How to Make Soap from Scratch- Cold Process

Buy all your soapmaking supplies here: bit.ly/XkN2xU
The guest size soap mold I use is this one: amzn.to/TxsjlF
The crinkle cutter I used can be found here: amzn.to/UGQpdi
(Please note: these are affiliate links).
In this week's tutorial I show you how to make your own handmade soap from scratch! It's not difficult and can easily be made using just 4 ingredients- canola oil, olive oil, water, and sodium hydroxide (lye). I came up with this recipe myself and it does not include any fragrances or colors. I wanted to keep it nice and simple for you guys.
This is just an introduction to soapmaking. If you want to take it a step further I recommend you do your research and learn as much about soapmaking as you can because there are a lot of different factors that play a role in the chemical process that is creating soap.
Read the blog post here: craftygemini.com/2011/07/maki...
This video is fully captioned for the hearing impaired.
The websites I recommended in this video are:
www.teachsoap.com
www.soapqueen.com
www.soapdelinews.com
candleandsoap.about.com/
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[@Meadroit]

Great video! I love making my own soap. One other thing that I would mention is to keep plain white vinegar open and nearby. Vinegar will stop lye from burning, just in case it gets splashed on your skin. I also use it to clean my utensils and such up with after, as it neutralizes the lye and makes it safer for my hands to be around. Love it! : )

[@michelehauter9544]

Thanks for the information

[@tommyv5435]

Learned that from Fight Club

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Glad I could help. I was scared at first too... I had my husband do the first batch for me and then I saw it was easy just required some safety steps. No biggie!

[@ocularion9709]

I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!! I used it to make my first castile soap! Thank you SO MUCH for making it so easy to follow! I'm so excited 😁

[@livhynes]

Vanessa, I came across your video one day as I was researching the soap making process out of curiosity. I didn't intend on making soap myself, but you inspired me to try! It's a lot of fun! Thank you for your videos!

[@cocoalove18]

You convinced me to try making my own soap. This is the easiest, clearest tutorial I've come across (thus far). Thank you.

[@TodayinJensSewingRoom]

Now this I can do! Thank you so much for making it look so easy. I also appreciated the emphasis on safety - and I do love the way your whole channel gives everyone ways to go back to the basics of homemaking. Thanks for that!

[@Proximityflyer]

Thank you for being concise in this video. I appreciate the recipe and an overview of the process.

[@minz456]

Every other tutorial has been so hard to follow but yours has been by far the easiest beginner friendly tutorial!! Thank you so much

[@mapleflagg7744]

Be carful mixing your lye water in glass Pyrex. It can heat up so much sometimes it can shatter the glass container. Plastic is better. Sometimes we learn these things the hard way. LOL

[@bearanike]

Unless your pyrex is old and brittle, heating lye should not heat it up to that point and it was needing to be replaced anyway. If you can shatter Pyrex, you would be melting the plastic. Now if you are using an off brand glassware not approved for use in the freezer, oven, dishwasher or microwave, you might have that issue.

[@deadhoe8161]

Maple Flagg i got flashbacks of my ten year old self pouring hot water into a pyrex cup 😔

[@dominiquedoeslife]

Plastic will cause potentially negative chemical reactions, as will metal. Pyrex is made sturdier than other glassware, which is why she’s using pyrex.

[@Claytoncalli]

Pyrex is a borosilicate, literally what they use in chemistry labs, it’s the best option for mixing lye over conventional glassware

[@paulinamanana8764]

I've seen 15 videos here today regarding the making of soap process and yous is BY FAR, THE BEST !!! pluses are: well coordinated images and titles, specially temperature readings, materials, easy explanation and basic wording of the main process, even your tone of voice and rhythm of speech are very well timed. You oughta go pro Girl!!. thank you!!

[@ZeranZeran]

Holy crap, I had no idea it was such a complicated process. But you explained it incredibly well and even included great tips. Thank you!

[@bradylpetersen]

I really like that you explained everything that was going on chemically during each step, thank you for a very well made video.

