Recipe for Cold Saponified Soap: “MacaSoja” L’Évasion Exotique.

At Planète Savons, we think of everything to make saponification accessible and suitable for everyone.

That’s why we offer you two versions of this recipe: one using ready-to-use soda lye, ideal for its simplicity, and the other based on soda microbeads, enabling you to prepare your own soda solution with precision.

Both techniques offer identical results in terms of soap quality, leaving everyone free to choose the method that suits them best. It’s up to you to find your favorite!

Today, we present an exceptional recipe: “MacaSoja” The alliance of African and Asian treasures.

This unique soap combines the richness of macadamia and soybean oils with the softness of shea butter and the generous foam of coconut butter.

The result is nourished, moisturized, sublimated skin, ideal for mature skin or skin in search of anti-aging care, all with an exotic fragrance that invites you to travel.

Benefits of the main ingredients

Organic Coconut Butter

• Creates a generous, creamy mousse.
• Protects and nourishes the skin thanks to its high saturated fatty acid content.
• Ensures gentle cleansing while respecting the skin’s balance.

Macadamia oil

• Intensely moisturizes thanks to its essential fatty acid composition.
• Promotes cell regeneration for radiant, smoother skin.
• Ideal for dry, sensitive skin.

Shea butter

• Nourishes, regenerates and protects damaged or fragile skin.
• Repairs irritation and redness while providing suppleness.
• Particularly beneficial for dry areas such as elbows and knees.

Refined Soybean Oil

• A treasure trove of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that fights skin ageing.
• Protects skin from external aggression and helps maintain its elasticity.
• Promotes deep moisturization while providing a silky touch.

Castor oil

• Intensifies foam for a creamy texture.
• Moisturizes skin and contributes to its elasticity.
• Reinforces the softness and comfort of every use.

For this soap, I used Poudre de Mica Turquoise mica powder – Planète Savons. It gave me a little souvenir of the beach under the coconut trees.

Equipment required

To make this soap, make sure you have all the materials you need and have them ready before you start your recipe.

Safety Precautions

Making soap with soda requires a few precautions:

1. Always wear gloves, goggles and a mask to avoid contact with lye (even when using lye).
2. Choose long-sleeved sweaters or T-shirts to protect your forearms.
3. Work in a well-ventilated area or outdoors to limit vapour inhalation.
4. Keep materials away from children and pets.

Preparing your recipe

Recipe with 30% Soda Lye

Ingredients:

• Organic Coconut Butter: 210 g Organic Deodorized Coconut Butter – Planète Savons
• Macadamia oil: 210 g Organic Macadamia oil Cosmos certified – Planète Savons
• Shea Butter: 105 g Organic Shea Butter – Planète Savons
• Refined Soybean Oil: 70 g Refined Soybean Oil – Planète Savons
• Castor oil: 105 g Organic castor oil – Planète Savons
• 30% Soda Ash: 319.2 g Soda Ash Concentration 30% (250 ml) – Planète Savons
• Fragrance or Essential Oil: 21.7 g Indian Green Tea Fragrance – Planète Savons

Steps :

1. Prepare your workspace :

• Prepare and weigh your vegetable oils and butters, your fragrance (or essential oil), your additions (clays, mica, etc.).
• Keep all the necessary equipment close at hand.

2. Melt the butters:

• Gently heat the coconut butter and shea butter in a bain-marie or microwave to 45 degrees maximum.
• Once melted, add macadamia oil, soybean oil and castor oil. Mix well.
• Return your oils to the bain-marie or microwave to reach a temperature of between 42 and 45 degrees.

3. Add lye:

• Slowly pour the lye into the warm oils, mixing gently with a silicone spatula.

4. Reach the track:

• Blend with a hand blender, pausing frequently. A slightly thickened texture indicates that the trace has been reached.

5. Add fragrance:

• Gently blend in the chosen fragrance or essential oil. Stir with a spatula to avoid too rapid a trace.

6. Moulding :

• Pour the soap mixture into the mold of your choice. Scrape the container well to avoid wasting anything.
• Cover the mold with parchment paper to prevent the formation of soda ash for at least 24 hours.

7. Drying and curing :

• Leave your soap bar or individual molds to rest for 24 to 48 hours.
• After this time, cut your soap bar as you wish (into slices, squares, etc.).
• Unmold the soaps and place them in a drying box for a minimum 4-week cure.

Recipe with Sodium Micro-Pearls (NaOH)

Ingredients:

• Organic Coconut Butter: 210 g
• Macadamia oil: 210 g
• Shea butter: 105 g
• Refined Soybean Oil: 70 g
• Castor oil: 105 g
• Micro-Soda Pellets (NaOH): 95,76 g Micro-Soda Pellets (Sodium Hydroxide) 250 gr – Planète Savons
• Distilled water (or Hydrolat): 224 g
• Fragrance or Essential Oil: 21.7 g

Differences in Method :

1. Dissolve microbeads in distilled water:
   • In a separate beaker, slowly add the soda microbeads to the distilled water, stirring gently.
   • Once the micro-beads have dissolved completely, allow your soda solution to cool before adding them to the oils.
   • Don’t worry if your soda solution is a lower temperature than your oils and butters.
2. Follow the same steps:
   • The procedure for the rest of the recipe remains the same as for the soda lye version.
   • Add your soda solution to your oils and butters once the temperature has been reached (between 42 and 45 degrees max).

FAQs on Cold Saponification

1. Why use gloves and goggles?

Soda ash is a caustic substance that can cause burns. Protective gear is essential to ensure your safety.

2. How do I know when my soap is ready?

After 4 weeks, test the pH with pH paper. It should be between 8 and 10.

3. Can I replace soybean oil?

Yes, you can substitute it with sweet almond or grapeseed oil to vary the benefits. Please note: if you modify the ingredients in this recipe, don’t forget to calculate the latter on the SOAPCALC table.

4. How long can I keep the soap?

If stored in a cool, dry place, it can be kept for up to 6 months. Soybean oil is fragile and can oxidize quickly.

5. Which fragrance to choose?

Exotic scents such as Reunion Jasmine and green tea, or fresh notes like Enfantine fragrance, blend perfectly with this recipe.

6. Does this soap lather well?

Absolutely! Thanks to coconut butter and castor oil, it produces a dense, creamy lather.

Conclusion

Macasoja soap is a versatile skin care product, ideal for the whole family and particularly beneficial for mature skin. Rich in natural active ingredients from Africa and Asia, it moisturizes, nourishes and protects while offering a unique sensorial experience.

All the ingredients and equipment needed for this recipe are available on our Planète Savons website.

So, ready to embark on an exotic journey in the shower?

Alexandra