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Without fail, the number one question
we're asked is, "How do you make soap?"
Actually, it's a fairly simple--yet magical--process that is not unlike cooking
fine food from scratch. The only difference is that we don't actually cook
the soap (and we don't eat it!). Instead, we make soap in the time-honored
"cold kettle" method, a process in which the soap is created at low temperatures
ensuring the natural nutrients and healing benefits of the herbs and essential
oils are retained--and made readily available to your skin.
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| First, we gather the tools of
the trade: Stainless steel pots and spoons, digital scale, wooden spoons, plastic
pitchers and of course, safety equipment such as eye goggles, rubber gloves
and protective clothing to handle sodium hydroxide (lye), which is what turns
ordinary vegetable oils into our luscious, creamy soaps! |
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Once all the components are assembled, we measure each ingredient to within
1/10th of an ounce. This precision is important for consistency, mildness
and stability. It is what keeps our soaps so gentle and nourishing, instead
of nearly tearing your hide off like Grandma's laundry soap used to do (Sorry,
Grandma)!
The first ingredient is lye (sodium hydroxide), which we will then mix with
pre-measured, purified spring water. The solution will heat up to nearly 200
degrees in a matter of minutes due to the exothermic
reaction--the same type of reaction which causes plaster to heat up
when mixed with water.
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| While the lye and water are cooling,
we move on to measure all the solid fats--or butters--which will make up the
base of our soap. Here, we're measuring organic coconut oil, which is responsible
for the abundant, lovely lather that is a signature of WoodSprite Organic Soap.
This is when we add organic shea, organic cocoa, mango and organic palm butters,
too. |
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Once all the solid fats are measured, they are heated to a low temperature
of 100 degrees farenheit. This is the only external heat applied to a cold-kettle
soap; just enough to melt the solid butters together with the primary base
of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which we feel makes a superior moisturizing
soap. We'll also add other exotic oils like Organic Sweet Almond, Avocado,
Rice Bran, Sesame or Kukui, which provide extra nourishment and moisturizing
properties to the skin.
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While the lye cools and the fats melt, we measure out the Certified Organic
herbs and botanicals, then the pure Essential Oils which give our soaps their
intoxicating, irresistable natural scents.
This batch is Patchouli, so we'll be using Pure East Indian Dark Patchouli
Essential Oil and Certified Organic Black Walnut Hulls for a rich, chocolatey
color. |
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Now that all the oils are melted together and the lye solution
has cooled to approximately 100 degrees farenheit, we carefully stir the lye
into the oils.
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| Using a spoon and hand-blender,
we mix rapidly to ensure thorough blending of each lye molecule with each fat
molecule. These molecules will all break apart and then reassemble into a totally
new one, comprised of two fatty acids and a glyceride (glycerin),
the magical secret which makes handmade soaps so soothing and moisturizing.
This is creative alchemy at its finest! Gold for the skin. |
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It only takes about 15 to 30 minutes of mixing for the lye-water
and oils to thicken together, resembling a thin pudding. This thickening stage
is called "trace", and it means that most of the molecules are now linked
up. It's also the signal that we need to add the herbs and essential oils
because the thickening will speed up fast!
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| After all the organic botanicals
and essential oils are added, the soap is very much the texture of pudding.
It's time to pour the soap mixture into the mould--a lined wooden box that
we can disassemble in order to cut the soap. |
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Once all the soap is poured into the lined mould, we'll cover
and insulate it with blankets, which will enable the saponification (or transformation
into soap) to be completed over the next 48 hours.
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| After 48 hours, the mixture will
be a solid, 35-lb. block of pure organic soap. Once it is unmoulded and the
liner is removed, we'll cut it by hand into logs, then individual bars. |
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The cut bars will be placed on a curing rack and allowed to age over the
next month--much like fine wine or cheese. This curing process allows the
excess water to evaporate, making the organic soaps milder, harder and longer
lasting.
After a month, the fresh organic soaps are carefully labeled by hand and
placed into special wooden drawers, ready to be sold and shipped to you.
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