[@JTBear]

Thank you for a very straightforward soap making tutorial! I've watched dozens so far and only gotten more confused until now! Thanks again!

[@Whitney_Sews]

Great tutorial! I love handmade soap! My mom used to make soap like this when I was little...I have yet to find any soap better then her handmade oatmeal honey soap :)

[@tonyfox1316]

i realize it's kind of off topic but does anyone know a good website to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@PositiveMomStyle]

You have much confidence when speaking & demonstrating your process. You make a very good teacher

[@clementine4133]

I just love the way you introduced yourself, your project and took precautions. Great video, cool, instructive, entertaining too. Thank you.

[@TravisDrLee]

This is a very good video. I learned a lot from it and hope to show my daughter later how to do it with safety tips involved. You really did a good job doing this video, I hope to see more.

[@xBrokenLoverx]

Ahhh You're so awesome!!! you talk loud enough and clear, and whatever you do, there's no way we could get it wrong, because you explain it so well!!! keep up the good work!!

[@grumbleyguts]

I had no idea it was basically as simple as this. Thank you!

[@MissCraftyChris]

I cannot thank you enough for the most basic recipe using oils that I can get easily (olive oil & canola). I have been looking everywhere for just a basic recipe to begin with. Then I can experiment with other oils & butters etc. THANKYOU SOOO MUCH! MCC;)

[@maryahmedina8388]

I love all your scientific facts you added in here! Great explanation! 🤗

[@Exercises10]

Go girl! You have excellent teaching abilities! You made it sound fun and easy.

[@newfful]

I have to say, out of all the videos, this was the most instructive and easiest to understand!! Thank you.

[@lindapenzabene8266]

This soap making video is the best I've seen so far. An excellent teacher and covered the process step-by-step leaving me without questions. I will check out the links provided. I Sincerely Thank you🤗

[@CrypticConversions]

I love your energy and you make it look so easy! I'm pumped. I'm going to bookmark this vid so I can replay it for motivation. Great job.

[@ooeybc]

What an absolutely charming person - and a great tutorial, thanks!

[@arelisgarcia7235]

I loved how well and easily you explained everything, Thank you so much 🥰🙏🏼

[@toniarchila3234]

AWESOME VIDEO...VERY GOOD EDUCATION ABOUT SOAP MAKING..I HAVE WATCHED SEVERAL VIDEOS AND MOST OF THEM ALWAYS LEAVE SOMETHING OUT..I REALLY LEARNED FEW THINGS THIS EVENING..GREAT INSTRUCTOR.

[@lysambre]

Very nice basic soap making tutorial, it does make me want to research more about it :). Well done!

[@BLKCITYCOFFEEROASTERS]

best soap tutorial ever.

[@Lantanana]

You did a wonderful job of explaining the process and considerations. Thank you !

[@brendacamp9940]

Definitely the most thorough video I have watched yet! thank you!

[@christzetheo]

thank you that was so genuine and so informative...You were so inspirational, as a beginner in this game, I learned heaps...thank you and God Bless xx Katherine

[@bearanike]

Actually, our grandparents and such made soap via Hot Processing and fermentation and not cold process. The soap was cooked and then let stand in the pot and allowed to ferment for several days .. depending on the size of the batch and the ingredients it could be as much as 10 days before it was poured out to stand in a mold/form and then it was cut and set to cure from 9-12 months. See traditional Castile and Aleppo soaps. Lard soaps were usually made during the fall harvest season and allowed to cure over the winter.

[@feliciau6505]

I am so proud of you 🙏. Am glad I watched it to the end . I noticed that you are so real , transparent, wonderful, charming, not secretive as others. God bless you 🙏and your family.God bless everyone that add more good ideas to what you have done ✅ Now, I am going to try it. Once again thanks 🙏 Stay safe🙏🙏🙏

[@EOLifestyle]

I'm really excited to try this out with my essential oils. Thanks for sharing!

[@bm5447]

This is by far the best intro cold process soap video for someone interested in learning about soap making!

