- 1). Pour the chilled water into the 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup. Put on your gloves and safety goggles. In a well-ventilated or outside area, slowly add the lye to the water, stirring constantly with a wooden or silicone spoon until all of the lye crystals dissolve into the water. Face away from the chemical reaction, which turns very hot, and handle the mixture carefully. If mixed too quickly, the lye mixture can splash out of the bowl and burn you. Place a soap-making thermometer into the cup and set the cup aside.
- 2). Add the lard, beeswax and coconut oil to the 6-quart pot, and heat them over the stove at a low heat until they have completely melted into a liquid. Pour the corn oil into the pot, and stir. Remove the pot from the stove and place a soap-making thermometer into it.
- 3). Wait for the temperature of the lye solution and that of the fats to reach between 110 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour the lye solution into the pot slowly, stirring constantly, until you have poured all of the lye solution into the pot.
- 4). Switch to the stick blender to stir the mixture for short bursts of 30 seconds, followed by one or two stirs with the spoon by hand. When the consistency reaches that of pudding, you have achieved saponification (also called trace), which is a chemical reaction between an acid (the fats) and a base (the lye) to form a salt (the soap).
- 5). Mix in the honey. Add essential oil, soap coloring, or a teaspoon of your favorite herb or spice, if desired. Stir the ingredients into the mixture.
- 6). Pour the mixture into the soap mold. Cover the mold, and insulate by wrapping blankets or towels around the mold to insulate it and prevent it from cooling too fast. Let it sit for 48 hours.
- 7). Remove the soap from the mold. Cut it into pieces, and set the pieces to cure on the baker's rack for one month. Flip the pieces weekly to ensure that you expose all parts of the soap pieces to the air.
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