Adirondack Suds and Scents ~ Old Fashioned Homemade Soap ~ Made in the Adirondack Mountains!

Hot Process Soapmaking

I have also started to make soap using the "Hot Process" method, This is more like the old fashioned soap that grandma used to make. I use a crock pot to "COOK" the soap.
It starts off the same way that cold process soap does, but I mix everything in the crock pot. Once it reaches "trace", which means it is thick like a pudding and a stream of
soap will stay suspended on the surface for a few seconds, I then put the lid on and let it start to self turn. The soap will go through different stages, which can sometimes be
hard to see unless you are right there staring at it at all times. I then stir it down and let it self turn a second time. I then have to stay close by as it can volcano out of the crock
pot if I am not careful. If you ever decide to try soap making, please be sure to READ, READ and READ some more!! Join some forums, these can be a GREAT source of
information. There is a lot to soapmaking, and you have to make sure you are creating a good quality soap that is not harsh or lye heavy. Don't even think about selling soap
until you have a minimum of one year of soapmaking under your belt!

The first thing before attempting ANY soapmaking, is SAFETY GEAR!!! ALWAYS wear goggles, gloves, shoes and protective long sleeve clothing!!

I have taken some pictures of this process as I was making it. Please check below to see the photos.

The main difference between cold process and hot process, is that when the hot process is done, it is SOAP! You get it in the mold and after it has hardened and then cut into
bars, it is safe to use right away!! I do let mine sit for at least a week though, to let some of the moisture evaporate, so I get a harder bar.

I am glad you have taken the time to read this information. I want to be sure everyone understands the methods of soapmaking. I hope you find some soap here that you would
like to try!! Be sure to check out my homemade soap page and give some a try!!!

Here the oils have melted in the
crock pot.


		I have added Australian Red Clay for color here, and I have also stirred in the LYE water.

Here the mixture has reached
trace. It is very hard to photograph
this stage, it is like a thick pudding
at this stage.

This is the beginning of the self
turning stage. I will let it
continue doing this until it
reaches to the middle. I will
then stir it down. If it starts to
rise to the top to fast, I will stir it
down before it reaches the
middle.

Here is almost to the middle, I will
be stirring it down very soon!

This is after the first stir down.
This is what is called the
applesauce stage, simply
because it will resemble
applesauce.

This is the beginning of the
second self turn. It can start to
volcano after this stage, so I need
to stay close! I could not get
pictures of the next stage as I was
to busy stirring!!!

This is the last stage. SOAP! It
will now look like vaseline! I will
add the fragrance oil at this
stage and stir it in well then get
the soap in the mold.

Here it is in the mold. I will
let it sit to harden, then
take it out and cut it!

The finished product!

SOAP!

This is a batch of Peppermint
Guest Size soap that I use as
samples at my markets!

Stages from Hot Process Soapmaking