Okay, here’s my sharing about making a soap brick:
So, I got this idea to make a soap brick. I saw some stuff online about how natural soap is better for your skin and the environment, so I thought, why not give it a shot?
First, I gathered all the stuff I needed. This included some oils, like coconut oil and olive oil, and some lye. I also picked up some essential oils for fragrance and some natural colorants to make it look pretty. I made sure I had all my safety gear, like gloves and goggles because lye can be pretty nasty if you’re not careful.
Next, I mixed the lye with water. This part was a bit tricky, and I had to be super careful because it gets really hot and releases fumes. I did this outside to make sure there was plenty of ventilation. Then, I let that cool down while I prepared the oils.
I melted the solid oils and mixed them with the liquid ones. Once everything was all liquid and at the right temperature, I slowly poured the lye mixture into the oils, stirring constantly. This is where the magic starts to happen – it’s called saponification, where the oils and lye turn into soap.
After a bunch of stirring, the mixture started to thicken. This is what they call “trace.” I added in my essential oils and colorants at this point. I went with lavender because I love the smell, and a bit of purple mica for color. I stirred some more to make sure everything was mixed in well.
- Gather ingredients and safety gear
- Carefully mix lye with water
- Melt and combine oils
- Slowly mix lye solution with oils
- Stir until trace is reached
- Add essential oils and colorants
- Pour into mold and insulate
- Wait for it to harden
- Unmold and cut into bars
- Cure for a few weeks
Then, I poured the mixture into a mold. I just used a simple wooden box lined with parchment paper. I covered it with a lid and wrapped it in a towel to keep it warm. This helps the saponification process continue.
I left it alone for about 24-48 hours to harden up. It was hard to wait, but I knew it needed time. After that, I unmolded it and cut it into bars. They looked pretty good, if I do say so myself!
Finally, I placed the bars in a well-ventilated area to cure for a few weeks. This makes the soap harder and milder. After that long wait, they were finally ready to use!
Using my homemade soap for the first time was awesome. It felt great knowing I made it myself, and my skin felt really soft and clean afterward. Plus, it smelled amazing! Overall, making a soap brick was a fun and rewarding experience. It’s a bit of work, but totally worth it. I might even try making some other scents and colors next time!
