Lavender Soap [Immersion Blender]
A cold-process soap recipe that minimizes the amount of ingredients and gets you the best homemade soap in a simple easy format.
Ingredients
- 22 ⅖ fl.oz (635 g) distilled water
- 9 ⅗ ounces (272 g) lye
- 16 ounces (454 g) unrefined coconut oil, melted
- 30 ounces (850 g) olive oil
- 22 ounces (624 g) unrefined palm oil, melted
- ⅓ ounce (10 g) dried lavender
- 4 drops lavender essential oil, if desired
Directions
- Prepare an appropriately sized silicone mold(s) or 2 (9x9in) baking trays by lining with wax paper on the bottom and sides. Set aside.
- First mixing step: (most important step to be careful, wearing gloves, apron, eye protection when mixing lye and water)Measure the distilled water into a metal bowl. Very carefully add the lye to the water, and stir gently with a metal whisk. Stir until incorporated and let cool to 110°F. (be careful not to breathe in the steam from this mixture, and not to get any of this solution onto your skin as lye is a hazardous substance until mixed in the proper portions)
- Second mixing step:Place the melted measured coconut oil, palm oil and olive oil into a warm Croc-pot set to low and heat to 110°F. Once the lye solution and oil mixture are at the same temperature, insert the immersion blender into the middle of the Croc-pot. Start the immersion blender on Variable 1 and blend while adding the lye mixture slowly to avoid splashing. If needed, you can add some lye mixture and then run the immersion blender in short spurts, all while working on Variable 1 only.
- Third Mixing Step:Once all of the lye mixture has been added, continuously run the immersion blender, mixing all of the lye and oil mixture together. There should be no evidence of trace (the oil-slick looking mixture, everything should be properly incorporated). Add the lavender (and oil if desired) and mix by pulsing the lavender into the soap mixture. Once all is incorporated, you are ready to mold the soap.
- Fourth step: Molding ProcessMolding Process: Make sure you are working with silicone molds on sheet trays or the baking trays are where you'd like to soap to rest to cure. Using a metal or glass measuring cup, carefully pour the melted soap mixture into its form. Let rest for at least 24 hours until unmolding. Cut into desired shape/size and use or cure longer, up to 14 days for a longer lasting bar of soap. This recipe makes about 3 dozen 2x2" blocks of soap. The recipe also works well in a half batch. A 5-quart Croc-pot is needed in order to make the full batch recipe.