Written by Carol Pincione • Posted on October 2 2021
Prior to this post I talked about safety, sodium hydroxide and the preparation of ingredients. Let's see now what happens during saponification!
Once the right temperature range is reached, I add the lye solutions to the melted oils&butters and I start blending with short bursts using a stick blender. Chemical reaction starts: alkali sodium hydroxide solution reacts with fatty acids from the oils and start to saponify.
Once the batter reaches a light trace, additives like clay, essential oils, botanicals are added for extra benefits, combined and stirred for a few more minutes.
The soap batter is poured into the moulds, follows texture and decor to terminate the process. I normally seal my soap loaves with a cover and blankets for approximately 24 hours. They are then cut and left to cure for 4-6 weeks. Once this time is passed, they reach your homes!
