Soapmaking is our passion, and we want to share it with all of our customers. That is why we have decided to give you a look into our soapmaking process. As always, we want our customers to choose our products based on the facts. We want to ensure you know just what goes into our products, and we believe they are the best choice for your skin.
If you ever choose to make soap on your own, please be careful, wear protective gear, and look up full instructions with safety requirements.
Our soapmaking process begins with us rendering suet into tallow we can use for our products. This isn’t necessary because you can buy the tallow already rendered, but we do it ourselves because we want to support local businesses and utilize local resources.
How We Turn Suet into Tallow
Step 1 - We pick up our suet from Walden Local Meat. We always choose grass-finished cattle that are pasture-raised.
Step 2 – We begin the rendering process. The suet is ground, rendered and filtered.
Step 3 – Let the freshly rendered tallow cool. Once cooled, it’s ready to be used for soapmaking.
Now we are ready to begin the soapmaking process.
How We Make Tallow Soap
Step 1 – First, we heat all of the oils. While they are heating, we start putting together our lye solution.
What is lye? Lye is a general term for two different alkaline compounds known as Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). They are highly water-soluble and are sometimes referred to as caustic soda.
Soap is the result of a reaction that occurs when you mix lye with liquid oils. Lye, which has a scientific name of sodium hydroxide, reacts when it is properly mixed; the process of mixing and causing this reaction is called saponification.
The process typically involves mixing lye with oils or butters, which contribute to soap's scents and other natural properties, such as vitamins and minerals. The oils and butters also react with the lye, resulting in a product that is safe for use on the skin. At the end of the soapmaking process, there's no lye left in the soap. It forms a bond with oil and becomes soap! All soap is made with lye at some point in the process.
Step 2 - Once the oils reach the proper temperature, the lye solution is poured into the oils.
Step 3 – Mix the oils and lye solution using a hand mixer. We do this very carefully to limit mess and ensure lye isn’t exposed to our skin.
Step 4 - After several minutes, you will notice a light trace. At this point, you would add any essential oils, color, or coffee grounds, pumice, etc. Continue to mix until you are at a heavy trace.
Trace is the point at which the soap has thickened and blended enough to have formed a stable emulsion.
Step 5 – Once you have a heavy trace, the soap batter is ready to be poured into the molds.
Step 6 – Let the soap sit in the molds overnight so it can saponify.
Step 7 – The next day, when the soap is set in the molds, we remove it from the molds and cut it. Then the soap is put onto curing racks where it says to cure for four weeks.
Done! Now the soap is all ready to be used.
