The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Anke on August 28, 2010, 09:55:50 pm

Title: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: Anke on August 28, 2010, 09:55:50 pm

Just looking at the prices for olive oil for soapmaking. Seems to be quite expensive. Any reason why I can't use the stuff from my local Coop?

Title: Re: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: ballingall on August 28, 2010, 10:30:25 pm

No reason at all- my soap book says you can use it from the supermarket. Thats where I get mine from.

Beth

Title: Re: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: Susie on August 28, 2010, 10:32:37 pm

I've made soap using olive oil and almond oil bought from supermarkets before. I found you need to buy absolutely tons of the stuff from the soap making suppliers to beat the supermarket prices and I just make it for family and friends so don't really need wholesale quantities. If there is a reason you can't use it I don't know what it is and the soap didn't seem any different either.

Title: Re: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: doganjo on August 28, 2010, 11:26:03 pm

OK, I'm thick!  How do you make a solid lump of soap from a liquid? ??? ???

Title: Re: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: plumseverywhere on August 29, 2010, 07:02:45 pm

I use Tesco olive oil currently.  Asda do a 5L pomace oil and it is very reasonable.

the soap becomes solid when saponification takes place - ie. the lye meets the fats and the next few hours/days changes occur

Title: Re: Soapmaking - olive oil
Post by: Anke on August 30, 2010, 08:43:43 pm

Thanks - thought that I could go down that route. (Although I prefer not to shop in either Tesco or Asda... its personal)