How Soap is Made

The process that the home soap maker will use is referred to as "cold process soap making". Even though it is called a cold process, heat is required for the chain reaction to take place. This heat is provided by the chain reaction of the water and the lye and their incorporation into the oil or fat. (You will notice that when the lye is poured into the water it heats up immediately) Stirring the oil/fat/lye mixture helps this process to continue and to be uniform.

There are several ways to make soap:

Cold Press Method - saponification takes place over several days. Glycerin, which is a natural by-product of this process, remains in the finished soap. This natural emollient will make your soap kind to the skin.
Blender Method - to make one pound batches only.
Continuous Process Method - the method by which commercial products are made.
Boiling Method - Steam is introduced into the soap mixture. After saponification has been completed, salt is added which causes the soap and glycerin to separate. Since we want to make the kindest , richest soaps, we will concentrate on the first two methods.