[@Mitsubachi2529]

If you're one those folks who homeschools their children, soap making is a great science lesson for your 6th, 7th or 8th grader ^_^.

[@aroidaddiction]

What if you're not one of those folks that doesn't homeschool their children, can you still teach them this lesson or will it not work for them? Just asking for a "friend".

[@Mitsubachi2529]

@@aroidaddiction I don't see why not :P.

[@abigailvincent4909]

But please be very careful especially with LYE!

[@aroidaddiction]

@@abigailvincent4909 What lye are you referring to? I try to be honest with everyone.

[@aftabhossain264]

I came here after Tyler durden

[@Jeanniejeffrey]

She is a natural, great job Gemini! Love your video!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks. It's actually very moisturizing. Depending on the oil combinations you use they are a lot milder than the "soap" you buy in stores so they are less drying and even moisturizing on the skin.

[@michelehauter9544]

I'm new to the soap making, definitely doing my homework on it. Also I've read that the lye and water are suppose to be done outside. I live in an apartment so how does that work?

[@Zaku186]

This has a hella Bill Nye the Science guy vibe.

[@dominiquedoeslife]

As it should! Beauty is chemistry, and chemistry is beauty. 😉

[@geniushkennard1148]

What the hell is the name of that first funky song?

[@Zaku186]

@@dominiquedoeslife SCIENCE RULES!!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks. Yes, I agree. I've since expanded my soapmaking skills and techniques. I use a ton of different oils in my soaps now including clay and natural colorants and additives. This was just an intro video that I thought I'd put together to help people get the hang of the process in a simple way. I'm working on posting more tutorials that are more along the lines of what you've mentioned here. Thanks. :o)

[@susanschexsnayder3712]

when I was coming up we always used homemade soap and used magazines for toilet paper but when toilet paper came around it was a joy but with the stuff going on today I think im going back to using soaps from the pass I want to go natural as possible and show my son how it done thanks for that video with my little income I will be saving a lot

[@nikikatful]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Very plain & simple to understand. It has been for nearly months now that I bought books re soapmaking, but couldn't get myself to start! Lol. Will try next time I'm off work.

[@fionamukukula4755]

Thanks, you made the recipe very easy to understand and follow! will give it a try.

[@TomUlcak]

NEVER use pyrex to mix the lye into the water. The temperature increase is immediate (to 210 F). Pyrex can explode. Use the plastic paint mixer containers from Lowe's.

[@ursaltydog]

From my understanding, they use the same materials to make their glass products,, and not the material from older days. Either can be shocked as well as other materials. The key is not to overshock it.

[@BeautyandScience]

Heat resistant glass may be used as long as the soap making is very sporadic and the lye is added to the water slowly, making sure the temperature doesn't spike. It has been used for years, until it was found that lye can also corrode any kind of glass over time, making it more breakable. That would happen of course, over a long period of time and after many uses for soap making. Otherwise, a plastic or stainless steel container is recommended. You can check my video on Olive Oil Soap making for more tips, hope it helps!

[@donnahenthorn7109]

Over time the lye etches into the glass, causing it to shatter at some point. Plastic pitchers don't get etched by the lye.

[@mariapinto8003]

1 tutorial showed to use only Pyrex now I'm confused

[@randybird9979]

I used plastic and, it melted it, so now thanks to you I have a mess to clean up

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Yes. Stick to a heavy plastic or glass... aluminum will react with the lye.

[@1122kiwi]

Thank you so much for making this look easier...I have been watching many videos and it was seeming to get me more confused and discouraged to proceed with learning of soap making. I am pretty sure I can do this now. Thanks

[@marymontoya3343]

Excellent tutorial! Really enjoyed your explanation on making cold process soap. Can't wait to try it!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

No, you can't. Each oil requires a specific amount of lye to convert it to soap so, different oils will require a totally different recipe.

[@MaadjoaGold]

really?.

[@MaadjoaGold]

Can I use only one oil?

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I wore the mask to protect any splatter from hitting my face. But thanks!

