Is sodium Tallowate lye?

Tallow soaps are made by mixing animal fat with sodium hydroxide, more commonly known as lye. Lye is highly corrosive, but when it mixes with tallow it undergoes a reaction called saponification . After the reaction, a fatty acid salt is formed, known as sodium tallowate. Many people make soap at home.

What is Tallowate in soap?

Sodium tallowate is a true soap made by combining the fatty tissue (or tallow) of animals, such as cattle and sheep, with lye, typically sodium hydroxide [source: Cavitch]. When the fatty acid combines with the lye (the alkali in this instance), it saponifies, or is turned into soap.

What animal fats are used in soap?

Animal fat tallows from cows, such as lard, are often used for soap making as are palm, olive and coconut oils. Coconut oil makes the soaps smell nice and makes them creamy.

How does lye turn fat into soap?

Saponification is an exothermic chemical reaction—which means that it gives off heat—that occurs when fats or oils (fatty acids) come into contact with lye, a base. In this reaction, the triglyceride units of fats react with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide and are converted to soap and glycerol.

How do you get the smell out of tallow?

If that beefy smell is just too much for whatever you are using your tallow for, you can try deodorizing it a bit. Melt it down and pour it back in that trusty crock pot. In a separate container, pour 1/3 cup baking soda into two cups water. Stir until dissolved.

Why is tallow used in soap?

Tallow Makes GOOD Soap. Tallow has a very similar composition to palm oil. It makes a hard long-lasting soap with a light creamy lather. Tallow is also similar to human fat, and so it makes a great moisturizer!

Is pig fat used in soap?

Soaps like Dove are all tallow with oil added to them to reduce the drying effect that soaps have on the skin. Animal fats are not essential to the soap-making process. The main reason is just laziness; the West has been using tallow for a long time, so why not India too.

Why does my tallow smell?

Once it has been rendered, strained and dried tallow has mild animal-ish scent but not a bad smell at all. But once we mix the tallow with the essential oils the scents are perfectly integrated and harmonized, you’ll never smell the raw tallow smell (though some noses are more sensitive than others).

How do you mix lye with tallow to make soap?

Once tallow is 100 degrees F, take the lye and water outdoors. Wearing gloves and safety goggles, carefully and slowly pour the lye into the water. Stir gently. Once the lye water has turned from cloudy to clear, leave it to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully pour the lye water into the tallow.

Is tallow soap bad for your skin?

Tallow has had a bad reputation for years, which is rather silly, because it’s an excellent choice for soap making. It’s mild for the skin, produces a gentle lather, and makes a very hard bar that won’t turn into goop in your shower.

Do you have to use lye when making soap?

However, during the soap making process, we do have to handle the lye, and it’s important to use some care. Lye is extremely alkaline, and the lye water or liquid soap mixture can burn skin if some splashes on you. I recommend wearing gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when working with lye.

What happens if you get lye on your skin?

Lye is extremely alkaline, and the lye water or liquid soap mixture can burn skin if some splashes on you. I recommend wearing gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when working with lye. Also, when the lye is mixed into the water, there are some fumes that are produced.