What you'll need
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How to make it
Lye causes severe burns and blindness, so wear splash goggles and gloves and always add lye to water. Flush any splash with cool water for 15 minutes and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for eyes or mouth.
1Check the recipe
Run these exact oils through a free online lye calculator before you start. It confirms the lye amount for a gentle 5 percent superfat.
2Suit up and clear the room
Put on goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Open a window or work under a vent hood. Kids and pets leave the room until cleanup is done.
3Mix the lye solution
Weigh the water into a #5 plastic or stainless container. Slowly pour the lye into the water, never water into lye, and stir. Don't breathe the fumes. It gets very hot.
4Warm the oils
Melt the coconut oil and add the olive oil. Let both the oils and the lye solution cool to 100 to 110 F.
5Blend to trace
Pour the lye solution into the oils. Pulse the stick blender until it thickens like thin pudding and a drizzle leaves a trail. Stir in fragrance now.
6Pour and insulate
Pour into the mold, cover it and wrap it in a towel. Leave it alone for 24 to 48 hours.
7Cut the bars
Unmold, still wearing gloves, and cut into 1 in bars. Fresh soap can still be caustic.
8Cure for weeks
Stand the bars on a rack with air around them for 4 to 6 weeks. Curing makes them mild, hard and long-lasting.
Edie's tipAlways weigh. Never measure lye or oils by cups or spoons, since a small mistake makes harsh soap.
Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake
