Lesson 1Common contaminants and their chemical impacts (metal ions, residual acid)Find bad things like metal bits, leftover acids, and dirt in water or supplies. See how they make soap go bad fast, turn orange, feel wrong, or change colour. Learn easy ways to stop or fix them.
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 longevitySee how mixing different oils makes soap hard or soft, bubbly or smooth, good for dry skin, cleaning power, and how long it lasts. Match oil facts to real soap feel and make good mixes for any need.
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 timeLearn how fats turn into soap and glycerin with lye. See how strong lye, hot or cold, stirring, and waiting time change mixing speed, heat stage, full change, and how good the bar ends up.
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 butterLook close at main oils and butters like olive, coconut, palm, shea, castor, sunflower, cocoa. Know their ways so you swap smart and fit recipes to cheap cost and good use.
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 acid level changes from mix to dry. Learn right test ways and safe numbers for skin. Know basic checks to prove lye gone and fix rough or weak 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 rancidityKnow why we add extra oil, pick good ones, and how much and when changes soft feel, bubbles, old smell, and quick bad. Make plans for good skin touch and long keep.
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, ricinoleicCheck main fat parts and how each makes bubbles, hard, melt, skin care. Read fat lists and turn to sure results when making or changing cold soap mixes.
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 rateSee water job and swaps like milk, tea, plant water in lye melt, mix speed, heat, soft stage. Learn less water or change how safe, feel, dry 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 compatibilityGo deep on soap clean power: build, bubble groups, acid level, hard water, mix effect on kind clean and skin friend while clean 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 clays, plants, milks, sugars with lye fats, mix, colour, bubbles, and bad keep risks you watch close.
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
