Olive Oil Soap Recipe - Homemade Castille Soap 2

Try to get them as close as you can to 100 degrees each.
To cool the olive oil/remove from heat or place in an ice bath
To reheat the lye (place the lye solution pitcher in a sink filled with hot water.

Now they are both approximately 100 degrees. While gently stirring with a wooden spoon, carefully pour the lye mixture into the olive oil. After all of the lye solution has been stirred in- you may bring out the hand blender. The type I use is pictured above. (Page 1) Do NOT try any other type of mixer. This could be dangerous. (mine is a GE hand blender) Some people call them wand or stick blenders. It's important that they have a long handle to keep from splashing the oil and lye.

Blend carefully until you see trailings. Trailings look like ripples of slightly thicker liquid that will sit on top of the surface. If you lift a
wooden spoon and drizzle some of the mixture it will sit on top of the surface in distinct ripples like caramel on a caramel apple. If you mix it too long it will become thick like gelatin.

When you see trailings, stop mixing and carefully pour it into your plastic mold. Once it's in the mold,this is the time to stir in any essential oils and/or
dried herbs. With your wooden spoon, stir in your fragrances/herbs until combined.
Put the lid securely onto the mold and wrap in a blanket.

With your gloves on, open the mold in approximately 12 hours to see if there is any oil that separated from the lye mixture. If it is solid, wrap it back up and leave it for 48 hours untouched. If there is separation, ( any oil floating on top) gently stir with a wooden spoon. Then re-cover it, wrap and test every 12 hours until there is no separation.
About 48 hours after there is no separation you can remove the soap from the mold. It should be semi hard like a solid brick. If it is obviously too soft,or will not come out of the mold easily it may need more drying time. If this is the case, take the lid off and let it get some air for 24 more hours and retest.

After removing the soap block, put it onto a chopping block covered with a sheet of wax paper. Cut it into bar size pieces.

Arrange the bars evenly spaced, (without touching eachother) on a wax paper covered baking sheet. Allow them to dry and cure for 2-3 weeks before wrapping or using.