Olive oil soap (castile)
Ingredients :
30ml (2tablespoons) sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye
180ml (¾ cup) water (distilled/spring)
500ml (2cups) olive oil
2ml (1teaspoon) borax (dissolved into a small amount of hot water)
Method :
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Stir the caustic soda into lukewarm water until dissolved.
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Heat the olive oil until lukewarm, keep stirring while adding the caustic soda solution. Whisk it good until it is mixed well (this might take some time).
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Add the borax and keep stirring until it thickens to reach a creamy consistency.
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Pour into shapes/mold of choice, cover with blanket or towel and leave for approximately 2 weeks.
Remarks :
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This recipe makes a very small amount of soap.
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Don’t color olive oil soap, it has a natural light-yellow creamy tone, you can however, add a fragrance oil.
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This soap has a very fine texture.
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Watch out for too much sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye.
Warning : Sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye is a very harmful substance with corrosive properties, wear rubber gloves, protective eye wear(plastic goggles or spectacles) and a mask if possible(fumes) at all times when handling this chemical, a parent or guardian should be present at all times if you are still a child or teenager. Work in a well ventilated area and also, NEVER add water to your sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye, add the chemical to water.)
