This is the second post in a three-part series in which we will take a look at the soap making process we go through here at Botanie Soap. Whether you are getting ready to try your hand at soap making or you are just interested in what goes into making our organic soap bars, hopefully this inside look at our process will either prepare you, educate you, or both!
1. Oatmeal Spice Ingredients
2. Making and Pouring in to Molds
3. Cutting and Curing
Through this series we are following the creation of one our favorite bars here at Botanie Soap, Oatmeal Spice. In part one, I gave a description of each ingredient that goes into the bar. Part two of this series will describe our actual soap making process and show what type of molds we use to shape and harden the soap.
As for the physical combining and stirring of the ingredients, our process is similar to the one used in our soap making kits, except it is done on a larger scale with appropriate equipment. First, we combine our proprietary base oil blend with our sodium hydroxide/water (lye/water) solution and stir them together. Next, once trace is reached (the point at which, when drizzled, the soap just begins to pile on the surface before sinking back in), we mix in our essential oil blend and herbal additives to create the wonderful scent and color. Last, we pour the soap into our molds and let it sit for about 48 hours, allowing the continued reaction to take place and the soap to harden. The following section shows the molds we use to hold the soap.
The Mold Process
Mold Preparation – Before we pour the soap into our mold, we first line the inside with parchment paper. This greatly reduces adhesion to the mold interior, allowing us to disassemble the mold without too much effort. A poorly lined mold can result in difficulty disassembling and/or dents or scratches in your soap. In our detailed soap making guide, we used empty milk cartons that have a waxy lining. For small-scale soap making, milk cartons or something similar work great.
Completely Filled Mold – Once the mold is filled completely, the soap can continue to complete its reaction. The soap will sit for about 48 hours, during which it will go through what is called a “gel phase.” In this phase, the soap will temporarily turn somewhat transparent while the reaction completes. The soap is left alone for the remainder of the 48 hours so it can cool and harden. Once cooled, the block of soap will be ready to be cut into individual 4 ounce bars.
Covering the Molds – Before we can let the soap sit and complete its necessary reaction, we need to first take cleanliness measures. In order to make sure we keep a “clean house,” we cover the top of the soap-filled molds with a large piece of plastic wrap before leaving the soap to do its thing. This prevents spillage while transferring the molds to their storing location and also keeps dust and dirt particles from gathering on the top of the soap. Once transferred to a temperature controlled room, the soap will continue the saponification process and be ready to cut within 48 to 72 hours.
Partially filled Mold Lined with Parchment Paper
Mold Filled to the Top
Mold Covered with Plastic Wrap
In the last post of this series, we will show our process for producing professionally cut soap bars that maintain all the quality and characteristics of handcrafted soap.
