Lesson 1Common contaminants and their chemical impacts (metal ions, residual acid)Spot common contaminants like metal ions, leftover acids, and impurities in water or raw materials. See how they cause rancidity, DOS, texture wahala, and colour changes, and learn how to avoid or fix them proper.
Sources of metal ions in typical soap studiosChelators to bind metals and prevent DOSResidual acid or lye imbalance problemsEffects of impure water and storage conditionsTesting and documenting contamination issuesLesson 2How oil blends affect hardness, lather, conditioning, cleansing and longevityFind out how different oil mixes control hardness, lather type, conditioning feel, cleansing power, and how long the bar lasts. Connect fatty acid data to real bar behaviour and design balanced recipes for specific purposes.
Balancing hard and soft oils in a base recipeDesigning for creamy vs bubbly lather profilesManaging cleansing vs mildness in daily soapsFormulating for longevity and low mushinessUsing calculators to predict bar propertiesLesson 3Principles of saponification: triglycerides, fatty acids, NaOH reaction, heat and timeGrasp the saponification reaction from triglycerides to soap and glycerin. Study how NaOH strength, temperature, mixing, and curing time affect trace, gel phase, conversion, and final bar quality.
From triglycerides to soap and glycerinEffect of lye concentration on trace speedTemperature control, gel phase, and insulationTime, cure, and completion of saponificationRecognizing and avoiding false trace issuesLesson 4Common oils and butters: detailed properties of olive, coconut, palm, shea, castor, sunflower, cocoa butterExamine the chemistry and behaviour of key soaping oils and butters like olive, coconut, palm, shea, castor, sunflower, and cocoa butter, so you can swap them wisely and adjust recipes for cost and performance.
Olive oil grades and their soaping behaviorCoconut oil levels and skin tolerance limitsPalm and alternatives for sustainable hardnessShea, cocoa, and luxury butters in formulasCastor and sunflower as supporting liquid oilsLesson 5pH testing, titration basics, and typical soap pH ranges during cure and at useSee how soap pH shifts from pour to full cure, how to test it right, and safe ranges for skin. Learn titration basics to check neutralization and fix harsh or unstable batches.
Using pH strips and meters correctly in soapInterpreting pH during gel and cure stagesSafe pH ranges for body, face, and household barsSimple titration to check excess lye or fatCorrecting batches with off‑spec pH readingsLesson 6Superfatting: purpose, free oils, choice of superfatting agents, effect on shelf life and rancidityUnderstand why soap makers superfat, how to pick good superfat oils, and how amount and timing affect mildness, lather, oxidation, and DOS risk. Build strategies balancing skin feel with shelf life.
Reasons to superfat and typical usage rangesChoosing which oils to reserve as superfatsIn‑the‑pot vs lye discount superfat methodsSuperfat level, oxidation, and DOS formationDesigning stable superfatted commercial barsLesson 7Fatty acid profiles and functional contributions: lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, ricinoleicLook at key fatty acids and how each affects lather, hardness, solubility, and conditioning. Learn to read profiles and predict performance when building or tweaking cold process formulas.
Lauric and myristic acids for cleansing latherPalmitic and stearic acids for hardness and longevityOleic and linoleic for conditioning and glideRicinoleic acid and its lather boosting roleReading and comparing fatty acid chartsLesson 8Role of water and liquid substitutes (milk, tea, hydrosols) in trace and reaction rateKnow the role of water and substitutes like milk, tea, hydrosols in dissolving lye, controlling trace, gel, and heat. Learn how water discounts and swaps affect safety, texture, and cure time.
Lye solution strength and safe mixing ratiosWater discount and its effect on trace speedUsing milks and teas as full or partial waterManaging heat, gel, and potential overheatingAdjusting cure time for different water levelsLesson 9Soap molecules: surfactant structure, micelles, pH and skin compatibilityDive into soap as surfactant: structure, micelle formation, and how pH, water hardness, formulation affect mildness and skin compatibility while cleansing well.
Hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tailsHow micelles lift and suspend soilsImpact of pH on skin barrier and feelWater hardness, scum, and chelating agentsFormulating for sensitive or dry skin typesLesson 10Role of additives (clays, botanicals, milks, sugars) on chemistry and preservation concernsCheck how clays, botanicals, milks, sugars interact with lye and fats, affect trace, colour, lather, and bring preservation or spoilage risks to manage carefully.
Clays for slip, color, and oil absorptionBotanical powders and risk of discolorationUsing milks safely without scorching or spoilageSugars, honey, and heat management in moldsWhen and how to use preservatives or chelators
