Castile soap is the only kind natural soap composed of 90% extra virgin olive oil. Soaps are formulated with other types of oils to give a solid consistency, usually oils.
The production of such a soap is expensive, because it is based on olive oil, and not oil products that have become familiar to us. Soap is rarely found in Russia due to its high price, logistics problems and production complexity.
In the Middle Ages, Castilian soap was used by the aristocracy, but after industrial revolution it was replaced by more affordable synthetic solutions. Even today, during the renaissance of organic cosmetics, Castile soap is a rare guest in our homes. Besides the fact that it is clearly more expensive than its competitors, we also do not know anything about it!
Soap can vary depending on the manufacturing method. So soap with a bright aroma (essential oils are stored in it) is prepared in a hot way, so it is soft to the touch. Hard Castile soap, which is prepared in a cold way, is aged from 6 to 10 months, during which time the essential oils evaporate, therefore the solid soap does not have a bright odor.
Only 90% Extra Virgin oil is allowed to have such a name. If you see any indications that the soap contains a large amount of oil, but it does not reach 90%, this is a fake.
Real soap has a pleasant aroma, it may foam slightly, but after it the skin becomes soft and pleasant to the touch. This soap should not dry out the skin, but it can be expected to moisturize the skin thanks to the glycerin. In order for the soap to foam like our usual synthetic solutions, modern manufacturers can use third-party additives. Such soap is still considered Castilian if the volume of olive oil exceeds 90%.
When analyzing this type of soap, the content of oleic acid is estimated, from which it is possible to determine the volume of olive oil used in the preparation of products.
Since castile soap belongs to the "premium" segment, aloe, shea butter, and essential oils are often added to it. That is, the ingredients of the soap are also of the highest quality.
Soap is made from unrefined oil (it has a lot of beneficial properties) or refined oil (it is soft and pleasant, but contains fewer nutrients).
If you are not a chemist and are not going to test the soap in the laboratory, then the following signs will help you
Benefits of Castile Soap
It's all about olive oil. It contains many nutrients, including the fatty acids we need. First of all, we are talking about oleic acid (85% of the content). It improves skin tone and softens the hands.
In addition to acids, soap contains and, which come not only from olive oil, but also from additives such as Angolan tree bark, oats, marula oil.
Cons of this soap
First of all, the disadvantage is the price. It can be significantly higher than the solutions we are used to, which already satisfy our need. Secondly, Castile soap consists of oil, so it does not have the hardness we are used to. If water gets on the soap, it will get wet and can turn into a gruel that is inconvenient for use. Castile soap must be stored in a soap dish where the water can drain.
Without the use of third-party additives, Castile soap foams slightly, has a yellow-olive color and a specific smell. It is changed by adding, but the main smell still remains and is not digested during cooking.
Buy castile soap
The American brand, known for the most affordable (but high quality), has released a series of hygiene products that include Castile soap. At the moment, this is the most affordable option for buying this type of soap. The manufacturer used it as an additive, so the soap has a pleasant smell.
First, let's weigh all the necessary ingredients, observing safety rules when working with alkali. Do not neglect masks and respirators, even the lightest vapors of alkali strongly irritate the nasal mucosa.
Weigh the olive oil, water and lye: 
Let's prepare an alkaline solution. It is better to put a container with water in cold water in order to avoid excessive heating of the alkaline solution, since alkali, in contact with water, releases a large amount of heat. Observing safety precautions, pour the alkali into the water and mix. Leave the alkaline solution to cool to room temperature. 
As soon as the temperature of the alkaline solution and the oil is approximately equal, pour the solution into the oils and begin to stir. 
It is best to use a blender for mixing. In order to get a trace in the future Castile soap, it will take from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the intensity of mixing. 
We turn on the blender for 15-20 seconds, then turn it off and let the soap settle. And so on until we see a light trail. 
