Teach Soap

Hello!
I am looking for the best possible inexpensive, simple soap recipe I can make for my family to use. I am figuring possible ingredients that could make each bar cheaper would be the use of lard or Crisco. I am also looking for something that will last as long as possible with high cleaning abilities.
I would love if someone could introduce to me a recipe they know of that fits the bill or if not recommend to me ingredient suggestions. Would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

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~Alyssa
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to all things; which is the mean of many extremes. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Welcome!
You can find lots of recipes here> http://www.millersoap.com/
Coconut oil has high cleansing capabilities, but it can be drying.
Take a look here for more info>http://www.teachsoap.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3800
I hope you understand that for some of us this is a business and it took us many years to formulate a recipe the we liked as well as our customers.

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

Thank you.
The last link doesn't seem to be working.

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~Alyssa
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to all things; which is the mean of many extremes. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi ComplexBeauty and welcome to the forum.

Soapbuddy is correct that it is a business for a lot of people here. I like to think of soapmakers as experienced chefs in fine restaurants. They develop a dish that people go crazy for. They're not going to share that recipe with anybody because it's their bread & butter. But like cooking, there are literally hundreds-of-thousands of recipe formulas with the oils that are available for soapmaking.

The fun is had in developing your own recipe for your family. One that's better suited for your dry skin and your child's oily skin (I'm just throwing out examples). You develop your own formula and you "tweak" it with a little shea butter one time....the next time you try adding a little cocoa butter. That's what makes this an enormously satisfying hobby and possibly a lucrative business. Experiment and have some fun. Experienced people are here to help you but you need to take the first couple of steps by yourself.

Oh, I didn't mean to come off like I was asking for your own personal recipes. I was just more so hoping for someone to point me in the right direction for a simple inexpensive recipe for my family.
Soaping is so much fun! I enjoy being creative in this way and it is so satisfying to make something with your own two hands that someone enjoys just as much as you enjoyed making it.

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~Alyssa
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to all things; which is the mean of many extremes. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Send me a PM with the oils & butters you have available to you right now and I'll help you come up with something. I started the same way 6 or 7 years ago and I didn't which way to turn. I didn't find this forum until about 2 years ago so I didn't have anybody to ask questions to. Send me a PM with your supplies and I'll help you get started.

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

Try this link ComplexBeauty

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

Thanks
I should have added this in the first post but my family really enjoys my soaps but i consider the soaps i make "fancy soap" AKA expensive haha. So now I'm in the market for a good ol' fashion soap recipe that my family can use to get the job done and I can keep the “fancy soap” for gifts!

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~Alyssa
We ascribe beauty to that which is simple; which has no superfluous parts; which exactly answers its end; which stands related to all things; which is the mean of many extremes. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ok soapbuddy. You're better at this than I am. You want to take over? She can get coconut, castor and most all other supermarket type oils. I'm thinking of starting her out with a simple 3 or 4 oil recipe that will make about a pound. Haven't heard back if she has a good digital scale and lye yet.

Hum we just did a complete trinity Olive coconut and palm I believe. If someone has that link just a week ago it would be good reading for a beginning recipe one would think!

That would be awesome for her but I don't think she has palm oil available to her. I certainly don't want to speak for anyone though. This sounds like the makings of a good newbie team project. Come up with a good starter recipe for newbies that we can share with them. Let us not forget that this site is called "Teach Soap" and the name says it all.

Copernicus said, "those who know, do. Those who understand, teach" If you understand this stuff then help someone who needs help and don't expect them to search under rocks to try to find answers.

Good night.

Here is what I would try.
7.6 oz. Olive
3.1 oz. Coconut (I prefer to go 20% or less)
0.3 oz. castor
5 oz. soybean shortening
2.16 oz. of lye (If your scale doesn't measure small amounts, go with 2.1 oz. of lye)
5.3 oz. of liquid (I would use water for now.)
This recipe is calculated for 7% superfat.
To the best of my knowledge my measurements are correct, but please run this through a lye calculator. With proper cure, this should make a fairly hard bar, with stable lather and gentle on your skin. You can tweek it from here.

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

Lard is also readily available if you don't mind using animal products and it makes a nice soap. I make mine using olive oil (40%), coconut oil (30%) and lard (30%) with castor oil as a superfat. It lathers well, is mild, cleans well and is fairly inexpensive to make.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

ljm, I agree. I've made that same lard soap and it is really nice. I give my family the scraps and leftovers. I usually cut 9-10 bars from each 3 lbs. recipe and then use the end pieces as samples and for family. Or I give them the ones that the color didn't turn out quite right. For me, one of the perks to making my own soap is using the nice bars I make!

Rena