Recipe: Traditional Guernsey Milk Soap

Have you wondered what the recipe for our traditional Guernsey milk soap is? Well, we've decided to share it with you. :)

This simple and pure Guernsey milk soap is not difficult to make! All you need is: a digital scale, mixing bowls, molds (or silicone ice cube trans, wax paper 9x12), gloves, glasses, and the ingredients! This recipe makes about 18 bars using bread loaf style molds that you can order from Amazon.

What you'll need

Ingredients

• 36 oz olive oil

• 12 oz grapeseed oil

• 8 oz cold whole milk

• 16 oz coconut oil

• 10 oz distilled water

• 8.9 oz lye crystals

Instructions

1.Prepare work surface with newspaper or a tablecloth. In a bowl, measure out first 3 ingredients, one at a time, into a larger mixing bowl. Whisk oils and cold milk together. Measure coconut oil (not melted) and add to large bowl.

2. In a plastic jug, measure 10 oz distilled water and set aside.

3.Now put on your gloves and eye protection, measure out lye crystals to the exact amount. Go outside or by an open window and very slowly and carefully pour the crystals into the water. (*Note: always pour lye into water, never water into lye!) Stir slowly until liquid is clear and you can feel the heat from the outside of the container. Be very careful to not spill any of this lye onto your skin, as it can cause serious burns.

4.Go to your large bowl filled with the other previous ingredients and lowly pour lye mixture into bowl. You will notice the chunks of coconut oil melting. With an immersion blender, blend until the mixture resembles thick pudding. (This is called trace.) Be careful to not over-blend. Then, add whatever essential oils you like (up to 4 tsps).

3. Pour soap into molds that you're using or simply line a 9x12 baking dish with parchment paper. Make the top beautiful by sprinkling with dried flowers or swirl with a spoon, then cover with saran wrap. Twenty-four hours later, take out of mold and slice to your desired size.

4.Let it cure in a well-ventilated area for six weeks and voila! You have just made your very first batch of soap. You won't go back. :)

Happy DIY-ing from all of us at Promise Valley!