Next, you can prepare the form. You can pour such soap anywhere, the main thing is to make sure that the soap can be easily reached and forms without breaking or crumbling. Castile soap is quite mild, so it is best to use collapsible forms made of wood or plastic. Gradually the soap thickens and the trail becomes thicker and thicker. 
You can wait until the soap thickens well to make it easier to fit into the mold. 
The photo clearly shows how thick the soap has thickened. However, it does not lose its elasticity and is just as easy to work with. 
Then you can put the soap for aging in a dry, dark place. The gel stage can be omitted. It will be possible to pull it out of the mold in 2-3 days, then you can cut it. But to use it, at least in a month, ideally, six months later from the moment of preparation.
But if you want the soap to have a more even color, smoother surface and even texture, run the soap through the gel stage. To do this, leave the soap in the mold for an hour and a half at a temperature of about 50 degrees. For these purposes, I use a barely heated oven, you can wrap the soap in a towel and put it on a hot battery. After the passage of the gel, the soap becomes more transparent, it can be seen that the gel stage has passed evenly. 
Such soap also requires aging, as well as soap that has not passed the gel stage. We put the soap to mature.
After 2 days, you can remove the soap from the mold and cut it. 
Cut - but do not wash) Set aside on the top shelf from one month to six months. And it is better - ad infinitum. A piece that has been lying for a couple - three years will not have a price.
Hello, my darlings!
Tell me, how do you choose your own soap? What criteria are important to you?
I am always quite serious about what I wash my hands and body with, what I use in everyday life for washing, washing, etc.
And my criteria today are the exceptional naturalness of such products, their effectiveness and safety.
Well, and, of course, soap should be comfortable and convenient to use, have a pleasant smell, pleasant texture, etc.
I tried a lot of things, and I settled on Castilian soap.
This is what I want to tell you today, namely: what kind of soap is it, how to use it and much more.
I have been using this soap for a long time, and, you know, I don’t want to change it for another, it suits me in everything, more than suits me.
It is this tool that I use now, during mine.
In this article, you will learn:
Castile soap - useful properties and methods of application
Castile soap is the Aristocratic Luxury of the Middle Ages.
Yes, yes, my dears, just like that and without exaggeration! Try it and you will think so too, I'm sure! ☺
Castile soap has been considered for a very, very long time (and deservedly so) "the king among all types of soaps" that only exist in this world.
It was named after the region in Spain - Castile, where it was brewed for the first time.
The softest and most delicate for the skin that you can find, expensive in its production. Soap that was always inaccessible to us before.
Even now, real Castilian soap cannot always be found on sale, especially considering that there are simply catastrophically many fakes of this soap!
Castile soap in the Middle Ages was worth its weight in gold, its cost was prohibitively high, and, of course, it was available exclusively to "people from high society", that is, aristocrats.
Then this soap was completely undeservedly forgotten.
And in Lately recipes for its preparation began to revive, and we have the opportunity to purchase Castilian soap, use it and enjoy its wonderful quality, aroma and effectiveness.
Castile soap is absolutely natural, has a bunch of useful properties, besides, it is very multifunctional and can replace not only hand soap for us.
It can be used to wash your hair, wash your body, as a shower gel, as well as a cleanser and much more!
Which soap has the exclusive right to be called Real Castile Soap?
The answer is simple - only that which is 100% natural and 90% brewed from extra virgin olive oil.
The remaining 10% of the oils included in its composition are, most often, either coconut oil or castor oil, which additionally enriches Castile soap with its beneficial properties.
What is the secret behind the unique properties of Real Castile Soap?
Precisely because its main component is Extra Virgin olive oil, which is unique in itself.
We all know that different vegetable oils in their composition contain different fatty acids, which are also very different in their effect on the skin.
Any knowledgeable cosmetologist will tell you that the more oleic acid in a vegetable oil, the better it is able to moisturize, nourish and soften your skin, and a soap containing a lot of such high-quality vegetable oil will be the best and softest for your skin.
Many vegetable oils contain oleic acid: almond oil, grape seed oil, etc.