[@LMGM5]

Good Job!! It is so good for you to share. And, this is another step for self sufficiency. It is easy, is something you can customize to your liking and it is very exiting to be able to do. You can use it for self, sell it or use it for gift giving. Thank you for the video.

[@kristinaginorio1344]

I've watched a lot of soap making videos and yours is great!

[@chelseytyler88]

Yeah, canola is wonderful. I love making soap and I saved a bunch of money. I think people who never tried it are crazy

[@thedrunkalchemist5442]

The mask you use isnt effective for chemicals but mostly used for dust

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I used it to keep from splashing the mixture on my face. I was outside in a well ventilated area to protect from the fumes. thanks.

[@thedrunkalchemist5442]

+TheCraftyGemini no worries, just sayin

[@emeekareman4243]

hi I was wondering if u could make a soap out if honey and tumeric

[@bearanike]

Yes, you can add honey and tumeric to your soap.

[@TheAnswerJan]

I never wanted to work with lye to make soap till I watched your vid. What an excellent job you did teaching!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I included links to where you can buy everything you need in the description box above. Click "About" and then "Show more" to open the box up.

[@cbgb14]

just to let you know, when working with lye you should wear a heavy duty respirator, something charcoal activated. The one worn in this video is more for things like spray glue or silica based items like plaster or dry clay. You are still breathing in chemicals when wearing this kind of respirator. Trust me, I'm an unhealthy artist!

[@velvetlee7539]

+cbgb14 I agree. You need a proper mask especially for chemicals. They come with replacement charcoal filters. The one shown here is just a dust mask which is not suitable and will not stop chemical fumes from burning your throat and lungs. It is good she is wearing long gloves and long sleeves.

[@thenuthouse441]

Does a full-faced military grade gas mask work

[@louisdepointedulac3072]

The Nuthouse This works best in vacuum environment with a spacesuit on, yes.

[@kitzcat]

She wasn't using it to avoid the fumes. She was outside. She used it to keep from possibly splashing her face.

[@iluminameluna]

The mask is fine, but I'd like to add that even better would be to work in a well ventilated area, such as outside, near a window with a fan blowing OUT, and/or under the stove hood. If you don't have good ventilation, just generally, when you make soap, the fumes from the soap making can linger and cause eye/mucous membrane irritation. Ask me how I know. The only other thing that I've learned over the last 3 years of making soap on a monthly basis, is that a thermometer isn't essential, unlike a digital scale or a stick blender. I realized after my first 3 batches or so, that you can also work with all your substances at room temp! Yes, you read that right: definitely melt any solid fats and combine them with the liquid ones, but then let your lye and those combined oils/fats come to YOUR room temp. It may take longer for some of the soap batters to come to trace, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Otherwise, this is a very good intro to making your own soap. To find out more, check out Soaping101.com's KZbin videos, and for ANY questions, try soapmakingforum.com. Happy soaping journey! 😊

[@ic22422]

His name is Robert Paulson, his name is Robert Paulson

[@txbonehead88]

Awesome tutorial! I love DIY projects! I'm going to give this a try next week!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Hi! Thanks for watching. Sometimes if the soap isn't insulated with the towels it won't go through a hot gel phase and the result is sometimes a softer soap that can't me unmolded easily for a while. If you managed to get it out and cut it then it will still be soap but I would lay some paper towels over the metal rack anyway so it's not directly on it- if the soap is soft you'll get rack marks too.

[@narrowgate4229]

There are much more quality oils than Canola. I encourage to use virgin oils like coconut oil. Coconut oil is antibacterial ( Main ingredient in my homemade toothpaste as well!) Even extra virgin olive oil, hemp oil, but please don't use canola oil! It is pure garbage of the oils. It is the "Natty Lite" of oils LOL!

[@stacycross7788]

I agree with you. I do think that this is a great beginner video with cheap oils that will be good practice for someone that is just starting out. It hurts way less to lose a batch of soap when you are using cheap oils than when you have moved on to more quality (and expensive) oils.

