Hot process is a great soapmaking method when you want to enjoy your soap quickly. The main difference between hot process and cold process soap is that hot process soap is “cooked,” which speeds up the saponification process. This results in a loaf of soap that can be cut and enjoyed the same day. That being said, I always recommend a couple weeks of cure time to help water excess water evaporate and create an even firmer and longer lasting bar.
Hot process is usually made in a slow cooker, but can also be done in a double boiler. For this small recipe, I used a two quart Crock-Pot. Your recipe should only fill the cooking vessel halfway or less, because the soap will expand as it cooks. If you’re using a larger recipe, be sure to use a larger pot. If you have a larger sized slow cooker you can still make a smaller batch of soap. Just keep in mind that it may cook faster because it comes in contact with more surface area of the pot.
This recipe took about 12-15 minutes total cook time. Once the soap is done cooking, it will have a thick, fluid Vaseline-type texture. If you want to see hot process in action to get a better idea of the texture, check out this video. It can be tricky to know for sure when it’s done. One way is to place a small amount of the soap (just a small spoonful does the trick) into a cup of distilled water. Stir the soap in the water, and dip a pH strip into the water. If the pH is less than 10, it’s done cooking! If not, it’s still a little lye heavy. Cover and let it cook for a few more minutes.
This soap was inspired by icy winters. Caribbean Blue Mica is added once the soap is done cooking. A bit of Snowflake Sparkle Mica is also added. Because the Snowflake Sparkle Mica is a larger particle mica, you can actually see the sparkles in the final bar. I didn’t disperse the Snowflake Sparkle Mica in this tutorial because the original plan was to create “sparkle veins.” However, I ended up stirring a bit too much, then decided to nix that idea. It mixes in well without dispersing, but you can disperse it in a small amount of liquid oil if you’d like. =) The mica on top will wash away after a use or two, but gives a lovely finishing touch.
What You’ll Need:
2 lb. Wood Loaf Mold
Silicone Liner for 2 lb. Wood Mold
22 oz. Basic Quick Mix
3.1 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
7.3 oz. Distilled Water
.7 oz. Sodium Lactate
1 oz. Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil
0.2 oz. Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill
Caribbean Blue Mica
Snowflake Sparkle Mica
Optional: Crinkle Cutter
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! Goggles, gloves, and long sleeves are your soap making uniform. Be sure that kids and pets are out of the house or unable to access your soaping space, and always soap in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the soap volume will not fill up more than half of your Crock-Pot. If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend you get a couple of basic recipes under your belt before trying out this tutorial. Check out this 4-part series on cold process soap making, especially the episode on lye safety.
COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon Caribbean Blue Mica in 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Have the Snowflake Sparkle Mica close by.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounce of Peppermint Essential Oil 2nd Distill into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. Set aside.
ONE: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Once cooled to about 130 °F , add the sodium lactate. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.
TWO: Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Recipe Quick mix until completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 22 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on low. Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot or cooking vessel. Burp the stick blender, and begin to blend.
THREE: Mix with a stick blender until a thick trace is achieved.
FOUR: Put the lid on the Crock-Pot. After about 10 minutes, check the soap to see the progress made. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture. If the middle does not appear to be changing, stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Check out how much this soap expanded! Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 30 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, wearing gloves, take the pot off heat and stir like crazy.
FIVE: The batch will be ready when it’s the texture of glossy, thin mashed potatoes. This may take another 5-10 minute session or even two or three more stir’n’waits. When you think it’s ready, use a pH strip to test the levels. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water. It should be below 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap; you don’t want too dry a texture for the next steps!
NOTE: The amount of time that the soap takes in the Crock-Pot phase can depend on the size and shape of your Crock-Pot. The larger, flatter cooking vessels meant for roasts may go a bit quicker because the soap will be spread out thinner on the heated surface.
SIX: Add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Caribbean Blue Mica and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Add 1/2 tablespoon of Snowflake Sparkle Mica and mix in.
SEVEN: Slowly add the fragrance and essential oil mixture, and stir in.
