Homemade Soap

Learn how to make your own lavender and chamomile soap with these steps.

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Project by Barbara Briggs from Atlanta, Ga.

Barbara loves soap so much she's even a member of the Soap Maker's Guild. In this project, she makes lavender and chamomile soap wrapped in handmade paper.

Materials and Tools:

lavender and chamomile essential oils
ground lavender buds
rectangular wooden box
freezer paper
stainless steel pot
safety glassesgloves
water
stick blender
thermometer
drying rack
old blankets
soponified pomace olive, coconut, and palm kernel oils *
lye *

* Note: You can also use a soap-making kit or other pre-packaged soap-making supplies and proceed as described below, adding fragrance and molding soap in a box.

Steps:

1. Line box with freezer paper.

2. If you're making soap from scratch: Select and measure ingredients by weight. Mix lye and water (solution rises to 200 to 250 F degrees.) Cool solution to 90 F degrees.

3. Melt oils to 90 degrees.