Getting closer

Well, thanks to David Fisher (candleandsoap.about.com), I can start to make my first batch of soap. Next week I will be getting my lye solution. From David's explaination, now know how to use the solution in replace of the lye crystal.

But..... there is another obstacle. Until today, I have not managed to locate a cooking thermometer. Besides the one used to measure body temperature, the closest I found around here are industrial cooking thermometer. They cost RM300 (+$70) each. Might as well start a business of making soap if I to get one of those.

There are few options available on ebay... maybe I will try for a couple more days looking before I place a bid on ebay.

Need a permit...

It's official. From the website of Malaysia Pharmacy regulatory body, Sodium hydroxide is classified as poison. Any person who wants to purchase, buy or use it must have a permit.

Now it gets me thinking, no wonder there is not that many people in Malaysia that are into making soap. From other websites from US, UK, Europe and Australia, it seems that the materials for making soap are readily available at the supermarkets or speciality stores , and anyone can just walk in and buy them off the shelves.

So now I have to get a permit first before I can start making soap.... wow.... not even trying to start a business yet.

Why is it so hard to get a hold of lye...

I don't know about other places, but how hard can it be to get hold of lye (sodium hydroxide) here in KL?????? Today I was told that I need to have license or permit to buy some... even for household use... some suppliers even said that I need to be a registered business before I can buy them... Then how am I suppose to start to make my soap??????

Perhaps I should make the lye myself.... nah.. just wishful thinking... I rather register a business than go through the hassle of producing lye myself...

Is there any soapmaker in KL who wants to share with me some info regarding where can I purchase sodium hydrixide for making soap at home???

Arghh.. the agony

Today i browsed the net for places where I can get organic soap in KL... guess what, either I am not savvy in web searches or there is no shop selling organic soap in KL that are listed in the wide world of web....

perhaps I should start one website or forum just to see how many are interested in this topic especially here in malaysia.. if there is aplenty, i might consider selling some of my soap later on...

Maybe it is asian culture to relly more on natural herbs and spices for health and bauty cleansing that organic or home made soap is not much in demand... hmmm,, come to think of it... I might try a recipe which inludes our traditional herbs and spices... "Mas Cotet" home-made soap, can help in ridding diabities..

rant can go till morning.. but I can't ....ciao...

Seems like good enough to eat

There has been so many soap related wep pages that I had surfed over. Some of the picture look like normal soap. But some really do look like cookies and cakes... seems good enough to eat..
I bet if I place one on the coffe table, some unsuspecting guest would want to taste it... Looks delicious.

I had got a reply from a chemist for a price list on sodium hydroxide.. not much of a list. Only one package MYR80.00 for 30 ltr of liquid sodium hydrooxide. That is a lot of lye for a soap making novice... I wonder if there is anyone else in Kuala Lumpur who would want to join purchase with me..

Many of the soap making pages appears to focus on Melt & Pour method... I guess it cut the hassle of cold process and safer as no lye is involve. But for me, I want to make my own soap.. so that later on when i decide to sell the soap, I can assure buyer on the ingredients used for the soap do not contain any harsh petroleum or chemical.

Time for a nap before my son wakes up.

Lye....

Today I managed to contact a chemical supplier who sells sodium hydroxide both in powder/flake and liquid form.
I can only buy the liquid form which is 50% sodium hydroxide. Therefore need to do some experiment on its suitability or strenght to suit the soap recipes that I have. I hope the liquid form would be similar in strenght compared to natural lye.

On the topic of lye, I have one curiosity. What are other purposes of lye besides making soap? There should more use right? I have read somewhere that Red Devil lye can be used and had been been abused in making some sort of illegal drugs. No wonder 100% Sodium hydroxide is a control subtance here.

Well, enough ranting.. got to get back to work.

Soap making novice

My motivation level to make "home-made soap" is at the highest level now. I have now gone through several books and e-books, websites, pointers and tips on how to make soap at home.
I have identified tools needed and ingredients needed. Past few days was spent on locating where to source the materials for soap.

All but one has been found. As I'm living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I find it to be difficult in locating lye. I went to hardwares, bakery supplies and pharmacy but could not find lye. The problem is it seems that no one here have ever heard of "lye". The closest to lye that I had came across is some liquid drain cleaners which are mix of sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. I'm not sure whether this can be used for making soap or not. Anyone out there can help me on this?

Nevertheless, I'm determined to find the elusive lye. Probably will try to contact some chemical supplier tommorrow. This is only a small obstacle isn't it? I will have my home-made soap ready for use by middle April (need to cure them first).