Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
10½ ounces (298 g) lye (use soap makers lye)
24 ounces (710 ml) bottled water
2 ounces (60 ml) essential oil blend
1½ ounces (40 ml) sweet orange oil
½ ounce (14 ml) Litsea oil (lemony aroma)
½ ounce (14 ml) ylang-ylang oil (sweet jasmine scent)
2 teaspoons (9 g) red ochre dye
A five-gallon (19 l) stainless-steel container is used to mix the water and lye.
Very important note:
The lye is
added to the water
, then the water/lye mix gets very hot
and the fumes become dangerous. Outside is a good place to do this. Good ventilation
is critical. Notice the small drain pipe with the spigot at the bottom of the pail.
(1) Add the lye water to the oil blend and stir constantly. The experienced soap makers
say to make the stream of lye water the size of a pencil as it is being added. The drain
pipe here is, yes, the size of a pencil. It is much easier to add the lye water with a pipe
and spigot than to be slowly pouring and stirring. Often you need three hands when
doing this.
Turn off the burner and remove the pan from the stove. Place the pan on a protected
surface (the covering board you have, covered with newspaper works fine). Add the lye
mix to the oil mix very slowly, stirring constantly. If pouring from a bowl slowly dribble
the mix in while stirring. If using a spigot adjust so the flow is no thicker than a pen-
cil. The mixture will warm again as the oil and lye are mixed and the chemical process
continues. Continue to stir, and figure about fifteen minutes or so for this to finish. If