But the real "champion" in the content of this acid is the first cold pressing. It contains 85% -90% oleic acid!
It is for this very reason that absolutely all soaps are made from any other vegetable oils and "lose" to Castile soap in their softness and tenderness, in their usefulness for our skin.
And the second reason for the uniqueness of Castile soap is the presence of a very valuable non-saponifiable fraction in Extra Virgin olive oil.
What it is?
These are such beneficial substances as vitamins and antioxidants, which can actively stimulate the regeneration of our skin, as well as many other beneficial substances that are dissolved in extra virgin olive oil.
That is why soap that is made from refined olive oil will absolutely NOT have the qualities and the same effectiveness that will be made exclusively from unrefined extra virgin olive oil.
What is the convenience of using Castile soap?
As for me personally, girls, it is very convenient that this soap is available both in liquid form and in solid form.
I love the liquid version, because it is more convenient to use it, there are a lot of options.
Ways to use castile soap for personal care and at home:
- Hand soap
I have been using this hand soap for years. Honestly? Super! ☺
Well, it doesn't dry out the skin at all and just perfectly cleanses it of dirt. And also one of its properties is an excellent antibacterial effect.
I will never use antibacterial soaps, especially those that contain triclosan.
It is very dangerous for health and such soap, I believe, should not be in the house!
- Dishwashing liquid.
I pay quite a lot of attention not only to what I put on my skin, but also to what I wash the dishes with, because all the detergents for the dishes end up inside us.
Everything modern facilities for washing dishes, contain many dangerous toxic substances that are not actually washed off the dishes, but remain on its surface.
And then, along with food, they enter our body, causing serious health problems.
And real Castilian soap, as I wrote above, is 100% natural, so it, like no other soap, is perfect as a dishwashing detergent.
By personal experience, girls, I will say that it copes with fat just for "one-two-three", and no problems! ☺
- For washing linen
Want to wash with eco-friendly powder homemade, without any chemicals and artificial flavors?
Please, here's the recipe:
- castile soap (1 glass),
- soda (1 glass),
- sea salt (0.5 cups),
- water (2 glasses),
- 10 drops.
How to cook:
- dissolve soda and salt in warm water,
- pour this mixture into a convenient container,
- add Castile soap and favorite essential oils there,
- close the container and shake very thoroughly.
How to use?
Very simple: you can pour this product into the powder compartment in the washing machine. Can be washed by hand.
This amount is enough for a long time, everything is perfectly washed, personally I have never had any problems with this recipe, try it, girls!
- Dishwasher safe.
I do not buy synthetic detergents dishwasher safe. They are dangerous and expensive.
My recipe is this:
- castile soap (1 glass),
- water (1 glass),
- essential oils (20 drops).
How to cook:
- mix all the components together in some container (container) convenient for you,
- shake thoroughly.
How to store: I keep it in an old bottle of used Castile soap, very convenient.
How to use: pour one tablespoon of the product into the open window of the dishwasher, and a couple of tablespoons of ordinary white table vinegar into the closed window.
Perfectly washes dishes, cleans them, and even glassware then looks clean, shiny, no "haze" and stains!
- For cleaning the bathtub, for cleaning the toilet bowl.
Here's my recipe:
- in a container with a spray bottle, mix 1/3 cup of Castile soap and 2/3 cup of water,
- you can add essential oils of a pleasant scent to you,
- shake.
How I use it: on the surface that needs to be cleaned, I apply baking soda, then spray the resulting composition of soap and water on top, rub it thoroughly and rinse it off. Everything!
It cleans everything perfectly, easily cleans away dirty deposits, easily and simply, and most importantly - absolutely environmentally friendly and safe!
- Like a hair shampoo.
If you wash your hair with Castile soap as a quality, then this is just a great option for those who care about the health and beauty of their hair.
Castile soap, as a shampoo, can be used just like that, or you can prepare more nutritious mask-mixtures based on it, adding the ingredients you need for your hair type to the finished soap.
