When it comes to handmade soap, people have been making lye soap for thousands of years. Whether they use the hot process or the cold process, lye soap is a staple in most cultures. While lye is a harmful substance in its pure form, with the proper precautions, you can safely learn how to make lye soap that can be both decorative and functional.

The Benefits of Making Lye Soap

When lye is combined with oil it goes through a chemical reaction called saponification. During this process, both soap molecules and glycerin are formed. There are two main methods used for creating soap in this manner; the hot process and the cold process.

As the names suggest, one has heat applied during the process while the other does not. The use of the heat in the hot process accelerates saponification and makes your soap ready for use more quickly. Nevertheless, that method is more complicated and most hobbyists choose the cold process in order to make their soap. With the cold process, it can take several weeks before the soap is ready for use.

You used to be able to obtain lye from your local store but due to its harmful qualities, most stores have pulled it from their shelves. Lye is still easily obtained online, however, and you can readily find soap suppliers to sell you lye in whatever quantities you need.

The Cautions of Making Lye Soap

When making lye soap you need to be extremely cautious. Lye is a very harmful substance before it goes through the saponifcation process. It will cause serious burns if it comes in contact with your skin or eyes. When you are learning how to make lye soap, it is vital that you acquire the proper safety habits and equipment. Be sure to have gloves, safety goggles, and a working surface that is protected. It is recommended to use products that are glass, enamel, plastic or wooden to mix the water with the lye to prevent any unwanted reactions from taking place. Also, make sure your working surface is well separated or protected from surfaces where you prepare and consume food. If you buy a large quantity of lye and you will not use it all at once, keep the remainder well labeled and out of reach of children or pets as it can be very harmful to them.

The first steps to making lye soap are to measure the lye and the water. Lye is commonly sold in brick form, which makes it easy to measure. When making lye soap, however, it is important to remember that you always add the lye to the water. Water and lye have an interesting chemical relationship and if you were to pour the water into the lye, the lye might explode getting the chemical on your skin and whatever else is around. If you add the lye very slowly to the water, the lye does not explode but, rather, heats up the water – sometimes getting as hot as 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Basic Cold Process Instructions for How to Make Lye Soap

After the lye and water are combined to create the lye solution, add it to a pot of oils you have prepared to make the soap mixture. Stir the soap mixture until it thickens and reaches "trace". It is at this point that you can add your scents and colorants to customize your soap. Stir them into the soap mixture and pour it into your molds. Let the soaps set for 24 hour before removing it from the molds and allowing them to cure for 4-6 weeks.

While there are a lot of precautions to be taken when it comes to making lye soap, it can still be a very enjoyable hobby. People have been making lye soap for generations and, with the variety of colors and designs available to customize the soap, it has become a luxurious handcrafted product found in gift stores and bath stores alike.