Course Terminology

-cure- the process of allowing soap to complete its process of saponification (if you’re doing cold process– in hot process, the lye is neutralized during the heating process, which makes a long curing process unnecesary). Curing also allows water to evaporate from the soap so it hardens and lasts longer

-lye- a solution of sodium hydroxide dissolved in water, and in soap making, we often use the word "lye" to refer to the sodium hydroxide crystals as well

-saponification- the chemical reaction between lye, water, and oils that allows the lye to transform the oils into what we call soap

-trace- the point in the saponification reaction where the mixture of oils and lye is thick enough that they won’t separate (they’ve emulsified).  We test trace by seeing if we drag something across the surface of the soap if it leaves a trace or by drizzling some of the soap mixture on top and seeing if it remains visible

-vaseline stage- when the soap is heated enough that it becomes translucent and looks similar to vaseline. It’s glossy and wax-like to the touch.