Here is one of my recipes for such a "Castilian mask":
- castile soap,
- coconut milk,
I don’t write the proportions, so they are different every time, everything is "by eye". You will find your best proportions. Experiment a bit and decide, it's easy!
- Like a shower gel.
There is no need to invent anything, just take liquid Castile soap and use it as a shower gel right from the bottle, enjoying its aroma and then - the most delicate and fragrant body skin.
- For cleaning floors.
Add a little Castile soap to your bucket of water for cleaning the floor. Perfectly washes both linoleum and ceramic floor tiles, and even wooden laminate, no streaks, only cleanliness!
- Like pet shampoo.
It is convenient, safe and simple. Better than any so-called "special shampoo for animals."
- For washing vegetables and fruits.
In order to thoroughly wash the surface of fruits and vegetables from the "chemistry", you just need to add quite a bit of Castile soap to the water, stir, and wash your fruits and vegetables with this composition. Then rinse with running water and that's it. Simply and easily.
- As a bath for babies
For washing your beloved toddler, Castile Baby Soap is the best. What can you think of. Soft, gentle, caring, completely natural and safe product. What can you think of better?
Where to buy real Castilian soap?
Personally, by trial and error, I found for myself what at the moment I consider the best Castilian soap in terms of price-quality ratio.
This soap is from the brand manufacturer "Dr. Woods ".
I love this lavender soap (great for relaxation), I take almond soap for the skin (I also use it as a hair shampoo).
There is a wonderful soap with mint, a series with oils (especially cool, for me, this is a series with shea butter super nutritious!).
This company is quite well-known, it has existed for a long time, the quality is 100% guaranteed. And I was convinced of this myself!
I have tried many other Castilian soaps of this brand, and I was satisfied with absolutely everyone, therefore, as they say, "with a clear conscience" I can advise you
How to distinguish real Castilian soap from fake?
A very important point, girls, since there are simply a lot of falsified Castilian soap now!
Well, firstly, for me personally, the guarantee of real quality is that I buy my soap exclusively in the ihearb store. This in itself is a solid guarantee.
And if you take in another place, then pay attention to this:
- If the manufacturer writes something "vague" on the packaging about what EXACTLY olive oil is in the composition (refined or unrefined), and also does not indicate the EXACT percentage of oil, then most likely it is not "castile", girls ... Down with such a purchase.
- If the soap is super white. In the case of REAL Castilian soap, this is not possible. True Castilian always has a hint of cream. You need to know this.
- If the soap is very easy to lather, while the foam is with large bubbles. Real Castilian soap does not foam immediately, not like other soaps. And the foam itself is, you know, kind of "creamy" and quite slippery in sensations.
- If the castile soap in the solid version (lump) has a strong smell of synthetic aromas. Well, here without comment, as they say ...
That's all for today.
So, if you have never tried using Castile soap, then try it, I heartily recommend it, you will be definitely satisfied!
And, if you used this "Castilian miracle", then tell us how you use it? Do you have your own "secrets"? Very interesting!
Goodbye everyone, see you soon!
Real connoisseurs have been making Castile soap for more than one hundred years. This recipe came to us from the coast of Spain, where all this time it practically did not change. Castile soap is based on only three ingredients: water, lye and natural olive oil. All sorts of additives can be added to this classic base, focusing on your own taste and skin characteristics.
Main ingredient
It is believed that olive oil is a unique product. It is not for nothing that it has been widely used in cosmetology for thousands of years. For centuries, the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coast have been caring for their skin and hair with olive oil.
Thanks to this component, Castile soap can be used even when bathing babies. In addition, olive oil itself is a natural preservative, so the soap prepared with it is well stored and does not deteriorate for a very long time. Classic Castilian soap, hard, cut into bars (or cured in the desired size molds). But you can also cook liquid.
The taste and color ...
