DIY Network

Royal Road Trip: Soapmaking Royal Road Trip: Soapmaking From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-127

Figure A

As most of us already know, the less we use harsh chemicals, the better it is for our skin and the environment. Some people even make their own soap so there will be no question about what they're putting on their skin.

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Figure B

Tucked away in the second floor of an old bank building in Owenton, Kentucky, you won't find bars of gold, but you will find soapmaker Sharon Lombardo, of Anna's Esscentials, hard at work concocting a variety of handcrafted soaps (figure A). A member of the National Soap Makers Guild, she spends many hours working to perfect her recipes and techniques.

Lombardo credits her grandmother Anna for giving her a strong appreciation for all things handcrafted, but she began making soap about five years ago after becoming aware of the process through a friend who is a soapmaker in California. The idea of knowing the ingredients and the quality of the soap product was initially appealing, and the more she read and learned, the more fascinated she became by the process. Since her first successful attempt, her passion for soapmaking has bubbled over into more and more varieties of soap.

To make a batch of soap, she first dons an apron and rubber gloves. She then carefully measures exact amounts of olive, sunflower and coconut oils, which are then heated to an exact temperature. Protective eyewear is necessary as the oil is mixed with very caustic lye water. When the two mixtures are combined a chemical reaction known as saponification occurs, thickening the mixture and transforming the toxic lye into a safe and soothing soap. The mixture is stirred with an electric stick mixer until it reaches the correct consistency. Lombardo must be careful not to overstir, which can cause clumping and ruin the batch.

Next, essential oils are measured and added into the mix. To give the soap color and decoration, a small amount of the soap is mixed with dry natural pigments. After the bulk of the soap has been poured into a mold, the colored mixture is then poured on top of the base and swirled through the soap for a creative touch. Finally, a layer of waxed paper is placed on the top of the mixture, and layers of towels cover the mold to insulate the soap as it cools and hardens.

	Figure C
	Figure D

Twenty-four hours later the 12-pound bar of soap is ready to be cut (figure B). To make the cutting easier, Lombardo enlisted local craftsmen to make a mold with notched grooves and a stainless-steel cutting blade. Once cut, the soap goes on a drying rack for three weeks to cure before it is ready to be used. Once it's cured, rough edges are shaved off to give the soap a uniform square shape.

Currently Lombardo makes more than 25 soaps for a variety of cleaning needs and skin conditions. Soothing lavender is easily identified by its decorative stamp; bits of oatmeal cling to bars of oatmeal-and-honey soap, a mixture known for its healing and exfoliation properties (figure C). Calendula soap contains plant's the extract and petals, both known to soften the skin. Gardening soap contains dried herbs to help scrub away the dirt, and yet another blend of oils results in a soap that helps repel bugs. And for those who can't tolerate fragrances, there are bars of pure soap with enticing shapes but no fragrance (figure D).

Soap is one of the least expensive, healthiest, most luxurious indulgences you can do for yourself. But remember, no matter what a soap looks like, it's important that it leave the skin clean and healthy.

Tip: Before you begin gardening activities, run your fingernails over a bar of soap, getting the soap under the nails. When you finish gardening and wash your hands, the soap will disappear along with the dirt around the nails.