Toilet Soap Powder.—
| Marseilles soap, powdered | 100 parts |
| Bran of almonds | 50 parts |
| Lavender oil | 5 parts |
| Thyme oil | 3 parts |
| Spike oil | 2 parts |
| Citronella oil | 2 parts |
Soft Toilet Soaps.—Soft toilet soaps or creams may be prepared from fresh lard with a small addition of cocoanut oil and caustic potash solution, by the cold process or by boiling. For the cold process, 23 parts of fresh lard and 2 parts of Cochin cocoanut oil are warmed in a jacketed pan, and when the temperature reaches 113° F. are treated with 9 parts of caustic potash and 2 1/2 parts of caustic soda solution, both of 38° Bé. strength, the whole being stirred until saponification is complete. The soap is transferred to a large marble mortar and pounded along with the following scenting ingredients: 0.15 parts of oil of bitter almonds and 0.02 parts of oil of geranium rose, or 0.1 part of the latter, and 0.05 parts of lemon oil. The warm process is preferable, experience having shown that boiling is essential to the proper saponification of the fats. In this method, 80 parts of lard and 20 parts of Cochin cocoanut oil are melted together in a large pan, 100 parts of potash lye (20° Bé.) being then crutched in by degrees, and the mass raised to boiling point. The combined influence of the heat and crutching vaporizes part of the water in the lye, and the soap thickens. When the soap has combined, the fire is made up, and another 80 parts of the same potash lye are crutched in gradually. The soap gets thicker and thicker as the water is expelled and finally throws up “roses” on the surface, indicating that it is nearly finished. At this stage it must be crutched vigorously, to prevent scorching against the bottom of the pan and the resulting more or less dark coloration. The evaporation period may be shortened by using only 50 to 60 parts of lye at first, and fitting with lye of 25° to 30° strength. For working on the large scale iron pans heated by steam are used, a few makers employing silver-lined vessels, which have the advantage that they are not attacked by the alkali. Tinned copper pans are also useful. The process takes from 7 to 8 hours, and when the soap is finished it is transferred into stoneware vessels for storage. Clear vegetable oils (castor oil) may be used, but the soaps lack the requisite nacreous luster required.
Transparent Soaps.
The mode of production is the same for all. The fats are melted together, sifted into a double boiler, and the lye is stirred in at 111° F. Cover up for an hour, steam being allowed to enter slowly. There is now a clear, grain-like soap in the kettle, into which the sugar solution and the alcohol are crutched, whereupon the kettle is covered up. If cuttings are to be used, they are now added. When same are melted, the kettle will contain a thin, clear soap, which is colored and scented as per directions, and subsequently filled into little iron molds and cooled.
Rose-glycerine Soap.—
| I.— | Cochin cocoanut oil | 70,000 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed tallow | 40,000 parts | |
| Castor oil | 30,000 parts | |
| Caustic soda lye, 38° Bé | 79,000 parts | |
| Sugar | 54,000 parts | |
| Dissolved in | ||
| Water | 60,000 parts | |
| Alcohol | 40,000 parts | |
| Geranium oil (African) | 250 parts | |
| Lemon oil | 200 parts | |
| Palmarosa oil | 1,200 parts | |
| Bergamot oil | 80 parts |
Benzoin-glycerine Soap.—
| II.— | Cochin cocoanut oil | 66,000 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed tallow | 31,000 parts | |
| Castor oil | 35,000 parts | |
| Caustic soda lye, 38° Bé | 66,000 parts | |
| Sugar | 35,000 parts | |
| Dissolved in | ||
| Water | 40,000 parts | |
| Alcohol | 35,000 parts | |
| Brown, No. 120 | 200 parts | |
| Powdered benzoin (Siam) | 4,200 parts | |
| Styrax liquid | 1,750 parts | |
| Tincture of benzoin | 1,400 parts | |
| Peru balsam | 700 parts | |
| Lemon oil | 200 parts | |
| Clove oil | 70 parts |