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Title: Silky See-Through Soap
Categories: Soap *
Yield: 1 Batch
| POLYOL MIXTURE | ||
| 94 1/8 | g | Vegetable glycerine |
| 77 7/8 | g | Distilled water |
101 1/4 g Quick-dissolving sugar 232 3/4 g Ethanol (Everclear)
-------------------------------FATS AND OILS------------------------------- 17 1/2 g Wheat germ oil 17 1/2 g Shea butter 70 1/8 g Cocoa butter 35 1/8 g Palm oil 140 1/4 g Coconut oil 120 1/8 g Castor oil
--------------------------------LYE SOLUTION-------------------------------- 156 1/3 g Distilled water 61 1/3 g Sodium hydroxide
----------------------------------OPTIONAL---------------------------------- 3 ts Pure essential oil or -fragrance oil
1. Using a gram scale, measure out the vegetable glycerin and the sugar into two separate containers and set aside.
2. Weigh the correct amount of ethanol into one of the glass measuring cups and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
3. To make the sugar syrup, add the 77.9 grams of water to measuring cup containing sugar. Heat in the microwave for around 30 seconds on high until the water just comes to a boil. Remove the cup and dissolve the sugar by stirring very quickly. Seal the cup tightly with microwave plastic wrap or foil until you are ready to use it.
4. Set the small saucepan on the scale and add the corredt weights of fats and oils. Set aside.
5. Into the third small glass measuring cup, add the 156.4 grams of cold water. Into a small container, weigh out the sodium hydroxide. Thoroughly dissolve the sodium hydroxide in the water, stirring quickly. Set aside to cool to 120øF to 130øF.
6. Heat the fats and oils at medium-high setting until the coconut and palm oils have melted (no need to stir).
7. When the fats/oils and the lye solution both reach around 120ø to 130ø, drizzle the lye solution into the fats/oils and stir very quickly (as quickly as possible when stirring by hand; when using an electric mixer with a splash-guard, set on speed 2 at first, then speed 3, and eventually even 4 as the soap becomes progressively thicker). Unlike opaque soap, this soap must thicken to the fullest trace, more like a light pudding. This tiny batch takes around 15 minutes to saponify in the electric mixer.
8. When the soap is good and thick, use a spatula to scrape it into the 3 quart soapmaking pan. Add the vegetable glycerine to the soap and stir gently over a medium-low setting until the soap reaches 130øF. Remove the pan from the stove and drizzle in the alcohol.
9. Place pan back on the stove at a medium-low seting, and with minimum intrusion, "scrunch" it. Until the soap melts and combines with the alcohol, it will float above the alcohol in solid clumps. Do not stir this mixture, but scrunch it with a rubber spatula (gently mash and melt it into the solution). Continue until the soap mixute and the alcohol melt into a uniform blend, or until the mixture reaches 160øF. If the liquid reaches this temperature, remove the pan from the heat and scrunch the final few pieces of soap while off the stove.
10. Reheat the sugar syrup for 30 seconds on the high setting in the microwave, to approximately 160øF. Set the soapmaking pan back on the burner and check to be sure the temperature is close to 160øF. If it has cooled somewhat, heat the soap mixture before adding the 160øF sugar syrup. Slowly blend the sugar syrup and the soap mixture, using only 3 or 4 gently strokes of the spatula. Do not stir, or the bubbles will affect the final soap.
11. When the soap mixture reaches 180øF and a film begins to form on its surface, remove soap mixture from the heat. If any small pieces of soap remain, gently scrunch them into the solution. Work quickly, though gently. The goal is to pour soon after removing the soap from the heat. Ignore the small amount of foam that is soon strained from the soap.
12. Pour the soap mixture through a small-mesh strainer (the finest mesh you can find) into a heat-proof glass bowl. Pour slowly, leaving any film, foam, or solids behind the pan. Gently stir in the essential oil, blending well. Using a clean strainer, strain the soap once more as it is poured into the plastic mold.
13. Immediately place the soap tray int he coldest part of the freezer for 3/4 to 1 hour, or until the soap is hard enough through the center (gently press down on the center to test for resistance).
14. Pop the frozen soap out of the mold onto a cutting board. Cut the soap into bars, and trim any film or stable lather off the top of each bar. Let the bars rest at room temperature for 2 weeks, allowing time for the excess alcohol and water to evaporate.
15. Using a lint-free cloth soaked in ethanol, polish the bars. Allow the soap to rest for 2 weeks to evaporate the excess alcohol and water; then use a lint-free towel soaked in ethanol to wipe any residual moisture from the bars.
Source: "The Soapmaker's Companion" by Susan Miller Cavitch
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