Teach Soap

My ex-wife wants to get into making soap. I got some things for this for Christmas and was wondering if we could make a "first batch" using nothing but olive oil, lard, lye, water, fragrance and coloring?
We are looking at a 4.5 lb. batch to start. Will this work without all of the other oils listed in most of the recipes? Here's the recipe:
48 oz. olive oil
15.1 oz. water
5.9 oz. lye
fragrance
coloring.
What are our chances for this? Not sure of the exact recipes but this is close. I'll get exact at time of making.
Thanks

If it were me, and I realize it isn't I would start with a basic soap (which you have) but leave out color or fragrance. The reason being, you're brand new to this and some fragrances will accelerate trace and colors can sometimes morph. Get the basics down and then start adding to the recipe.
Also, get yourself a stick blender or you could be stirring for hours, literally! They're pretty cheap at WalMart or other discount stores. I promise, you'll thank me.
And don't forget to run your recipe through a lye calculator before proceeding. Brambleberry has one on their website. Also, a good scale is important.

Most important, have fun! Understand that there will be bad batches, and learn from your mistakes. Keep good notes and keep trying! This is soap, not brain surgery, have fun with it!!!

Best of luck!

Brandy

I would halve that batch in case something goes wrong. That way you won't waste as many ingredients.
Depending on fragrance chosen and where it came from, be aware that the fragrance might accelerate trace, seize or rice. Depending where you color came from, it might morph into something that's not esthetically pleasing. I agree with DenverSoap. Start out basic, with no added fragrance or color, so you can see what thin or medium trace is like.

I don't see lard calculated in your recipe?

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

This is the recipe I had in mind:
Beginner 4.5 pound Soap Recipe - makes just under 4.5 lbs of soap
16oz Canola Oil
16oz Coconut Oil
16oz Palm Oil
6.9oz Lye (5% superfatted)
15.8oz Water
Instead of canola, coconut and palm oils I was going to try 48 oz. of olive oil.

"6.9oz Lye (5% superfatted)" Does this mean I should actually use 6.555 oz.?

I would sub out the canola for another oil like Coconut, Babasu, Palm or Palm Kernel. Canola has a short shelf life and at the % it could cause DOS. Anytime you change any of your oils, you will need to recalculate your recipe.

Here is a general recipe.
Coconut Oil 12ozs. 33.33%
Olive Oil 12ozs. 33.33%
Palm Oil 12ozs. 33.33%
You will need 9 to 14 ozs. of water and 5.2 ozs. of lye for a 6% superfat (also called a lye discount). I would not make a 4.5 lb. batch until you have a few soap batches under your belt.

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