soap making method without lye is a great idea if you're looking for an easy way to dabble in creating your own handmade soaps. When no lye is involved, soap making projects are simple enough for a child to complete with minimal adult supervision.

Making soap doesn't have to be a scary experience.

Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a corrosive alkaline substance. At one time, it was made by leaching hardwood ashes. However, lye is now primarily commercially manufactured using a membrane cell method.

Lye can cause chemical burns, permanent injury, scarring, and blindness if proper safety precautions are not taken. For this reason, lye should never be used in areas accessible to pets or small children.

Unfortunately, lye is a vital part of making soap. All soaps, both handmade and commercially prepared, are made when a chemical reaction occurs as lye reacts to oil. Even liquid soaps and shower gels are made with a form of lye called potassium hydroxide or “caustic potash”. The term saponification is used by soap makers to describe the process by which lye interacts with the other ingredients in your soap to create the finished product.

Although lye is very important in soap making, many novice crafters wish to experiment with making their own soap without using this harsh chemical. Repurposing a batch of Ivory soap by adding your own herbs and essential oils is a fun and easy way to create soap with handmade appeal. By experimenting with the many different decorative molds available at your local craft store, you can make beautiful soaps to fit almost any occasion. This semi-handmade approach to soap making may also help build your confidence so you feel ready to tackle the job of making soap from scratch.

Supplies:

• ¼ cup water
• Dried and pulverized herbs
• Essential oil
• Approximately two cups shredded Ivory soap
• Large mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Glass plate
• Soap making mold (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour boiling water over your herbs.
2. Add five or six drops of essential oil.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring regularly.
4. Pour mixture over the shredded Ivory soap.
5. Mix well.
6. Wait 20 minutes.
7. Divide the mixture into several small balls or press into the selected soap making mold.
8. Let dry for three to four days on a glass plate in an cool area of your home.

There are a number of different scent combinations you can use with this soap making method without lye. Chamomile and lavender makes for a calming aromatherapy soap. Patchouli mint is a very refreshing combination, while lemongrass and clary sage is guaranteed to uplift your spirits. To learn more about the use of aromatherapy in soap making, visit AromaWeb.

If you want to create soap with skin care benefits, you can also try adding oatmeal to this basic soap recipe. Oatmeal soap nourishes and protects while lightly exfoliating and helping to relieve the itching caused by dry or irritated skin. To make your own simple oatmeal soap, replace the essential oil and dried herbs with three to four tablespoons of oatmeal ground up with a blender or food processor. For the most effective soap, don't reduce the oatmeal to flour. Grind it up just enough to break up the majority of the individual flakes.

Even though it is possible to use a soap making method without lye, you should still invest in an apron, eye protection, and gloves. The essential oils used to fragrance this type of handmade soap may smell heavenly, but they are irritants if they come into contact with your skin at full strength. As a soapmaker, staying safe should always be your top priority.

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