Nature’s Garden Basic Cold Process Soap Kit Best

Making our Basic Cold Process Soap:

Here’s what’s included in your kit:

• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
• Sunflower Oil High Oleic
• Mango Butter
• Palm Oil
• Coconut Oil- 76 degree
• Shea Butter
• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Castor Oil
• Mango and Coconut Milk Fragrance Oil
• Mica
• Safety Goggles
• Safety Gloves
• 6 Cavity Heart Mold

Sold Separately:

• Thermometer

Other Ingredients & Equipment You’ll Need:

• Distilled Water
• Stick Blender
• Mixing Bowls
• Rubber Spatula
• Scale
• Vinegar
• Safety Mask

Intstructions:

Total Recipe Weights:

• 124 grams Distilled Water
• 55 grams Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
• 63 grams Sunflower Oil High Oleic
• 53 grams Mango Butter
• 57 grams Palm Oil
• 113 grams Coconut Oil- 76 degree
• 49 grams Shea Butter
• 26 grams Apricot Kernel Oil
• 14 grams Castor Oil
• 24 grams Mango and Coconut Milk Fragrance Oil
• 2 grams Mica

Note: If you have never made soap before, it is imperative that you become familiar with soap making safety and procedures before preparing this recipe.  If you are not familiar with soap making safety and procedures, you should not use this kit.  You will also want to wear a face mask, apron, gloves, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, and close toed shoes the entire time you are preparing this recipe.  You will also need to prepare a bottle of vinegar and place it close by.  Any equipment used for soap making should not be used for any other purpose.      

1. 1. In a small mixing bowl, weigh out 124 grams distilled water. 
   2. In a separate bowl, weight out 53 grams Sodium Hydroxide (lye).  Slowly, add a small amount of the lye to the bowl containing the water. Stir until the mixture is clear.  Repeat this process until you have added and dissolved all of the lye in the water.  Set your lye solution aside where it will not be disturbed.  Note: Always add the lye to the water.  NEVER add the water to the lye.
   3. In an empty deep mixing bowl, weigh out the oils and butters.  You will need 63 grams Sunflower Oil, 53 grams Mango Butter, 57 grams Palm Oil, 113 grams Coconut Oil- 76 degree, 49 grams Shea Butter, 26 grams Apricot Kernel Oil, and 14 grams Castor Oil.  Melt your oils and butters.  This can be done using a microwave at 50% power in 30-second intervals or using a double boiler.  Melt the oils and butters only until they are in a fluid state.
   4. Once your oils have melted, set this bowl aside, for now.
   5. Prepare your fragrance oil.  In a small mixing bowl, weigh out 24 grams of the fragrance oil.  We used the Mango and Coconut Milk Fragrance Oil. Set aside.
   6. In a second small bowl, add up to 1 teaspoon of mica.  To this bowl, also add a small amount of the soaping oils you prepared.  Stir.  You want the mica mixture to be smooth and clump free.  Set this aside.
   7. Once both your soaping oils and lye solution are at room temperature (72F) and you have verified this with your thermometer, you are ready to begin putting everything together.  Plug in your stick blender and place the mold in your soaping area.  Also, have paper towels and vinegar in your area to clean up any messes.
   8. Add your lye solution to your soaping oils.  Use a stick blender to emulsify the mixture.  You will notice the color of the soap batter change when it emulsifies.  This will happen pretty quickly so pay careful attention.  Be careful not to over blend the mixture.  When this happens, it could become too thick and you could end up having to scoop the mixture into the mold without adding fragrance oil or color.  
   9.  Add your color.  Stir with your rubber spatula until fully blended and an even color.
   10. Add the fragrance oil to the soap batter.  Stir until fully blended.  It is imperative that your soap batter is at trace before pouring. This is when your soap batter has reached a stable emulsion and will no longer separate.  You can check for trace using your rubber spatula to drizzle a small amount of the soap batter over the soap batter that is in the bowl.  If you are able to see a line of soap batter setting on top, you are at trace. 
   11. Once your soap batter has reached trace, pour it into your mold.
   12. Tap the mold to release air bubbles.
   13. After 24-48 hours remove the soap from the mold and allow to cure for 4-6 weeks.
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