Those who have already tried this soap often disagree. To some, his foam seems creamy, gentle, affectionate, while others speak of a mucus-like unpleasant substance. It only says that you need to try everything personally, not focusing on someone else's opinion. Make your own Castilian soap and try it yourself - what if it becomes your favorite?
If you look at the matter objectively, then it is worth noting that something like this homemade soap really prone to getting wet and stringy. The solution to the problem is simple - store it in an open soap dish, which will allow the bar to ventilate. And if the soap is allowed to mature enough, mucus will not form at all. The period of full maturation is 6-8 months. But first things first.
As for liquid castile soap, this effect is not so noticeable. Its structure is creamy, very delicate and pleasant to the touch. Of course, if you follow all the rules, recipes and subtleties of the process during cooking.
Required inventory
The method of making classic Castile soap at home involves the use of some equipment. We'll need an accurate kitchen scale, a small mixer, a strainer, measuring utensils, gloves, and a respirator. If possible, protect your eyes with goggles to avoid injury. Alkali is a rather aggressive thing, and when using this substance, you can easily damage the skin and mucous membranes.
However, the use of such an unfriendly component will not negatively affect the final result. During the cooking process, it is completely neutralized.
In addition, a wooden spatula and a couple of water bath containers will come in handy. We will also take care of the necessary work space in advance so that nothing interferes in the process of work.
Naturally, among other things, you will need a gas burner or a conventional burner.
Required Ingredients
It is important to follow a strict dosage. Especially if this is your first time making Castile soap. The recipe consists of the following set of ingredients:
- olive oil - 200 g;
- melted ice crumbs (water with ice) - 95.2 g;
- NaOH (alkali) - 23.7 g.
Those who have already mastered the technology often add palm and coconut oil to the recipe (23.6 g each). This gives the finished product a scent, accelerates the aging process, and makes the soap denser.
The process of making solid castile soap
To cook Castilian hot at home, we strictly measure the required amount of ingredients on a scale.
Preparing an alkaline solution: carefully add alkali to a container with ice. Beginners shouldn't be afraid of violent reactions - they should. We leave the solution to cool down a little.
Pour olive oil into a large bowl. When the alkaline solution cools down a little so that the temperature difference does not exceed 10 ° C, we introduce it into the oil through a sieve (not vice versa!), And then thoroughly knead the solution with a spoon. After that, we connect the mixer and start whisking. Soon, the mass will begin to reach behind the mixer. This phenomenon is called a "steady footprint" and it says that everything is going as it should.
Now we send the soap to a water bath, covering it with a lid. This is necessary to accelerate the passage of the gel phase, which, in turn, will accelerate the aging process.
In the process, it is necessary to check whether all the alkali has come out. This can be done using a pH meter or litmus paper strips. The pH should be around 8.
Let's be patient, because the bath will last for several hours. When the mass turns into a gel, remove it from the heat. Now it remains to pour liquid castile soap into molds and carefully tap on all sides so that air bubbles come out to the surface.
Leave the soap to harden. It will take from several hours to one day. Dried soap can be easily removed from the molds, and if necessary, it is well cut into smaller bars.
Liquid castile soap
The soap prepared by us can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also serve as a basis for other products. It can be used to make dishwashing liquid and even detergent.
To make liquid castile soap, the hard bars must first be melted. This process is quite simple. Three solid soap on a grater or thinly cut with a knife, put in a container and send to a water bath. Stir every 10-15 minutes with a mixer, allowing air bubbles to escape. When the soap becomes amber transparent, add hot water at a rate of 1: 1. Knead thoroughly, cover with a lid and leave for a day so that both parts are completely connected. It is convenient to store such soap in bottles with a pump dispenser.
Additives for the classic recipe
There are many active ingredients that can be used to vary the classic recipe. The main thing is that their quantity does not exceed 12% of the volume of olive oil.
You can add goat's milk, cream, ground coffee, salt, sugar, essential oils, crushed citrus zest, citric acid to the recipe.
