Lavender Shea Butter Soap

Indulge in the soothing aroma and gentle cleansing properties of lavender with this DIY soap recipe. Combining the nourishing qualities of Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, and Castor Oil, this recipe creates a luxurious bar perfect for sensitive skin.

Benefits of the Ingredients:

• Shea Butter: Provides deep moisturization and helps soothe irritated skin.
• Coconut Oil: Creates a rich, creamy lather and helps condition the skin.
• Olive Oil: Offers gentle cleansing and helps maintain skin elasticity.
• Castor Oil: Creates a hard bar with a bubbly lather.
• Lavender Essential Oil: Promotes relaxation, relieves stress, and has antiseptic properties.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound shea butter
• 1 pound coconut oil
• 1/2 pound olive oil
• 1/2 pound castor oil
• 7 oz  sodium hydroxide
• 14 oz  distilled water
• 1 tablespoon lavender essential oil

Steps:

1. Combine the sodium hydroxide and water in a heat-resistant container. Stir until dissolved.
2. Melt the shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil together.
3. Slowly add the sodium hydroxide solution to the melted oils, stirring continuously.
4. Continue stirring until the mixture reaches a trace, which means it thickens and leaves a trail when you run your finger through it.
5. Add the lavender essential oil and stir to combine.
6. Pour the mixture into a soap mold and let it set for 24-48 hours.

Lye and Water Calculations

Using the following values from a Lye Calculator:

• Shea butter: 0.128 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Coconut oil: 0.183 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Olive oil: 0.135 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Castor oil: 0.129 oz NaOH/oz of oil

Step-by-Step Calculations:

• Shea butter (16 oz): 16 oz × 0.128 = 2.048 oz NaOH
• Coconut oil (16 oz): 16 oz × 0.183 = 2.928 oz NaOH
• Olive oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.135 = 1.08 oz NaOH
• Castor oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.129 = 1.032 oz NaOH
• Total Lye Amount: 2.048 oz + 2.928 oz + 1.08 oz + 1.032 oz = 7.088 oz NaOH
• Water Calculation: Assuming a water-to-lye ratio of 2:1 (a typical range for cold process soap): 7.088 oz NaOH × 2 = 14.176 oz water

This Recipe was originally published in DIY Shea Butter Soap Making Recipes

Popular Soap Calculators:

• SoapCalc.net: A widely used online calculator with a user-friendly interface. SoapCalc: http://www.soapcalc.net/
• Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetics Guild (HSCG) Calculator https://www.soapguild.org/tools-and-resources/product-price-calculators/lye
• Lye Calculator: Another popular option with a simple design. https://www.lyecalc.com/
• Soap Recipe Calculator: Offers additional features like fragrance and color calculations. http://thesoapcalculator.com

There are also many YouTube Videos on how to calculate this.

Remember: Always handle lye with extreme caution. It is a strong chemical and can cause severe burns. Ensure you're following safety guidelines when working with it.