Lesson 1Superfatting and preservatives: what superfat means, typical percent ranges, and handling free oils; rancidity risks and antioxidant use (vitamin E, rosemary extract)Make clear wetin superfat mean and how free oils does make soap mild, affect lather, and shelf life. Learn usual superfat ranges, how to pick which oils to hold back, and how antioxidants like vitamin E and rosemary extract does slow down rancidity and DOS in de finished bars.
Defining superfat and lye discountChoosing which oils to superfat withSuperfat levels for face, body, and shampooRecognizing and preventing DOS and rancidityUsing vitamin E and rosemary extract wiselyLesson 2Selecting oils for target skin types: formulations for sensitive, dry, normal, oily skin and trade-offsLearn how to match oil mixes to sensitive, dry, normal, and oily skin. Compare cleansing, conditioning, and hardness, and know de trade-offs between mildness, bubbly lather, longevity, and cost when you dey design recipes wey target specific skin.
Key fatty acids and their skin feelFormulating for sensitive or reactive skinDesigning bars for dry or mature skinBalancing recipes for normal or combo skinLow-residue bars for oily or acne-prone skinLesson 3Understanding trace and its impact on swirl techniques and batched consistencyKnow wetin trace be, how to spot its stages, and why e matter for texture and design. Learn to control trace speed so you fit do swirls, layers, and embeds while keeping de batter easy to work and strong.
Visual and textural signs of light traceMedium and thick trace and when to use themFactors that speed or slow traceTiming colorants and fragrance at traceTrace management for swirl techniquesLesson 4Fragrance choices: essential oils vs. fragrance oils, heat and alkali stability, skin-safety considerations and IFRA basicsCompare essential oils and fragrance oils for cold process soap. Check heat and alkali stability, risks of discoloration, usage rates, and IFRA guidelines so you fit make fragrant bars wey safe and go last long.
Essential oil pros, cons, and safety limitsWorking with synthetic fragrance oilsAcceleration, ricing, and discoloration risksReading IFRA documents and usage tablesBlending scents for better longevityLesson 5Basic saponification chemistry: triglycerides, fatty acids, glycerin, and how lye converts oils to soapGet clear picture of saponification chemistry: how triglycerides and lye react to form soap and glycerin. Learn why exact lye calculation, purity assumptions, and right mixing order dey important for safe, stable bars.
Structure of triglycerides and fatty acidsWhat sodium hydroxide does in solutionThe saponification reaction step by stepRole and benefits of natural glycerinWhy accurate lye calculation is criticalLesson 6Common soap-making oils and butters: properties, typical fatty acid profiles, and functional impacts (hardness, lather, conditioning)Look at de most common oils and butters for soap-making and how their fatty acid profiles does affect hardness, lather, conditioning, and solubility. Learn to mix dem into balanced, stable, and cheap base recipes.
Lauric and myristic acids for cleansingOleic-rich oils for conditioning and glidePalmitic and stearic acids for hardnessCastor oil and stable, creamy latherBuilding balanced base recipes from staplesLesson 7Role of liquid phase: water vs. distilled, herbal/tea infusions, milk, and impact on texture and traceCheck how different liquids behave in cold process soap, like distilled water, herbal infusions, teas, and milks. Learn how liquid type and amount does affect trace speed, texture, color, scent retention, and cure time.
Why distilled water is the default solventWater discounts and their effect on traceWorking safely with milk and sugar-rich liquidsUsing herbal and tea infusions for color and scentManaging acceleration and overheating from liquidsLesson 8Additives and functional botanicals: clays, oats, activated charcoal, exfoliants, botanical powders and their skin effectsFind out how functional additives does change de feel and performance of soap. Learn to use clays, oats, activated charcoal, exfoliants, and botanical powders for slip, soothing, detox look, and controlled scrub.
Using clays for slip, color, and oil anchoringColloidal oats and soothing additivesActivated charcoal for color and marketingChoosing gentle versus strong exfoliantsDispersing botanical powders to avoid clumpsLesson 9Common allergens and nut oils: identification, labeling implications, and alternatives for nut-free barsKnow common allergenic things in soap, especially nut oils and butters. Learn labeling rules, how to reduce cross-contact risk, and how to swap nut-free options while keeping bar performance good.
Common allergenic oils and buttersReading supplier documentation and COAsLabeling practices for potential allergensDesigning nut-free or low-risk formulasCommunicating risks to sensitive customersLesson 10Natural colorants and pigments: mica, clays, spirulina, annatto, turmeric—staining risk, heat sensitivity, and pH stabilityKnow how natural colorants behave in high-pH soap. Compare micas, clays, and botanicals like spirulina, annatto, and turmeric, focusing on usage rates, bleeding, staining risk, heat sensitivity, and long-term color stability.
Differences between micas and mineral pigmentsUsing cosmetic clays for color and slipGreen botanicals like spirulina and chlorellaWarm tones with annatto, turmeric, and paprikaPreventing fading, morphing, and staining issuesLesson 11Simple formulation metrics: percentages, parts by weight, batch scaling, and converting to grams for calculator useBuild confidence with basic formulation math. Practice percentages and parts by weight, scaling recipes up or down, and converting ounces to grams so you fit use online lye calculators right and safe.
Using baker’s percentages for oilsConverting between weight unitsScaling a test batch to production sizeEntering data correctly in lye calculatorsChecking water and lye ratios for safety
