How To Make Hot Process Soap

What is Hot Process Soap?

The hot process of producing soap is due to the saponification being accelerated with the use of heat. It is very similar to cold process, as it primarily uses lye, water, nut, oil and fat butters as the main ingredient.

The mixture is brought to trace, then subjected to heat using a double boiler or a crock pot, cooking through saponification. Color and fragrances may be added in the soap, then it is placed into a mold. This method changes the soap's appearance but makes it ready to use in just a few days.

The Materials and Tools

Prepare the tools and ingredients needed beforehand. The list may vary, but all of the ones presented below serve their own special function. Feel free to personalize with what you have or prefer.



-A wooden or plastic spoon

-A hand or electric stick blender

-Glass measuring cups

-A digital scale

-A crockpot with low and high settings

-A ceramic or plastic bowl

-A mold

-Face mask, safety goggles and rubber gloves

The Hot Process Soap Steps

1. Plug in the crockpot and set it to high. Measure in all the essential hard and soft oils, and put them all into the crockpot. An example of some hard oils are lard, shortening, cocoa and shea butter, while soft oils include castor oil, sunflower or almond oil. Wait for about 10 minutes or until all of them melt together- use the lid of the crockpot to cover and accelerate the process.

2. Put on your safety glasses, gloves and mask as you will be mixing lye. This is an especially important step to follow in order to prevent harm or cause any unfortunate accidents. Use the ceramic or plastic bowl to measure and weigh the lye, then use the glass measuring cup for water. Glass is a great material to utilize because of its nature to withstand high temperatures.

Add the lye very slowly and carefully to the water, while stirring constantly. Do not do this process the opposite way- that is, never, ever pour water to lye. In this step, the water will become hot and rise constantly, so it may be a good idea to use cold water. Stir until the water clears or until all the lye seems to be dissolved completely.

3. Pour the resulting water/lye mixture into the crockpot along with the melted oils. Prepare your hand or electric blender and use them to blend the solution together for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until trace is reached. Trace is what happens when the lye, water and the oils are all joined together and the mixture starts to thicken.

A hot process produces a thick trace, from which patterns can be made. Soap can be made white with the Titanium Dioxide colorant, but anything can be added on top- it is entirely up to you.

4. Use the ceramic bowls to prepare fragrances and colors. Shave the waxes from crayons and candles into the bowl with a measurement of about 1 oz per 15 ounces of oil. You can also choose pigments and special dyes intended for soapmaking.

5. Put the top cover back to the crockpot and wait for approximately 10 minutes to get it heated again. Don't forget to keep stirring until it is fine and has the consistency of thick mashed potatoes.

6. Mix in the coloring and fragrances by scooping a blob out of the crockpot first, then into the ceramic bowl with the color. Reintroduce it into the crockpot gradually, piece by piece, and stir slowly until the whole mixture has the desired hue.

7. Pour out the thick soap mixture into the prepared mold and make an effort to smooth each one out as much as you can. The top surface will always have that textured look, and that is fine. Leave it for about 48 hours to allow cooling and hardening.

8. It is almost done. Remove the soap from the mold and cut to the desired shape and size. You may use cutting tools that enhance the soap's appearance or makes your work easier, like a soap cutter that utilizes a thin wire.

The cut hot process soap can actually be used immediately, or they can also be allowed a few more weeks' rest to cure further. A milder soap is created when cured for a longer time.