Title: Pearlescent Liquid Soap
Categories: Soap *
Yield: 1 Batch

1	tb	Sugar
91	g	Distilled water, boiling
34	g	Potassium hydroxide, flake or pellet
30	g	Distilled water
110	g	Coconut oil
22	g	Castor oil
22	g	Vegetable glycerine
1/2	ts	Pure essential oil or fragrance oil, optional

1. Dissolve the sugar into the 91 g of boiling water. Cover and set aside.

2. Dissolve teh potassium hydroxide intot eh 30 g of water and set aside.

3. Heat the coconut oil and castor oil over low heat until the coconut oil melts. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the oils and the potassium hydroxide solution to cool for 5 more minutes.

4. Drizzle the potassium hydroxide solution into the oils, whisking continuously with a stainless-steel whisk until the mixture traces. Once it does, place the pan back on the stove, set on medium-low, and the soap to 120øF. Add the vegetable glycerine to the warm soap, blending well.

5. Reheat the sugar solution quickly to around 140øF to 150øF.

6. Add the hot sugar solution to the soap, gently blending the mixture. Heat to 160øF; then pour the soap into a heat-resistant glass pitcher. Some stable lather will float on the surface of the mixture, but it will eventually be incorporated. Allow the soap to rest for 10 minutes; then whisk the separated mixture well before placing the bowl in the refrigerator.

7. Whisk the refrigerated mixture every 5 to 10 minutes until it is cool and well blended. Refrigeration is no longer necessary once the soap mixutre stops separating between stirrings. Pour into a container and cover.

8. A day later, pour the soap into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and add a few tablespoons of water (as little as necessary for your desired consistency). Over medium-low heat, warm the soap slightly; then gently blend the soap and water to your desired consistency. Add the essential oil and pour into a liquid soap dispenser.

Source: "The Soapmaker's Companion" by Susan Miller Cavitch

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