Ingredient guide
What Is Saponification? How Oils Become Soap
Saponification is the chemical reaction that turns fats and oils into soap. Here is what happens, why lye is needed, and why there is no lye left in properly made soap.
Soap Making
Beginner-friendly guides to making soap at home safely: methods, equipment, lye safety and curing.
2 articles
Making soap at home is rewarding, but lye is caustic and must be handled with care: gloves, eye protection and good ventilation every time. Begin with what saponification is to understand the chemistry, then read what superfat means before you run your first recipe through a lye calculator.
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Ingredient guide
What Is Superfat in Soap?
Superfat is the small amount of oil left unreacted in a bar of soap. Here is what it means, typical percentages, and why it makes soap feel gentler.