1Prepare the milk a day before or a few hours ahead of time by freezing the amount needed in an ice tube tray. When ready to soap, thaw the milk at room temperature until it's slush consistency.
2WEIGH YOUR INGREDIENTS
Prepare your supplies and equipment and weigh your ingredients in separate containers. Warm a small amount of the olive oil and mix the honey into this portion. Warmed honey solubises better in soap and gives a smoother looking soap.
3PREPARE THE LYE SOLUTION
As soon as you milk in thawed to the right consistency, add your sodium hydroxide in it – but do it in small amounts – like a teaspoon at a time. This is to prevent the milk from burning. So, add a bit in your milk, stir until it is dissolved and add a bit more until all there is no more sodium hydroxide left to dissolve. Your lye mixture will have a bit or more of a tan colour.
4PREPARE THE HONEY
Warm a small amount of the olive oil and mix the honey into this portion. Add the warmed honey and oil mix into the rest of the olive oil. Stick blend until it looks homoginised. Honey is water soluble so it will want to separate. Don't worry about it, it will blend once you start soaping.
5BLEND TO MAKE SOAP
Pour your lye solution into the oil and stickblend until you reach trace. 100% olive oil soap takes longer to reach trace that other oil mixes. Give your stickblender a rest inbetween, so the motor doesnt' overheat, if need be.
6POUR AND INCUBATE THE SOAP
Once trace is reached pour the batter into prepared or silicone moulds. Decorate or texturised the soap if needed. Cover the mould and incubate the soap for 24 hour or until firm enough to cut.
7CUT AND CURE
Cut your soap into bars and leave to cure in a humid-free environment for at least 6 months. Olive oil soap take longer to cure that other formulas. Enjoy and please share your creations with us.