Teach Soap

Hi everyone

Thinking of making soap... I'm at the reading and research stage, and must say that this forum has been very helpful.

I haven't been able to find Lye on the Island, but I'm still looking and will try the other names as well.

I need to verify though, what types of oil you guys are referring too. Is it the same oils I can get at the super market? (we don't have Costo's or anything similar here) Is is the same oil used for cooking? If not what should I be looking for?

Thanks

Yes, you can use the same oils people use for cooking. Olive and coconut oils can be usually found in grocery stores. Castor oil might be found in your local pharmacy.

Make sure that your lye says 100% lye. Don't buy the one that has metallic flakes or pieces in it. That's only for drains.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

DRANO = DEATH

Or so I hear.

If you have no objection to animal oils you can also find lard at the grocery store. And also beef suiet ( hope I spelled that right) which can be rendered into tallow. Sometimes a butcher will even give it to you for free. You might not be ready to render tallow yet but it does make a nice hard bar of soap with creamy lather. Mine comes from a butcher over in the valley from grass fed black angus cows. He was paying to have it halled away . So once a year he gives me a cooler full of fresh beef fat and in exchange at Christmas I send his family a nice big basket of soap.

Thanks Everyone

I was hoping to start with whatever I can get locally. Still no luck with the lye. I called a chemical supply store but it was not 100% (It was liquid lye). I will have to order it, which is fine since I work with a shipping company. But many sites won't ship out of the US.

Coconut is a natural raw material here, but when I called the only manufacturing company, they said that they've stopped making! Don't know when they will start. So I might have to get that shipped too.

I'm a vegetarian, so the idea of working with animal fat does not appeal to me. Not that I have anything against it. (it just sounds icky)

Anymore advice I will gladly accept!

Yeah, um....I'm veggie, too...no lard here!

When you say "island girl" what island are we talking about?

Caribbean Island....St. Lucia

Oh that's such a beautiful island!!

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- Mickey!

A few of our customers use a freight forwarding company to order large quantities of oil (enough to last for the year) and have the oils forwarded to them. Since you mentioned you work for a shipping company, you're probably set on that but just wanted to give you the heads up in case you weren't.

Oils I use from the grocery store (in a pinch - they are usually pricer)

Olive Oil - any grade
Hazelnut Oil
Avocado Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Canola Oil
Soy Oil (liquid)

For a well balanced recipe, you'll probably want some solid-at-room temperature oils like Coconut and Palm so if you can't find those in the grocery store, you'll probably have to ship. Or, I am curious to know if you could make coconut oil yourself if you have coconuts on the island? Would love to work on that project with you if you're up for it. It sounds like a labor intensive but simple process.

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

I am wondering about how can this salt bar not dry up your skin with it being half salt? I am going to try a small batch . But I don't understand the chemistry of how it dosen't just suck the moisture out of your skin. Lots of salt is how meat is cured. Don't get me wrong it looks very cool. So Im gonna hafta make some. Thank you all for letting me pick your brains.

Anne-Marie

I hope I am not too late with a reply. I've had exams and not much time for anything else.

I would be very interested in making the oil myself and would welcome the input / assistance since I have not idea how to do it. Coconuts are litterally falling off the trees here!

Strangely enough, a few hours before reading this email, I was talking to a friend who tried to explain to me how the coconut oil is made. It is a local practise here as the oil is used for medicinal purposes, also for babies. The process discribed by him (which is the local house wife method) seems very labour intensive. Do you have any ideas? After posting this I will search online and tomorrow see what else I can find out.

Sort of good news! I found a supplier Lye, however they only have 50 lb bags and are selective as to whom its sold to. But it looks like I'll be making some soap soon.

Hope to hear from you soon