Different Methods of Soap Making

Xtra Precious create soap using the traditional way- 

Cold Process.

 The cold process method takes the most time, 

but is undoubtedly the best method for producing the highest quality soaps.

Let's see what is Cold Process Soap and how was it done.

A cold-process soapmaker first looks up the saponification value for each unique fat on an Oil Specification Sheet for each fat. Oil Specification Sheets contain laboratory test results for each fat, including the precise saponification value of the fat. The saponification value must be converted into an equivalent sodium hydroxide value for use in cold process soapmaking. Most soap makers formulate their recipes with a 2–5% deficit of lye, so all of the lye is converted and excess fat is left for a gentler soap.
The lye is dissolved in water.

Then oils are heated, or melted if they are solid at room temperature. Once the oils are liquefied and the lye is fully dissolved in water, they are combined. This lye-fat mixture is mixed until the two phases (oils and water) are fully emulsified. Emulsification is most easily identified visually when the soap exhibits some level of "trace", which is the thickening of the mixture. There are varying levels of trace. Depending on how additives will affect trace, they may be added at light trace, medium trace, or heavy trace. After much stirring (from 1 hour to up to 6 hours), the mixture turns to the consistency of a thin pudding. Essential Oils can be added with the initial soaping oils, but solid additives such as botanicals, herbs, oatmeal, or other additives are most commonly added at light trace, just as the mixture starts to thicken.

 

Handmade soaps sold at a shop in Hyères, France

The batch is then poured into moulds, kept warm with towels or blankets, and left to continue saponification for 12 to 48 hours.After the insulation period, the soap is firm enough to be removed from the mould and cut into bars. At this time, it is safe to use the soap, since saponification is in essence complete. However, cold-process soaps are typically cured and hardened on a drying rack for 2–6 weeks before use. During this cure period, trace amounts of residual lye are consumed by saponification and excess water evaporates.

 However,

Not all handmade soaps in the market is using Cold Process method.

Listed below are some different methods:

One common and also the easiest way is called "melt and pour" soap. 

There are even melt and pour kits you can buy to make cute soap shapes with your kids. 

These are generally glycerine based transparent soaps. 

They're not as harmful (usually) as the commercial bars, but they're not what we're looking for here.

The other method is "hot process". 

In the hot process, the hydroxide and the fat are heated and mixed together at 80–100°C, a little below boiling point, until saponification is complete. And some argue that cooking will reduce or destroy altogether the "live" properties of the oils.

To sum it up, the best soap for your skin and our planet is a handmade, all natural cold process soap bar. 

Once you've tried one of these lathery treasures, you'll never again be satisfied with 'store-bought' bars. 

So do yourself and your world a big favor and start using REAL soap.