8. Citrus and Red Palm Oil Soap

This citrus and red palm oil soap is a cold process recipe that blends orange, lemon and grapefruit essential oils with coconut oil, olive oil and Baraka red palm oil for a bright, refreshing bar. The red palm oil keeps its natural colour, which gives the soap a warm, vibrant tint.

Ingredients:

• Red Palm Oil: 227g (8 oz)
• Coconut Oil: 113g (4 oz)
• Olive Oil: 113g (4 oz)
• Lye: 2.29 oz (65 g)
• Distilled Water: 142g (5 oz)
• Orange Essential Oil: 5g (1 tsp)
• Lemon Essential Oil: 5g (1 tsp)
• Grapefruit Essential Oil: 5g (1 tsp)
• Essential Oils: (Optional - amount varies by preference)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the lye solution: Combine lye and distilled water in a heat-resistant container. Stir until the lye is completely dissolved.

2. Melt the oils: Melt the red palm oil, coconut oil, and olive oil together in a double boiler.

3. Combine: Carefully pour the lye solution into the melted oils and blend until the mixture reaches trace.

4. Add citrus oils: Stir in the orange, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils.

5. Pour into molds: Pour the soap batter into your chosen molds.

6. Cure: Allow the soap to cure for at least 4-6 weeks before use.

Lye-Water Calculation

Using the following values from a Lye Calculator:

• Red Palm Oil: 0.142 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Coconut Oil: 0.183 oz NaOH/oz of oil
• Olive Oil: 0.135 oz NaOH/oz of oil

Step-by-Step Calculations:

• Red Palm Oil (8 oz): 8 oz × 0.142 = 1.136 oz NaOH
• Coconut Oil (4 oz): 4 oz × 0.183 = 0.732 oz NaOH
• Olive Oil (4 oz): 4 oz × 0.135 = 0.540 oz NaOH

Total Lye Amount: 1.136 oz + 0.732 oz + 0.540 oz = 2.408 oz NaOH at 0% superfat; at 5% superfat use 2.29 oz (65 g)

Water Calculation: Assuming a water-to-lye ratio of 2:1 (a typical range for cold process soap): 2.408 oz NaOH × 2 = 4.816 oz water

Why Make This Soap: Citrus essential oils are known for their uplifting and refreshing properties, making this soap ideal for a revitalizing shower. The red palm oil provides moisture and nourishment, while the vibrant red color adds a touch of luxury and visual appeal to this soap.

This Recipe was originally published in "20 DIY Soap Making with Red Palm Oil"

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.