There’s a whole lot wrong with my first attempts at soapmaking, as I’ve since learned on the interwebs: a partial gel phase and a lot of soda ash on the outside of the loaves.
But I’ve decided to be okay with that. I’m determined to curb my perfectionism here. I mean… they smell good, they produce suds, they look like bars of soap, they seem to actually clean. So that should be enough. Right?
I won’t get all crazed now. I won’t be disappointed if my soap looks less than perfect.
I won’t get too gung-ho about making soap à la medieval. I won’t decide that the only true way to soapmaking is to make the lye myself by filtering rainwater through a barrel of hardwood ash. I won’t start rendering my own beef tallow. No.
Not yet, at least.
Mint coffee soap (first picture)
- Olive oil – 18 ounces
- Coconut oil – 16 ounces
- Palm oil – 14 ounces
- Lye – 7.10 ounces (5% superfat)
- Prepared liquid coffee – 17.5 ounces
- Peppermint essential oil – 6 teaspoons
- Cinnamon – 2 teaspoons
- Coffee grounds – 2 tablespoons
Olive oil soap (second picture)
- Olive oil – 48 ounces
- Lye – 6.17 ounces (5% superfat)
- Water – 17.5 ounces
Supplies from Coco & Calendula
