Oatmeal Soap with Chamomile Essential Oil

Directions

1. Into plastic measuring container, measure water and set on a rimmed tray in well-ventilated area such as under stove air vents and crack open a nearby window.

2. Line greased cake pan with wax paper, folding excess over rim of pan and taping edges to sides or bottom of pan, then set aside.

3. In a stainless steel pot over low heat, combine coconut oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, castor oil and grapeseed oil. Heat until just melted and clarified. Turn off heat and insert thermometer. Allow temperature to gradually decrease to 115 degrees, then maintain that temperature.

4. Put on gloves and eye protection and weigh out lye. Turn stove vent on high, (if using). Avoiding splashes, slowly and carefully pour lye into the water. Stir slowly and carefully with the stainless steel spoon until dissolved. Lye may clump temporarily on the spoon or bottom. Do not stand over the container and avoid breathing in dust or fumes when handling the lye or lye solution. Don’t let it touch your skin or eyes.

5. Carefully place thermometer in lye solution and allow temperature to rise to over 150 degrees.

6. Monitor the temperatures of the oils and water/lye solution until both liquids reach 110 to 115 degrees. Aim to have the oils ready when the lye temperature comes down to 105 to 110 degrees. Do not reheat lye solution.

7. Once oils and lye reach the same temperature range, wearing gloves and eye protection, remove oils from heat and carefully pour water/lye solution into the pot with the oils.

8. Carefully place immersion hand blender into the center of the pot just above the bottom and turn on blender. Hold tightly as it may jolt when first turned on.

9. Blend slowly for about 30 seconds, being careful to avoid splattering or drawing air into mixture, until solution is completely blended, then turn blender off.

10. Add essential oils and rolled oats. Repeat blending in 30-second increments until soap is thick, smooth and develops a "trace"" when you lift the blender and allow excess to run onto surface of mixture.

11. Carefully pour liquid into pan. It should quickly reach a pudding-like consistency. Using spatula, clean out pot, gently lift and rap the 9 x 9 pan to displace any air pockets, smooth surface with spatula, then place pan into a cardboard box, and close flaps.

12. Still wearing gloves and eye protection, rinse all supplies with plenty of water. Do not touch the uncured soap with bare hands as the soap may be irritating until it is fully cured.

13. After a few days, when soap is firm, use gloves to turn soap out of pan, remove wax paper and cut into bars. Let sit for 4 to 6 weeks before using.