Q. How Handmade soaps are manufactured?

Answer

Soap is made through a process called saponification. In this process, lye (a mixture of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide and water) is mixed with fats, oils and butters to transform the oils into salt. The process entails the reaction of triglycerides by which oils and fats create reaction with lye. Lye is an important substance without which the process of saponification would not be done.Once the mixture is ready in prescribed proportions of all the ingredients, it is made to undergo heating process. Once heating is done for the mandatory time period, the mixture then made to go through cold process. In the cooling process, the heated mixture is poured into moulds of desired shape and size to be left for solidifying and hardening. Most of the soaps can be used the next day but it is recommended to leave it for one week for better hardening.