Oven Hot Cold Process Soap Gelling Stage

As this is supposed to be an insight to all things soapy...it might help if I made a start on explaining certain segments of the actual soap making.

Its all going to be hap-hazard as I truely don't believe in being totally organized and straight forward.

This is Gelling ( see below )



The opaque looking edges are where the soap has started to cool down already and starts looking like soap.

Gelling is when the lye & oils/butters mix gets really hot and starts to evolve..it starts off turning into a transparent clear gel ( due to the heat from the chemical reaction between butters & oils & lye) and then it starts to cool down, it will turn back to an opaque colour. Once cool you can demould and cut into your bar shapes.

I normally make mine around dinner time and once made leave until the next morning. A night in a turned off oven or in an airing cupboard will have it ready for the chop.

This is it after a night in the mould

Traditional Cold Process Soap

Well with the big C word fastly approaching I thought I had best get my festive backside into gear and start creating a new range of goodies.

With Cold Process soap making being my most favourite fad at the moment what better way to start.

I have been experimenting with layers and swirls...after seeing some of the most fantastic soap creations I felt more than compelled to have a go. I have to admit that I can just about do layers and maybe a fancy swirl at the top of the loaf which blurs when it goes through the combined Oven Hot Cold Process method. Bear with me as I am sure I will get there in the end.

Scented with Christmas Spice ( Orange , Cinnamon & Nutmeg ) and imprinted with a super cute Reindeer impression, which I have to add I am really chuffed with, here is my first tribute to the festive holiday.




I always find that choosing a name is one of the hardest parts of soaping....it's got to be catchy and memorable. Christmas Reindeer sounds a tad pants but other than Horny Holidays ( Which is a definate no no ) a name is yet to be found....