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I’ll admit it, I actually made this soap back in December. However, I wanted to test the soap before I shared my experiences with making the soap. If you recall, I wrote a post about how I rendered my first batch of lard at the end of November. I had planned on making soap with the lard when I first rendered it.
I decided to make a batch of unscented soap using the oils I had on hand. I had a 5 liter jug of Olive Oil as well as a 5 liter jug of Roasted Peanut Oil that Jerry had received as a gift during the Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival). I had been trying to use the Peanut Oil for cooking, but I’m not fond of the taste it gives to everything I cook! I thought soap would be a great alternative for using it. I really recommend using regular peanut oil for any soaps you may want to make instead of roasted peanut oil (unless you get a large jug like me!) 😉 Based on the ingredients I had available to me, I decided to make a batch that used equal portions of the three oils. Come join me in the kitchen as I show making a batch of soap with lard! Collect needed items:
*q.s. = Quantity Sufficient. This is an ingredient that needs to have the amount calculated to match the size of batch that you are making. Measure fixed oils on your scale. Warm the fixed oils on the stove or in the microwave. I melted the oils on the stove in a double boiler. Add sodium hydroxide to the water. Mix well. Combine oils and lye solution. Mix until thin trace. Pour soap into the desired mold. Allow to sit until soap is firm. The next morning cut into bars. Stack to allow good air circulation. Allow to cure for several days before using. Longer curing will result in a harder bar. Mold Notes: Just because I don’t have access to the blog kitchen, doesn’t mean that I can’t make soap! I made this batch of soap in a wood tissue box cover. I simply lined the the “bottom” of my mold with a sheet of cardboard to keep the bottom of my soap flat. The bottom of my mold was really the top of the tissue box cover! Trust me, molds can be found everywhere! Soap Notes: This soap dried well. I tried a sliver of the soap right after cutting it as well as again a month after cutting. My opinion is that while the soap feels moisturizing to the hands after washing, it felt a little slimy during use. It didn’t produce much lather until a bath poof was used to create more lather. Even with the bath poof, the lather was dense and small bubbled. If I had the supplies at the time I made the soap, I would make another batch with Coconut or Palm Kernel oils to help make bubbles. Then, I think this would make a great shaving soap! What do you think? |
 Cut bars of soap.  Measuring the oils.  Mixing the Sodium Hydroxide and water.  Mixed lye solution.  Adding the lye solution to the oils. |
 Blending the raw soap.  Beginning to cut the soap.  Simply line the “bottom” with a bit of cardboard. |
 Soap poured into my mold.  A tissue box makes a great soap mold! |
Andee, Does this soap have any odd/bad odor?
This had a nutty odor from the roasted peanut oil. I’m going to make another batch that would not contain the peanut oil so I can check if the lard gives a scent.
Pretty soap! I don’t do a LOT of lard soaps but I love the ones I have done. They are hard, white, and have great lather.
I put this recipe in soapcalc and I can see why it might feel a little slimy and not have great lather. I think the problem is the peanut oil. I don’t use it at all myself but if I did I would never use such a high percentage. I wouldn’t be surprised if it has stability problems later. Coconut and/or PKO would definitely help but if you simply raise the percentage of lard and drop the Peanut to no more than 10% (pref lower) that would make a big difference. I would also add some castor oil.
Just my 2 cents. But great post!
– Mickey
Good post! What did the soap smell like?
This smells like a peanut butter with a salty like note.
I have heard about peanut oil. I wonder if you used it in same amt. as castor oil it would behave better? I bet the cedar is divine. Those bars looked really soft so I bet they need more cure. I’ve a feeling that it is worthwhile soap even though it isn’t lathering right right now it will after a good cure. I’m using tallow this season as they sent two fifty lb.cubes instead of one each of tallow and lard. I’m glad someone else is using them because the price is right and I think lard and tallow make the best bars. I always superfat at 7% and use coconut and castor oil in small amounts to boost the lather. Love your mold idea too. Thankyou.