COLD PROCESS: Cold Process soapmaking is the act of mixing fixed oils (common oils include Olive, Coconut and Palm) with an alkali (Sodium Hydroxide or Lye). The result is a chemical process called saponification, where the composition of the oils change with the help of the lye to create a bar of soap. One of the main benefits of cold process soapmaking is having complete control over ingredients. Depending on the ingredients you use, cold process soapmaking typically yields a long-lasting bar of soap. A downfall is that due to the chemical process, there are serious safety considerations to take into account and not all fragrance oils, essential oils, and colorants survive in cold process, thus limiting design options. Plus, patience is a virtue as this process involves a 4-6 week curing time.
VOCABULARY:
Trace: This is when the soap has emulsified and is a pudding consistency. You can check for trace by pulling the stick blender out of the soap batter, and checking the “trails” left by the soap batter. If they are suspended on the top of the soap, you’ve got trace! You will see trace referred to as light, medium and heavy. These are just different thicknesses and consistencies of the same process.