Making Cold Process Aloe Vera Soap - Harvesting the Leaves and Gel - Full Soap Making Recipe

Summary

In this video, the host shares an exciting tutorial on making aloe vera soap. They discuss the ease of growing aloe plants, even in cold climates, and demonstrate how to harvest the leaves. The process involves extracting the gel, blending it, and freezing it before combining it with oils and lye to create a high-water-content soap. The soap is colored with indigo, scented with essential oils, and carefully poured into molds. The host emphasizes patience for the soap to gel and cure, resulting in a soft, vibrantly colored bar that's perfect for the skin.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The video is about making aloe vera soap using homegrown aloe plants.
• 🌱 Aloe vera is easy to grow and tolerant to cold, needing well-drained soil and regular watering.
• 🌿 The presenter is unsure of the exact aloe variety but uses them for medicinal and skin purposes.
• 💧 Aloe vera juice is extracted from the leaves and used in soap, despite uncertainty if its benefits survive the soap-making process.
• 📝 The soap recipe has a 2.5 to 1 liquid to lye ratio, which is high for this type of soap.
• 🍃 Fresh aloe leaves are harvested, with care taken to drain the yellow sap into water to prevent browning.
• 🔪 A sharp knife is used to trim the leaf edges, and a spoon is used to scoop out the gel without cutting into the leaf.
• 🧊 The aloe gel is blended with water, frozen into ice cubes, and then used in the soap-making process to keep it cold.
• 🌈 The soap is colored with indigo, which starts green but turns more blue as the soap cures.
• 🌱 The soap includes a blend of olive, coconut, and castor oils, and is scented with tea tree, peppermint, and cedar essential oils.
• ⏱️ Patience is key as the high liquid content makes the soap soft and slow to gel, requiring a long cure time and careful handling.

Q & A

What is the speaker excited about in the garden?

The speaker is excited about making aloe vera soap.

How does the speaker describe the aloe vera plants?

The aloe vera plants are described as easy to grow, tolerant to cold, and having big thick fleshy stems with lots of gel inside.

What is the purpose of having water nearby when harvesting aloe vera leaves?

The water is used to drain the yellow sap that comes out of the leaves during harvesting.

How does the speaker harvest the aloe vera leaves?

The speaker breaks the side of the leaves at the base using their thumb or fingernail and then peels them off.

What is the benefit of trimming the aloe vera leaves with a spoon instead of a knife?

Using a spoon prevents cutting into the leaf and allows for the gel to be scooped out without damaging the plant.

Why does the speaker blend the aloe gel with water before freezing?

Blending the aloe gel with water before freezing helps to ensure a thorough blending process and turns the gel into juice.

What is the liquid to lye ratio in the soap recipe mentioned in the script?

The liquid to lye ratio in the soap recipe is 2.5 to 1.

Why does the speaker use ice cubes in the soap-making process?

The ice cubes are used to keep the aloe gel cold during the soap-making process to prevent the gel from turning brown.

What essential oils does the speaker use in the soap recipe?

The speaker uses tea tree, peppermint, and cedar essential oils in the soap recipe.

How long does the speaker recommend curing the aloe vera soap?

The speaker recommends curing the aloe vera soap for at least two months.

What is the final color of the aloe vera soap after curing?

The final color of the aloe vera soap after curing is a more vibrant indigo blue.