Here are my most favorite soap recipes from scratch. I make a batch of each of these every few years and we love them around here. In fact when we run out, my husband doesn't stop bugging me about making more until I have more stacked nicely on the shelf.

Caution: In my experience, commercial lye is extremely caustic and unforgiving. Take it seriously and wear eye protection, protective gloves, and keep all skin surfaces covered when working with any type of lye.

Basic Bar Soap

To make 9 pounds:

6 lbs clean fat (about 13 cups)
1/4 cup borax (optional)
1 can lye (13 oz.)
5 cups water

If you want to experiment by making only one bar, here are the ratios:

1 cup fat
1 t borax (optional)
5 t lye
1/2 c water

1. Warm fat until melted, and cool to 95 to 100 degrees F.
2. In a glass bowl, dissolve lye in cold water, add borax and cool to 95 to 100 degrees F.
3. Pour lye solution into the fat in a thin, steady stream with slow, even stirring. Continue stirring until soap mixture has a creamy, thick honeylike texture. This should take 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Pour into molds.
5. After at least 24 hours, or when the soap is firm enough to handle, remove soap from molds. Leave uncovered in freely flowing air for at least 2 to 4 weeks to cure. Many soap makers allow their soap to cure 6 to 8 weeks. Remember, soap that has not cured long enough can cause skin burns. It won’t hurt the soap to let it cure longer.

***If you would like to add color to your soap, melt a crayon with the fat in step one.
***If you would like to scent your soap, add 2-4 teaspoons of an essential oil of your choice and mix well right before pouring into molds (only a few drops if you are making only one bar. Do NOT use alcohol-based perfume, as it will cause the soap to separate. Only oil based fragrances can be used.

Solving problems:

If the soap mixture does not become thick in 30 minutes, set the pan in cold water and continue stirring.

If the mixture is lumpy, it is probably too cool. Set the pan in warm water and stir until the lumps dissolve.

If the soap has streaks of grease in it or it is crumbly, it can be reclaimed by adding a small amount of water and dissolving it over low heat. Stir occasionally. When soap appears thick, pour into molds.


Coconut Soap

To make 9 lbs.:

3 pounds vegetable shortening about (6 1/2 cups)
2 cups coconut oil
4 cups olive oil
1 can lye (13 oz.)
5 cups water

Follow the directions for making Basic Bar Soap above, mixing the oils and shortening together.

Variation:

4 cups tallow (beef fat)
4 cups olive oils
4 cups coconut oil
1 can lye (13 oz.)
5 cups water

Follow the directions for making the Basic Bar Soap above, mixing together the tallow and oils.

I added these recipes to the download section for those who may be interested:

http://www.ldspreppers.com/local_lin...&catid=2&id=91