In this video, I will show you how to make Cold Process Soap with Lemon and Honey. Using this method ensures that my homemade soap turns out beautifully. First, I freeze fresh lemon juice, then mix it with NaOH to create a lye solution. After that, I add Manuka honey directly into the mixture, stirring until it's fully dissolved. This method helps to manage the heat during the soap-making process, preventing overheating.
Lemon juice contains citric acid. When mixed with NaOH, the citric acid reacts to form sodium citrate. Sodium citrate acts as a chelating agent, meaning it binds with metal ions in water, which helps prevent soap scum from forming. By using sodium citrate, I can ensure that the soap performs well in both soft and hard water.
RECIPE:
Oils and Butters (Total weight based on formula):
🫘 5% Castor Oil (25 g)
🥥 15% Coconut Oil (75 g)
🧈 30% Cocoa Butter (150 g)
🫒 26% Olive Oil (130 g)
🧴 24% Shea Butter (120 g)
Lye Solution:
⚗️ 73 g NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide)*
🍋 150 g Frozen Lemon Juice
🍯 1/2 tsp Honey
Important Note: Always handle sodium hydroxide with extreme care. Wear protective gear, including gloves, goggles, and long-sleeved clothing. Work in a well-ventilated area and follow all safety guidelines.
* The citric acid content in lemon juice ranges from 5% to 7%. Therefore, in 150 g of lemon juice, there will be approximately 7.5 to 10.5 g of citric acid. For this recipe, I take the average value of 9 g of citric acid present in 150 g of lemon juice. To neutralize this amount of citric acid, I will need 5.6 g of NaOH. Initially, the required amount of NaOH for soap making is 67.4 g, which corresponds to a 5% superfat. When I add the 5.6 g of NaOH needed to neutralize the citric acid, the total amount of NaOH required becomes 73 g.
Note: During the curing process, white crystalline spots may appear on the surface of the soap due to the sodium citrate in the recipe. This is normal, non-harmful, and can be easily rinsed off.
STEPS:
00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Prepare Lemon Juice
01:40 - Prepare Oils
04:09 - Prepare Essential Oil Blend
04:49 - Make Lye Solution
06:40 - Add Honey to the Lye Mixture
07:25 - Add Lye to Oil
09:35 - Blend Mixture
11:05 - Pour into Mold
12:26 - Unmold
13:46 - Cut Soap
14:59 - Lather Test
DISCLAIMER:
This video is intended to share personal experiences in making soap at home and is not a tutorial. The soap recipe in this video is based on personal preference and is not created for commercial use or to suit everyone. Results may vary depending on environmental conditions, ingredients, and individual techniques. The creator is not responsible for any issues that may arise from following the steps and recipe presented in this video.