[@narrowgate4229]

I did lose my 1st batch of soap. But canola oil of is full of GMO's. Even if I made my 1st batch with canola oil, because it was cheap I wouldn't use it. For me the whole reason I make my own soap is to have quality ingredients & know what I'm putting on my skin. In America all most all corn & soy are GMO (genetically modified with animal, virus or bacteria DNA) no thanks. I want my food & food products the way God intended. Blessings!

[@81Garret]

Exactly it's poison honey! God bless you.

[@contentcreators1206]

Natty Lite of oils....so you're saying it's the best?

[@Mamelodiful]

if my soap was meant for laundry, wouldn't canola be OK? if I wanted a multi use,both skin grade and laundry like we do in Uganda, what would be the recommended ingredient?

[@TheOneYouLeastExpect]

My girlfriends and I are starting a business so we can get some money for college. This is a pretty cool process to watch!

[@Laudanum01]

Excellent tutorial, clearly explained procedures and very safety conscious. Thank you for posting this.

[@doloresw]

Im taking a deep dive into your videos! I just love all that you do and share ❤

[@cloudydaze3747]

First rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club...

[@nellie-mayroberts5163]

Second rule of fight club is THAT YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB

[@owenb7911]

was anyone here because of fight club?

[@krishnaattili6015]

I am here because of fight club

[@krishnaattili6015]

Oh I totally forgot thanks for reminding me man

[@federicoaguzzi9461]

Me

[@SueGotCreative.]

Thanks for a really well presented video. Your research has given me the confidence to give it a go.

[@lavacakediaz5641]

This is the best video that takes you step by step. Thank you so much! ❤

[@paigeraelyn8385]

Tyler Durden, Fight Club.

[@Mariljusadna]

Melvin Yewdall, As Good As It Gets.

[@douglawson8937]

awesome tutorial...love the 60's porn music at the end. i thought i heard ron jeremy

[@Taharvey77]

I have being making soaps for a while . Anytime anyone ask me how to make soap. I am sending them this video ! Great job !

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to follow the safety precautions and do more research... Have fun!

[@christinemm67]

I don't think anyone should publish a tutorial after making soap only 2 weeks. Please soap curious people: buy a book. This is a rough harsh recipe which makes a very soft bar and it uses too much lye per the soap calculator.

[@bearanike]

I just ran her recipe through soapcalc and if you adjust your water ratio from the default 38% to 33.3% the water is 4.99 ounces and lye is 1.91 ounces. If you change the superfat to 0% the lye amount changes to 2.01 ounces. So the 5 ounces of water and 2 ounces of water is fine. Yes, because of the 50% olive oil, it will start out as a soft bar and takes a bit longer to cure, but olive oil actually cures to a hard bar. Despite popular myth.. super fatting your soap is not required. The To be honest, this is the best soaping tutorial I have seen. Aside from the fact that I personally would not use as much canola oil.. it was well executed, presented the information in an easy to understand, well planned and thought out format. Unlike many soaping videos where people tell you to follow the safety rules and ignore the fact that I am not following them... she followed all of them and why they were necessary. Because Canola can go rancid more quickly than the Olive Oil, it might be a good reason to reduce your superfat amount, also because this can start out as a soft bar,reducing the superfat amount will increase the hardness. Since this recipe only has a hardness of 12-14. Reducing the superfat to the 0-2% range will help increase this soap's hardness. The MMS calculator says that it at a 2% superfat with the 2.00 ounces of lye. Just because someone new to the craft comes along and has a solid understanding of what they are doing prior to actually making the video.. that doesn't mean mixing and pouring.. but they stated they spent time reading books before even thinking of starting to make soap . This is someone I would love to see be encouraged rather than trampled over because you are afraid they might just take away your viewers.

[@abrahamgoesmoo]

+bearanike There needs to be more reasonable and POSITIVE people like you in the world. I agree with your statement

[@jaybartgis5148]

What's the point of not buying soap and making your own if you have to buy all this crap.

