How to Make Liquid Glycerin Soap from Scratch

Tired of making soap bars? Now, making liquid glycerin soap is possible! The secret: potassium hydroxide. It forms a base for liquid soaps as sodium hydroxide forms a base for soap bars. Also called potash, this translucent substance contains varying amounts of water. 

Ingredients:

Phase A

Distilled water 6 oz.

Potassium hydroxide 3 oz.

Phase B

Soybean (Glycine max) oil, non-hydrogenated 8 oz.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil 4 oz.

Sunflower (Helianthus annus) oil 4 oz.

Phase C

Glycerin ½ cup

Essential oil 1 oz.

Instructions:

In a heat-resistant bowl, combine water and potassium hydroxide. Set aside. In a stainless steel pan combine all the oils of phase B before heating gently. Stir well. Heat mixture at about 65°C (150°F).

Pour phase A mixture into the pan. Stir vigorously to prevent disintegration. When oils have stopped rising to the surface, mixture is ready for cooling. Set it aside for a week, stirring it every now and then to prevent oils from separating. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Dilute soap with distilled water for desired consistency.

Reference:

"Homemade Soap Making: Make Your Own Liquid Glycerine Soap."Essortment Articles. Demand Media, Inc., (n.d.) Web. 31 May 2012. <http://www.essortment.com/homemade-soap-making-make-own-liquid-glycerine-soap-51601.html>.