The hot process soap making procedure is very similar to the cold process, with the difference that it takes place at an elevated temperature. After the saponification process, the soap immediately has the desired pH. Before its use, a shorter curing time is therefore sufficient. A minor disadvantage is colouring, since the resulting mass is relatively thick and hardens quickly, so we cannot create such nice patterns as with the cold process.

Procedure:

1. Prepare all the necessary raw materials, in our case distilled water and sodium hydroxide (both raw materials can be purchased in a regular drugstore), olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, essential oil – lavender, dried lavender, pH strips, thermometer, protective equipment – gloves, face mask, goggles

2. Before production, put on the protective equipment. First, prepare the sodium hydroxide solution. Weigh out the required amount of distilled water.

3. In another container, weigh out the required amount of sodium hydroxide.

4. In the sink, pour the hydroxide into the distilled water; note, ALWAYS POUR THE HYDROXIDE INTO THE WATER, NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND. Stir the hydroxide, do not inhale the fumes. It is best to prepare the solution in a ventilated area, or by an open window. The resulting hydroxide solution has a high temperature, so let it cool to approx. 35 °C.

5. While the hydroxide is cooling, prepare the oil blend. Weigh out the required amount of olive oil, add the coconut and castor oil. Use a container suitable for a water bath (in our case a metal bowl).

6. Place the weighed oils in a water bath, allow the solid oils to melt. The oils should reach the same temperature as the hydroxide solution.

7. Slowly pour the hydroxide solution into the oil blend, which we first stir with a spatula.

8. When the oils are mixed with the hydroxide, use an immersion blender to bring them together. Blend until “trace” appears.

9. Cover the mixture at trace with aluminium foil and leave it in the water bath over low heat.

10. Check the mixture continuously, approximately every 15 minutes. The saponification process gradually takes place. Stir the soap so that it does not boil over.

11. Gradually the entire mixture saponifies – the soap is almost finished. Allow the saponification process to continue until the pH of the mixture is approx. 8. Measure the pH by taking a small amount of the mixture, dipping a pH strip into it and comparing it with the scale on the pH strip packaging.

12. When the saponification process is complete, remove the soap from the heat source. Next comes the addition of essential oils and, in our case, also dried herbs. Essential oils have different evaporation temperatures, so it is important that the soap has a lower temperature than the evaporation temperature of the given essential oil. Add the essential oil and the dried herbs.

13. Pour the prepared soap into a mould lined with baking paper; for decoration we used dried lavender flowers. Cover the finished soap and leave it to rest for 24 hours.

14. After 24 hours, remove the soap from the mould and cut it into the desired pieces. Leave the prepared soap to dry for about another 2 weeks so that the residual water can evaporate.