I’ve been wanting to make goat milk based soap for over a year now.  Especially goat milk soap, but since I don’t have any of that I decided to make milk soap using “half & half” instead.

I do have goat milk powder and thought of just adding water to it.  But Casey Makela author of Milk-Based Soaps doesn’t recommend goat milk powder at all, she said all the fat has been removed so it would not be good for soapmaking.  But I have used goat milk powder in one of my soaps and find it to be just as nice and creamy.  Although Makela’s book was informative, it seem to stretch out this process more then necessary!  And also make you NOT want to make any milk based soap ever.

Here is the milk & cream soaps.  Some say it smells more like sweet oatmeal.  I think that smell may fade in 3-4 weeks time when it’s done curing.  I can’t wait to give this soap a try!  I can feel how creamy and rich it is while I was cutting it up.

Now that I’ve successfully made my first batch of “milk soap” it wasn’t much different then regular CP soaping. Well there are some differences, but not much.

Updated: The sweet smell is still there. Something I can’t describe, but like sweet cookies. I have given this soap the shower test and it’s great! Very nice and creamy bar of soap. Thick and hard bard too. I think it will last a long time in the shower. Just keep it dry in a nice soap dish.

This is what I used instead of goat milk.   “Half and half is a combination of equal parts whole milk and cream, with a butterfat content ranging between 10 and 12 percent.” - Photo from Bon Appetit.

Cambree’s Milk & Cream Soap recipe: 14 oz Palm oil, 8 oz Safflower oil, 6 oz Olive oil,  4 oz Canola oil. And the extras:  1 tsp goat milk powder, 1 tsp of sunflower oil infused with Gotu Kola (Vitamin E factor and great for skin), 1 tsp of Quince jam (Vitamin C factor).

My hand cut soap is made with out artificial dyes or fragrance.  Just pure milk, cream, and natural goodies!

As a precaution, always wear goggles and gloves when making soap.  As the lye is very caustic and the soap is still raw.

Instructions: First of all you want the milk to be partially frozen, like slushy ice.  What I did was measure out 10 oz bag of my milk (half & half) and put it in the freezer.  When I was ready to make my soap, I brought down the bag and transfer into my Pyrex cup.  It’s advise to put the cup of slushy milk in an ice water bath.  This is the best way to prevent it from burning the milk.

Then sprinkle the lye slowly around the mug.  Gently stir and do not breathe in the fumes.  Once the lye hits the slushy milk it will turn bright orange (like free range chicken yolk).  Let this cool to about 95 degrees (F).  Now heat up the oils until it is 95 degrees (F) as well.

Once the temperatures match, slowly add the milk & lye water to the oils. This is the part when you want to make sure nothing is burned due to temperatures being too high.

Next you want to blend on slow speed.  The mixture should start to thicken up like custard, this is called “tracing”.  Now is the time to add the additives.

Then pour the raw soap mixture into your mold.  Make sure the molds are lined with freezer paper or plastic.  Wrap and insulate so no heat is lost.  Let it saponify for the next 18-24 hours.

When it’s harden it will be ready to cut. Additional notes:  As far as making milk based soap goes, there are also other ways of combining the lye and milk.  Some people use half water and half milk.  Adding lye to the water, letting it cool down, then adding to the milk.  I haven’t tried this method, but think it’s a good idea.  But you wouldn’t be using as much milk, so I wonder how “creamy and rich” it will turn out.

Update 9/4/09: I’ve just used this soap once in the shower and I love it. I can’t seem to get enough of it, so I’m using it as my hand and facial soap too. I can’t believe I waited this long to try milk based soap. They feel very luxurious! The bars are perfect, not too hard or soft. I think the fixed oils really helped out.

The odd oatmeal smell disappear once it’s wet. It doesn’t have much of a scent. I think next time I will want to add some kind of fragrance or essential oil to it. But so it’s fine as it.