How to make Castile soap - handmade 100% olive oil soap

This video demonstrates how I make my gentle Castile soap recipe - my all-time favourite soap to make and to use! Olive oil soap has been made in many parts of the world for centuries, and there's a good reason why. It's the most gentle soap you can use, and there's nothing that matches the feel it gives your skin after bathing. This recipe demonstrates the cold process soap making method used by many home soap makers.

*Recipe details*
600g olive oil
79g sodium hydroxide (includes 4% superfat)
18g rosemary essential oil (3% of total oil amount in the soap recipe)

METHOD
As per video demonstration

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*Disclaimer*
The information provided in my videos and website is based on my own personal research and experience and is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a professional soap manufacturer, nor do I have formal qualifications in chemistry or skincare formulation (or any other related field) and I make no guarantees about the correctness of the information presented. Use the information in my videos and on my website at your own risk.

*Copyright © Elly’s Everyday*

[someoneelse.]

No endless yapping, no, listen to how smart I am, no long drawn out explanations, just straightforward instructions. Loved it. Respect from Canada. Subscribed now, and thumbs up.

[vanessamcallister]

Out of all the soap making tutorials I've seen on YouTube, this is the most simple and straightforward. Thank you.

[chrisparsonson]

Lovely. I concur with the people who say you shouldn't have to explain yourself to people who thought you could wave a magic wand over a bowl of olive oil and turn it into soap.

[jennymarshall]

I had given up all thoughts about making soap until your videos, you explain things so clearly, apparently I’m more of a visual learner and you are a great teacher, thank you for being you.

[CynCity-TheAnswerIsMeat]

We're privileged to live on a property repleat with 300 (!) olive trees. In fact, our Extra Virgin Olive Oil just grabbed a Silver in the Western Australia Olive Awards. We don't run the farm commercially, just enjoy the benefits for our own use - which now includes 12 gorgeous little bars of ready to use Castile soap. It traced really quickly, I'm thinking because the oil was so fresh and super high quality - it's been a shade over 2 months and I've started using the bars. They lather perfectly and I love the clean feeling without dryness or any residual fragrance. This was such a fun activity and because of your teaching I'm confident to try different varieties! Thanks Elly!

[Mackerel]

No bullshit, no adding fancy stuff pretending something, just simple as it needs. I like your video.

[BebeSarah]

If one has access to fresh rosemary, take a few sprigs and steep in the olive oil over very low heat for a few hours. (Use a crockpot or slow cooker or stovetop pot). Strain and use the oil in the soap recipe.

[nohasamy]

I made it and let it cure for 3 months and I started using it yesterday, It's very nice and makes a thick foam and makes my skin clean, soft and shinny, thank you very much

[penmirungsung]

I am a beginner and I have been searching for simple and easy to understand tutorials and I can't tell you how much I am enjoying and learning from your videos. I can't thank you enough Elly.

[maderightamerica]

Well that looked simple enough that even I should have enough confidence that I can make that soap. (I hope)

[EllysEverydaySoapMaking]

**IMPORTANT**
If you have never made soap before, PLEASE watch my two introductory soap making videos so that you have a full understanding of what soap is, how it is made, and the safety precautions you need to take before you make your first batch. Here they are:
~~ Introduction to Cold Process Soap Making

~~ Soap Making Tutorial for Beginners - Full Demonstration & Cold Process Soap Beginner Recipe
Thank you for all of your support and your great comments!! Elly x

[amberleitao]

Thank you for showing your mixing in real Time... I know a lot of soap makers like to cut down the time of their videos by speeding up what can be considered redundant or boring processes but when you’re learning how to make soap it’s so valuable to actually see how long it takes so that when you go to do it yourself you’re not second-guessing yourself because you’ve already seen it done through. I’ve always been really interested in Castile soap and this tutorial makes me less fearful of it. Well done!! thank you for sharing.

[cyrus]

Hello Elly,
Thank you so very much for being an excellent tutor. I was wanting to make soap for such a long time, but was afraid. Then came across your videos which were such inspiring, and gave me courage to make some soap.
So yesterday I tried the Castile soap and today made coconut soap. They came out so well. Now just so eager to use them but have to wait for 6 weeks.
Thank you once again.
Regards Cyrus

[teresitaromero]

Thank you for showing how to make a small batch. My family in Spain saves up their used cooking oil for a year and makes one huge batch for laundry soap. They put it in long rectangular molds that they slice up and age. This is much more approachable. Thank you for sharing.

[moniquehenderson]

I made this with 150g coconut oil, 150g olive oil and 300g sunflower oil a couple of months ago. The lather was incredible!!! This soap is so good. I then dissolved a couple of grated bars in a litre of warm water and voila! Liquid castille! Its watery but the lather is still amazing. This soap can be used for body and household, too! Thanks for this simple recipe, Elly!

[whimtnrobbie]

Wow, who knew it was so simple! I am new to soap making and this recipe is on my list for this week. No one ever said emulsion can be seen as color change, how simple and yet it will forever be in my memory. I am learning, thank you so very much for this video!

[desireereiach]

Elly, I have always been a big fan of all the things you do from sourdough to soap and everything in between. I asked a question about the soap cure time and saw the answer on your video regarding calculating your own soap recipes. What another great video that I have and will continue to refer to. I made the soap recipe from that video and I tested a sample and now I know why high conditioning lower cleansing numbers are so awesome. My hands feel pampered and so moisturized. I always learn something new from you and we only eat the sourdough bread in many different forms from your instructional videos. Thank you so much for posting and creating these videos.

[TheTymotek]

Very clear instructions, thank you for the tutorial.

[refulgent_fanta]

Here's a fun fact: during the medieval period, castille soap was the most expensive soap money could buy.

[annas.]

I’m so glad I saw this. I love olive oil soap but lately have had trouble finding a brand I like. I will try this for sure! Thanks!