Castile soap from scratch in the hot waySince ancient times, Castile soap has been considered an unsurpassed "classics of style". It is fundamentally different from any other: traditionally it does not include any oils, except for olive, or its content is at least 80%.
Even without the addition of any other oils, the soap will take care of the skin at the highest level. Many people, after long-term use of Castile soap, have noticed that the general condition of the skin has improved, it has become softer and smoother, and has acquired a healthy look.
Currently, there are various recipes for Castile soap, its distinctive feature remains, and a variety of additives improve its emollient and caring properties.
Today we will kill two birds with one stone - we will learn how to make Castilian soap from scratch and master the process of making soap in a hot way.
Before you start making soap, you need to collect everything we need in one place:
- container for alkali (heat-resistant glass or steel);
- blender;
- two pots (with a lid for soapy mass and without a lid for a water bath);
- electronic scales (accuracy not less than 1 gram);
- plastic containers for weighing alkali and oils;
- strainer;
- thermometer;
- slicing knife ready-made soap;
- mold for pouring soap old newspapers to protect the surface of the desktop;
- rubber gloves, goggles, respirator, long sleeves, acetic acid solution;
- at least one spoon;
- at least one soap maker :-)
Safety precautions are very important, as the alkaline solution is very caustic and can seriously damage the skin. Make sure there are no children or pets nearby, open a window or turn on the hood. Do not bend over a container with alkali, try to work at arm's length. You should always have a solution of acetic acid on hand, which neutralizes the action of alkali. All actions with alkali must be carried out especially carefully, in case of contact of alkali on the skin, it is necessary don't panic wash it off with running cold water, and then with a solution of acetic (or citric) acid. It will not hurt to learn the safety precautions when working with lye from various sources.
All utensils used in soap preparation (pots, spoons, blender) must not be used for cooking!
We will prepare castile soap according to the following recipe:
- infusion of chamomile in olive oil has soothing and anti-irritation properties - 800 gr.;
- Shea butter (shea butter) is moisturizing and delicate, makes the soap silky-200 gr .;
- we use frozen broth of chamomile instead of water to give the soap an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect - 330 gr.;
- sodium hydroxide (NaOH) - 125 gr.;
- natural silk threads break down into amino acids and proteins, which nourish, rejuvenate, make the skin soft and tender - 5 gr .;
- essential oil lavender soothes and normalizes sleep - 10 gr.
To prepare an infusion of chamomile, you need to fill dry plants with olive oil and put the mixture in a water bath or a battery (temperature about 40 degrees, infusion time - from 5 to 10 hours). It is better to use the oil marked "ExtraVirgin".
Sodium hydroxide should be the highest degree cleaning marked "CHDA" (clean for analyzes) or "chemically pure" (chemically pure), in no case should you use technical alkali and household chemicals !!!
Silk threads must be undyed and free of synthetics. I use surgical silk threads. The essential oil must also be of good quality, so you shouldn't buy it at the pharmacy. Truly natural oil cannot be cheap ...
First you need to measure the required amount of sodium hydroxide, be sure to wear gloves, goggles, a respirator and long-sleeved clothing. Do not use aluminum spoons and utensils unless you want to dissolve them in lye.
Sodium hydroxide is weighed on an electronic balance with a graduation of 1 gram (or better than 0.1 gram). If in doubt, round down. Measurement accuracy is very important in the soap making process!
Preparing an alkaline solution. Sodium hydroxide, when interacting with a liquid, heats up strongly, so the chamomile broth is pre-frozen. In a container with a decoction of chamomile, gently and gradually add alkali, the ice begins to melt. In no case should you do the opposite (that is, pour liquid into the alkali) - this is fraught with unpleasant consequences, up to mini-explosions. Each spoonful of dry alkali must be stirred until the crystals are completely dissolved. The mixture will gradually heat up; for cooling, you can put the container with the mixture in cold water. Very important fully dissolve alkali crystals.