[@jemoore27]

Making you own soap gives you the feel of accomplishment; do you feel that when you buy a bar of soap at the grocery store? Plus you know exactly what's in it.

[@jemoore27]

Plus, if you don't believe in making your own stuff, why are you on this site? Sorry, but you make me mad! Watching us while judging us?. Go away and let us alone!

[@mondliedwin4857]

saves alot of money when buying bulk ingredients

[@jaybartgis5148]

I guess you'll start to make savings in the long run

[@jaybartgis5148]

And I can also see that a lot of the basic ingredients can be used for other stuff.

[@laurakabbabe]

Such a clear explained video! Love it.

[@TheCraftyGemini]

No problem. Glad to help! Have fun!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I have heard of this technique just haven't tried it yet. It is supposed to work great when using milks instead of water since they tend to overheat and can burn. Thanks for the tip!

[@ondreacook7408]

Great information. Thank you for a well designed and professional presentation. As a begiinner, you have helped me quite alot with your insights!

[@grumred]

I'm so impressed with how good your video presence is. I've been looking for a soap-making tutorial to recommend to my sister who lives too far away from me to teach her myself and this is the perfect beginner video. We've been operating an urban homestead for about 8 years and my sister is just now getting interested in some of those skills. Glad to find a channel that can help her.

[@1justice2012]

Ok, will get one for soap making. The peron below its right, your tutorial its one of the best. Thank you for sharing it

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks so much! Yes, @1centrefold is right. It's a quicker way to get the temps closer to each other. That being said, since making this video I have played around with a variety of techniques including mixing at totally different temperatures and at low temps by letting the lye water cool down to around 90º. I haven't had any problems either way so it's more about personal preference, I think.

[@BopDaddysGirl]

This was the most helpful beginners instructional video I've seen. I was a little concerned because you talk really fast but I was actually able to keep up without pausing and restarting. :). Thank you so much Crafty Gemini

[@rimzim89]

Thanks for the great tutorial! :D I have come across several soap making videos on KZbin but none of them showed it from scratch like you did! And that too very brief and to the point! Thanks a lot! :D

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I have some more soap making tutorials on my to-do list. Subscribe so you won't miss them when I post them. :o)

[@sprengertrinker]

Very educational and easy to understand video, thank you!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I totally agree! Thanks for stopping by. :o)

[@ChefKayla]

thank you finally someone explained "trace" in soap making! This is so informative, but I'm really thinking about making glycerin soap myself, the ingredients seem easier to get a hold of where I am.

[@TheCraftyGemini]

This recipe is really just to teach you all the process involved. To get soaps with rich creamy lathers and suds you need to find a recipe with oils like coconut, castor, etc. Stay tuned for me to make more soapmaking videos where I'll share my recipes. :o)

[@TheCraftyGemini]

I have a link in the description box above where you can order all your soapmaking supplies from. I'm not sure if they ship to India but you can check with them.

[@WyattBlacks]

Good job! Great editing. You won my subscription. Keep up the good work! I'm gonna give it a try!

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Yay! Have fun!

[@mariawinzler]

Thank you for this video very professional way of explaining how to make soup.

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks so much! It's really not that bad once you try it once. Have fun!

[@Lookingforblueskies1]

Just subscribed! I can't wait to see more videos. I really enjoyed your voice and instructions! What a great thing for you to be so young and get the importance of DIY! Great job and thanks for sharing!

[@rashasalama9649]

This vedio changes my life since 2011 thank you so much 💐

[@TheCraftyGemini]

Thanks! I hope to post more soaping videos soon! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss them. :o)

[@ttorrell1]

great entry vid! I just made my first batch and can't wait to make more! :)

[@biblicaltruth60]

Thanks for sharing, you make it look so easy.

[@fromny2ponce]

Wow that was a really great tutorial! Very informative.

[@adamesmercedes112]

love your video veryyyyyyyyyy inspiring. I was afraid to deal with lye seems so hard for the skin, but I really feel like making soap. thank you soooo much. Mercedes in Las Vegas. God Bless