From Castile, or Castilia, a province in Spain, from which it originally came.
A kind of fine, hard, white or mottled soap, made with olive oil and soda. Although this soap is slow to lather, a little work yields an abundance of rich, creamy suds mild enough for the most sensitive skin. Castile soap is so gentle, it’s often used as baby’s first soap.
Ingredients:
Makes 2 lbs. Very Easy. This is true Castile soap.
- 24 ozs of Pure 100% Olive Oil
- 1 oz of beeswax pearls (gives this bar a silky texture)
- 4 ozs of lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 10 ozs of distilled water
Follow the basic cold process soap making instructions. Soap temperature 100-120°, a bit hotter should be fine since this is a small batch and will loose heat quickly. Cure for 6 weeks for best results.
Melt the beeswax in the olive oil until temperatures reach approximately 120°. Add the lye to the water stirring well (follow basic cold process instructions) and add to the oil/beeswax mixture when it cools to 120°. Stir until trace and pour into mold.
Optional additional additives: Ground dried chamomile 1/4 cup or less and chamomile fragrance oil (2 ozs.) added at trace.
