Buzz Off!

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 12 ounces vegetable shortening
• 12 ounces coconut oil
• 8 ounces olive oil
• 11 ounces distilled water or 11 ounces mineral water
• 5 ounces lye (sodium hydroxide, caustic soda)
• 1 tablespoon lavender oil
• 2 teaspoons citronella essential oils (if you don't have citronella, lemon grass is equally effective)

Recipe

• 1 grease a square or oblong mold.
• 2 place the fat and base oils in a stainless steel or enamel pot over a low heat.
• 3 pour the water into a heavy glass or plastic bowl or pitcher.
• 4 wearing rubber gloves and eye protection, add the sodium hydroxide (caustic soda/lye) to the water and stir until dissolved.
• 5 when the oils have melted, remove them from heat.
• 6 place one candy thermometer in the oils and one in the caustic solution.
• 7 when both thermometers reach an equal temperature between 120*f.
• 8 (49*c.) and 140*f (60*c.), pour the caustic solution into the oil.
• 9 stir occasionallly until the mixture reaches trace.
• 10 this should take about 60 minutes.
• 11 add the essential oils and stir well.
• 12 pour immediately into the mold and cover with a towel or blanket.
• 13 leave to set for 24 hours or until the soap reaches a solid consistency.
• 14 wearing rubber gloves, remove the soap from the mold and cut into bars.
• 15 cover the soap and leave to cure for four weeks before use.
• 16 note#1: you may add dried lavender buds that have been ground up to your soap at trace.
• 17 use about 2 tbls.
• 18 (30g) per lb (454g) soap.
• 19 note#2: for extra protection, put one part glycerine and four parts water into a spray bottle and add a few drops to these essential oils.
• 20 if you don't have glycerine on hand, use straight vodka as a base instead. if you don't have citonella, lemon grass is equally effective.