The next step is to dissolve the silk threads in an alkaline solution. First, let's prepare silk threads - they need to be weighed and cut into small pieces (the finer the better). Add silk to a hot alkali solution and stir until completely dissolved. If silk does not want to dissolve, you need carefully heat the solution in a water bath or stir with a blender (if the threads are in the solution for more than 20 minutes). As the threads dissolve, the solution will thicken slightly. Leave the solution to cool.
We accurately measure the amount of Shea Butter (Shea Butter) according to the recipe. Next, you need to melt the shea butter in a water bath, making sure that it does not overheat. Boiling should not be allowed!
Pour the chamomile infusion into the melted shea butter, using a strainer to separate the oil from the plant particles. The container with oil is on the scales - you need to pour in exactly 800 grams. Remember that in the case of oils, 1 liter is NOT equal to 1 kg. So, we got two containers: in one, an alkaline-silk solution, in the other - a mixture of oils. Before mixing these solutions, you need to achieve the same temperature, with a maximum spread of 3-5 degrees. The optimum mixing temperature is 40 degrees Celsius.
The most crucial moment comes - mixing an alkaline solution with a mixture of oils. We need to pour the alkaline solution into the oil mixture with a thin stream and mix well with a spatula or spoon until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Pour in the alkaline solution only through a strainer to avoid undissolved alkali crystals getting into the oil. Then we begin to stir the mixture with an immersion blender. Usually blenders are designed for continuous use for 1-2 minutes, so whisk the mixture, working alternately for one minute with a blender and two to three minutes with a spoon.
Beat the mixture until a clear trace appears on the surface of the soap mass, after holding it with a spoon. In the photo on the left - a light trace - the mass flows freely, but bumps already remain on the surface. It is very important to bring the mass to a thick footprint that keeps its shape, otherwise the mass may separate and the soap will be spoiled.
Now you have a choice - to make the soap cold or hot.
For the cold method: add lavender essential oil to the mass, stir, pour into a mold, wrap the mold in a towel and put it in a warm place. We take out the solid soap after one or two days and cut it. Once sliced, the cold-made soap should mature (like fine wine or cheese). Soap aging time - from one month, however, for Castile soap it is desirable to increase the exposure time to 6-10 months !!!
For those who do not have enough patience for such endurance, a hot method was invented ...
After the onset of the trail stage, the soap mass must be put in a water bath, covered with a lid and left for two hours, while you must constantly monitor the bath, adding water. After 40 minutes, a gel will start to form on the surface of the soap. The figure on the right clearly shows the border of gel formation. After an hour, you can take a test for the readiness of the soap, for which you take a drop of soap, rub it between your fingers and touch them to the tip of your tongue: if the product stings your tongue, it is not yet ready. In this case, the tongue must be washed with a stream of water to wash off the alkali. If no tingling is observed, then the soap is completely ready. It should be left for another 30-40 minutes in a water bath for it to go through the saponification process.
We remove the soap from the bath and quickly add lavender essential oil to the mass, as the mass quickly hardens (we have a couple of minutes for all actions). We spread the mass in a mold, decisively knock the mold on the floor so that the mass is evenly distributed, and leave it until it hardens for about a day.
All soap recipes from scratch are calculated with an excess of oil, thus eliminating the presence of alkali in the final product. The reaction of alkali + vegetable oils (fatty acids) results in sodium salts of fatty acids + glycerin + unreacted oils (the same excess of oils, which is called superfat or superfat).
We disassemble the shape and cut the soap into pieces. Hot soap can be used immediately, as it has passed the stages of saponification and gel in a water bath. However, it can be left to ripen indefinitely because the properties of the soap improve over time. In order to prevent it from losing its aroma and color during storage, it should be stored wrapped in plastic wrap in a dry and cool place.
That's all! The resulting soap is absolutely natural, hypoallergenic, with fine bubbly soft foam, gentle and safe for your children and yourself.
Enjoy your soap making!
