Genevieve and I had the chance to make soap and lotion at the 2021 Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers' Association (NEKBA) Annual FunDay on June 5, 2021. What a great day! We made Gentle Geranium Honey & Oatmeal Soap and Frankincense Anti-Wrinkle Lotion.
In case anyone wants to try these out at home, here are the recipes -
Gentle Geranium Honey & Oatmeal Soap
Created by Joanna R. Will, Prairie Turnip Farm Soaps, www.prairieturnipfarm.com
(2.5 lb mold version)
- 8 ounces coconut oil
- 20 ounces olive oil
- 9.5 ounces distilled water (I use around 18 or 19 oz)
- 3.93 ounces lye (sodium hydroxide)
At trace add:
- 1/2 tablespoons ground oats,
- 1 teaspoon honey, mixed into -
- ½ tablespoon sunflower oil
Essential Oils -
- 25 g orange 5x
- 6 g geranium
- 5 g lemongrass
- 1.5 g litsea
Note: Soaps containing honey do not need to be insulated or covered. If you see a crack forming across the top, that means the soap is getting too hot in the mold. If that happens, move the mold to a cooler place (or even your refrigerator) for several hours to help.
Equipment:
Kitchen scale
Candy or digital thermometer
Ceramic pot or sturdy plastic container for mixing the lye solution
Large glass bowl for oils and stick blending (preferably with a handle for ease of pouring soap into mold)
Small bowls for essentials oils, oatmeal and honey/oil mixture
Soap mold – 2.5 pound wooden or 10-inch silicone (you won’t need the parchment paper if using silicone)
Parchment paper
Bubble wrap
Sturdy rubber spatula
Large spoon
Measuring spoons
Container large enough to hold your glass bowl, to be used for ice bath
Ice
Stick blender
Protective eyewear
Gloves
Long-sleeved shirt
Apron (optional)
To make the soap -
Step 1: Prepare the mold by lining with parchment paper and bubble wrap (along the bottom of the mold with the bubble side up). Measure out essential oils, ground oatmeal, and honey/sunflower oil mixture in individual small bowls. Set aside, near where you will be stick-blending your soap.
Step 2: Into a large glass bowl, measure the coconut oil and olive oil. Heat until the mixture is between 110 and 120 degrees F. Set aside.
Step 3: Measure distilled water into ceramic pot or bowl or sturdy plastic bowl. Set aside, near an open window or under your stove vent. Prepare an ice bath in a baking dish or other container, to hold about an inch of ice water. Be sure the container with your distilled water fits into the bath.
Step 4: Put on your gloves and protective eyewear. Carefully measure the lye into a small bowl. Turn on the stove vent or open the window. Slowly pour the lye into the distilled water, stirring with a sturdy rubber spatula. Stir until lye is completely dissolved. The mixture will be clear. Carefully place the bowl into an ice bath and stir, checking the temperature frequently until the temperature drops to between 110 and 120 degrees F.
Step 5: Add essential oils, ground oats, and honey & sunflower oil mixture to the oils. Stir.
Step 6: Add lye mixture to the oil mixture. Lower your stick blender into the mixture and gently stir to blend. Tap your stick blender to remove air bubbles. Blend with stick blender until trace is achieved. The mixture will be thin pudding consistency and there will be a mark left on the surface when you pull the stick blender out.
Step 7: Carefully pour the mixture into your prepared mold. Tap the mold gently on the counter a few times to even out the soap and remove bubbles.
Let the soap harden in the mold for about 48 hours, then remove and cut into bars. Cure the soap bars on a rack for 4 – 6 weeks, and then enjoy using your honey and oatmeal soap!
Note: Soaps containing honey don’t need to be covered or insulated. If a crack starts to form across the top of the soap, put the mold in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
For questions, contact Joanna Will, prairieturnipfarm@gmail.com.
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