Buy THE EVERYTHING SOAPMAKING BOOK

Soapmaking

Single-Oil Soaps by Alicia Grosso

Learning what you like and don't like is the first step toward discernment. You can read all the soap books you like, but until you've actually worked with an oil, you won't know how you like it. It's like trying to appreciate the latest hit movie without having seen it. You can read all the reviews and pay attention to the publicity, but until you've actually seen it, it's just theory.

Think of single-oil batches as exercises in discernment. Use these to experience each oil in process and how the soap made from them feels. Use the soaps side by side and make observations in your notebook. Observe the color and scent of each oil. If the oil is solid, make a note of its melting point. When mixed with the lye, how quickly does it begin to trace? How long did it take to get to a light, medium, and full trace? Once poured, how did it set up?

There is no requirement that you make these sample batches, of course. They are merely suggested if you want to fully educate yourself about the properties and behaviors of the oils. You can make batch after batch of excellent soap by following a recipe you like.

Keep some of the single-oil soaps as reference material. The recipes for single-oil soaps given here are nearly fully saponified and will have a long shelf life. They will, of course, decay over time. Make them again every so often to refresh your memory.

Table of Single-Oil Soaps

Oil Name	Oil Amount	Water Amount	Lye Amount
Almond oil	3¾ oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce
Apricot kernel oil	3¾ oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce
Bacon drippings	1 oz.	½ ounce	½ ounce
Canola oil	3¾ oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce
Castor oil	4 oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce
Coconut oil	2¾ oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce
Corn oil	3¾ oz.	1½ ounces	½ ounce

Single-Oil Soap Basic Recipe

1½ ounces water

½ ounce sodium hydroxide

Desired oil

Since it is easier to measure odd amounts of oils than odd amounts of lye, the recipes are all formulated on ½ ounce of lye. The amount of oil used is within 2 to 3 percent of total saponification, depending on the saponification value of each oil. These micro-batches yield about 6 ounces of soap. A ½-pint milk container works very well as a mold. You can just tear the container off the hardened soap and recycle the paper.

Place the water in a small heatproof measuring cup.
Add the lye and stir until it's dissolved.
Warm the oil over hot water or in the microwave.
When both the oil and lye solutions reach 110°F, slowly and carefully pour the lye solution into the oil. (Since the amounts are small, they'll cool to that temperature quite quickly. You're combining them at this relatively high temperature since such small amounts need a little heat boost to get to the gel phase.)
Stir the small batch to trace and pour into a tiny mold.

<tgroup cols="4"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" rowsep="1" colsep="0" align="left" colwidth="30%"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" rowsep="1" colsep="0" align="left" colwidth="20%"/> <colspec colname="col3" colnum="3" rowsep="1" colsep="0" align="left" colwidth="25%"/> <colspec colname="col4" colnum="4" rowsep="1" colsep="0" align="left" colwidth="25%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p>Oil Name</p></td> <td><p>Oil Amount</p></td> <td><p>Water Amount</p></td> <td><p>Lye Amount</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>Grapeseed oil</p></td> <td><p>4 oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Lard</p></td> <td><p>1 oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Macadamia nut oil</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Olive oil, pomace</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Olive oil, extra-virgin</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Palm oil</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Palm kernel oil</p></td> <td><p>3¼ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Solid vegetable shortening</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Soy oil</p></td> <td><p>3¾ oz.</p></td> <td><p>1½ oz.</p></td> <td><p>½ oz.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>After a three-week cure, set up a trial area. Make a chart listing each kind of soap down one side. Across the top, write down the observations you want to make. These will include nature of lather, how drying or moisturizing it is, how soft or hard it is, and what color it is. Add more categories, depending on what is important to you and what you're looking for.</p> <p>So many of the soaps will look exactly alike and it will be impossible to tell them apart visually. Be sure to label each micro-batch with the recipe, the date poured, and the estimated cure date. An easy way to do this is to thread a length of yarn or raffia through the bar and tie the label on that way.</p>  <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/dont-be-afraid-to-reread-directions.htm" title="Don't Be Afraid to Reread Directions">Don't Be Afraid to Reread Directions</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/experimenting-with-color.htm" title="Experimenting with Color">Experimenting with Color</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/single-oil-soaps.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Single-Oil Soaps - Soapmaking </a></li> <li><a href="http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapglossary/g/What-Is-A-SAP-Number.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> SAP number - Saponification Number - Saponification SAP in soap making </a></li> <li><a href="http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapmakingbasics/ht/htsuperfat.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> How to Superfat Your Cold Process Soap Recipes </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-cold-process-technique/getting-started.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Getting Started - Soapmaking </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-hot-process-technique/hot-process-equipment.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Hot-Process Equipment - Soapmaking </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Your First Batches</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/patience-is-a-virtue.htm">Patience Is a Virtue</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/the-learning-curve.htm">The Learning Curve</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/write-down-everything.htm">Write Down Everything</a></li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/dont-be-afraid-to-reread-directions.htm">Don't Be Afraid to Reread Directions</a></li> <li class="btO">Single-Oil Soaps</li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/experimenting-with-color.htm">Experimenting with Color</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-soapmaking-book-2nd-edition"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/soapmaking/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-soapmaking-book-2nd-edition">THE EVERYTHING SOAPMAKING BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-soapmaking-book-2nd-edition">By Alicia Grosso</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-soapmaking-book-2nd-edition">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">Soapmaking Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-renaissance-of-handmade-soapmaking/">The Renaissance of Handmade Soapmaking</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/soapmaking-equipment/">Soapmaking Equipment</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-basic-techniques-and-ingredients/">The Basic Techniques and Ingredients</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/herbs/">Herbs</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/fragrance-oils/">Fragrance Oils</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/essential-oils/">Essential Oils</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/color/">Color</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-cold-process-technique/">The Cold-Process Technique</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/cold-process-recipes/">Cold-Process Recipes</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-hot-process-technique/">The Hot-Process Technique</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/liquid-transparent-and-cream-hot-process-soap-recipes/">Liquid, Transparent, and Cream Hot-Process Soap Recipes</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-soap-casting-technique/">The Soap-Casting Technique</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/soap-casting-projects/">Soap-Casting Projects</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/the-hand-milling-technique/">The Hand-Milling Technique</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/">Your First Batches</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/making-your-own-recipes/">Making Your Own Recipes</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/presenting-your-soap/">Presenting Your Soap</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/deciding-to-sell/">Deciding to Sell</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/bringing-soap-to-the-world/">Bringing Soap to the World</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/appendix-a-glossary/">Soapmaking Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/appendix-b-troubleshooting/">Soapmaking Troubleshooting</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/appendix-c-making-molds-cutters-and-planers/">Making Molds, Cutters, and Planers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/appendix-d-resources/">Soapmaking Resources</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/appendix-e-contemporary-soapmakers/">Contemporary Soapmakers</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/">Soapmaking</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/soapmaking/your-first-batches/">Your First Batches</a></li><li>Single-Oil Soaps</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" rel="nofollow">ConsumerSearch</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"><p>Netplaces.com, a part of <a href="http://www.nytco.com/">The New York Times Company</a>.</p><p>All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>