Suit up for safety Gloves, protective eyewear, mask (when mixing lye), long sleeves, long pants, and close toed shoes.
Prepare your lye solution by measuring 252g of distilled or de-ionised water into a heat safe container. In a separate container measure out 136g of sodium hydroxide. Add your sodium hydroxide to your water (NEVER THE OTHER WAY AROUND) and mix thoroughly but gently until your lye is completely dissolved.
Add your premix oils into your Slow Cooker and put it on high until all your oils are completely melted and clear.
Instructions:
Once all your oils are melted and warm in the Slow Cooker, you can add your Lye Water Solution. It does not have to cool down before you add it, as the soap will be cooking for at least full hour anyway. Once you add your Lye Water Solution, use your stick blender to blend the soap batter. You can blend to light, medium, or thick trace. This will make no difference in the end bar of soap. Once your soap has been blended, turn the slow cooker to the low setting and cook for an hour. Keep a close eye on your soap during this process. You may opt to leave your soap and not stir and open it during this time many Hot Process soap makers do this, and that is fine. I however like to keep an eye on it, stir occasionally (every 10 15 minutes or so) and check on the different stages the soap goes through during the cooking process.
Champagne Bubbles Stage: This is where the soap starts cooking. You can see small bubbles simmering in some glistening clear liquid. The soap almost looks like its separating. Give it a quick stir, making sure nothing sticks to the side and dries out quicker than the rest of the soap. Cover and leave it again.
Applesauce Stage: The soap becomes a little thicker and almost grainy looking, like applesauce. This stage does not last long and if you miss it, do not worry, your soap will be fine.
Soft Mashed Potato stage: This is the next stage and your soap will look slightly translucent and almost fluffy. This happens after about an hour cooking time. It may take a little longer, even up to 1 and a half hours depending on the amount of heat, different recipes etc. At this stage, your soap is fully cooked. You can switch off your Slow Cooker (or remove from heat) and add in your colourants and fragrance oil (optional).
Remember, Hot Process soap is not like cold process soap, it is thick, and the end bar is often a little rustic looking. You will have to spoon your soap into the mould and tap it down vigorously. You also need to hurry, because as it cools down it will solidify quickly. Focus on getting the majority of the soap in the mould and don't worry too much about the edges of the pot (the sides usually have some dry pieces and those don't always want to stick to the rest of the soap) You can get those out later and roll into a little ball and use as a hand soap if you want to. With gloved hands, smooth out or texture the top of your soap as desired. Remember that the soap will be hot, so be careful. As soon as the soap has cooled down, you can unmould and cut your soap into bars. This soap is fully saponified and technically safe to use immediately, however 4 6 weeks cure time is still recommended to form a harder bar of soap that will last longer in the shower/bath.
