Soap Science Facts
Learn the science facts about making homemade soap. In the beginning, I researched the chemical qualities of different oils, the active properties of botanicals, the results of saponification and the physical properties of lather and bubbles. The result of all my research is, now, known as Spencer's Farm Goat Milk Soap.
SOAP SCIENCE LESSONS Handmade soaps are formulated using a combination of emollient oils and butters, such as olive and avocado oils, and cocoa or shea butter with lathering oils, such as coconut or palm kernel oil. These oils are mixed with liquid saturated lye.
The chemical reaction that occurs between the oil and lye is known as saponification. Once saponification is complete, there is no lye left in the mixture. A simplified explanation of soap making chemistry is that one molecule of fat added to one molecule of lye yields three molecules of soap and one molecule of glycerin. In reality, each type of oil requires a different amount of lye to produce the complete reaction. However, today’s savonnier has tools to calculate exact ratios of specific oils to lye, but the result is always soap and glycerin in roughly a 3:1 ratio. I was hooked on making homemade soap when I could, actually, use all the stuff I learned in college biochemistry to improve my quality of soap. I enjoy using my homemade soap recipes.
Great Grandma had to make her own lye; we have standardized lye available, commercially. Grandma also rendered animal fats to get oils, so she was limited to tallow or lard. We have all kinds of terrific oils to choose from, but the lard with some olive oil and coconut oil makes wonderful, basic, castile-type soap. 
Understanding the science facts behind making goats milk soap has helped me appreciate my soap so much more. It doesn’t take much goat milk to make soap. Once people try natural goat milk soap, they really love it!Making goats milk soap takes time and patience. Continue learning with Spencer's Farm science lessons and you'll be on your way to becoming a successful soap maker too! For a reference guide, see our science terms with science definitions.
Whether you are a beginner or experienced soap maker, who would just like a refresher course on how to make soap, you can have, one-on-one, soap making instructions, here, at Spencer's Farm! We teach how to make soap with "hands-on" soap making classes. Learn an abundance of soap making information with our DVD package "Making Goat Milk Soap With Spencer's Farm." 
We are trusted experts in the soap making business! Spencer's Farm products have been farther around the world than the Spencer's themselves!
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