EIGHT: Working quickly, spoon the soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to help it settle. Once all the soap is in the mold use a spoon or gloved hands to smooth the top.
NINE: Sprinkle the top with Sparkle Snowflake Mica until fully covered. Use gloved hands to gently press the mica into the top; this helps the mica stick a little bit better to the soap. Just be careful, the soap will be hot to the touch.
TEN: Allow the soap to cool and harden in the mold for 1-2 days. Remove from the mold and use the Crinkle Cutter or a sharp non-serrated knife to cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time.
Snowdrop Hot Process Soap Tutorial
Ingredients
- 2 lb. Wood Loaf Mold
- Silicone Liner for 2 lb. Wood Mold
- 22 oz. Basic Quick Mix
- 3.1 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 7.3 oz. Distilled Water
- .7 oz. Sodium Lactate
- 1 oz. Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil
- 0.2 oz. Peppermint Essential Oil 2nd Distill
- Caribbean Blue Mica
- Snowflake Sparkle Mica
- Optional: Crinkle Cutter
Instructions
- SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! Goggles, gloves, and long sleeves are your soap making uniform. Be sure that kids and pets are out of the house or unable to access your soaping space, and always soap in a well-ventilated area. Make sure the soap volume will not fill up more than half of your crock pot. If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend you get a couple of basic recipes under your belt before trying out this tutorial. Check out this 4-part series on cold process soap making, especially the episode on lye safety.
COLOR PREP: Disperse 1/2 teaspoon Caribbean Blue Mica in 1/2 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Have the Snowflake Sparkle Mica close by.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of Sparkling Snowdrop Fragrance Oil and 0.2 ounce of Peppermint Essential Oil, 2nd Distill into a glass, fragrance oil safe container. Set aside.
- Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Once cooled to about 130 °F , add sodium lactate. Sodium lactate is used in hot process at 3% of the oil weight to help produce a smoother bar.
- Fully melt the entire bag of Basic Recipe Quick mix until completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 22 oz. into your Crock-Pot and turn it on low. Slowly add the lye water to the oils. Make sure the mixture does not fill up more than half of the pot or cooking vessel. Burp the stick blender, and begin to blend.
- Mix with a stick blender until a thick trace is achieved.
- Put the lid on the Crock-Pot. After about 10 minutes, check the soap to see the progress made. Starting from the outside, the texture and color of the soap will start to change into a glossy, slightly Vaseline-like texture. If the middle does not appear to be changing, stir the batch to ensure even cooking. Don’t be surprised if the soap starts to grow in volume. Check out how much this soap expanded! Do not leave your soap unattended in the first 30 minutes of cook time for this reason. If the soap gets too high in the pot, wearing gloves, take the pot off heat and stir like crazy.
- The batch will be ready when it’s the texture of glossy, thin mashed potatoes. This may take another 5-10 minute session or even two or three more stir’n’waits. When you think it’s ready, use a pH strip to test the levels. Place a small amount of the soap into a cup of water and stir. Dip the pH strip into the water. It should be below a 10. Be sure not to overcook the soap; you don’t want too dry a texture for the next steps! NOTE: The amount of time that the soap takes in the Crock-Pot phase can depend on the size and shape of your Crock-Pot. The larger, flatter cooking vessels meant for roasts may go a bit quicker because the soap will be spread out thinner on the heated surface.
- Add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Caribbean Blue Mica and use a spoon to thoroughly mix in. Add 1/2 tablespoon of Snowflake Sparkle Mica and mix in.
- Slowly add the fragrance and essential oil mixture, and stir in.
- Working quickly, spoon the soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to help it settle. Once all the soap is in the mold use a spoon to smooth the top.
- Sprinkle the top with Sparkle Snowflake Mica until fully covered. Use gloved hands to gently press the mica into the top; this helps the mica stick a little bit better to the soap.
- Allow the soap to cool and harden in the mold for 1-2 days. Remove from the mold, and use the Crinkle Cutter or a sharp non-serrated knife to cut into bars. This soap is ready to use right away, but will last longer in the shower after at least a 2 week cure time.
