Lye calculation???

by Alison
(Elk Horn, KY USA)

I would like to start by saying that I find your site very informative and fun. In doing alot of reading about begining soap making processes, each site says to run the recipe through a lye calculation, even if the lye calculation has been given.

In the recipes I have found of yours (ie. Goat Milk Soap & Shea Butter) the lye/water calculations don't match up.

Please help!!! What am I doing wrong??? I used Brambleberrys Lye calculator but it comes out differently than your calculation. Thank you for your help.

Answer:

Each lye calculator out there will have slight variations, especially in the amount of water. The lye content needed should be very close.

I ran my recipe through SoapCalc just to be sure that there were not any errors and it came up the same as usual.

You will notice on each recipe page, I have listed the water percentage and lye reduction just below the recipe. You will need to use those figures in the lye calculator.

Cathy