Lye, molds, waxes, wicks and scents for soap and candles made at home, goat milk soap included.
Photo: Przykuta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Harvest & Kitchen
Soap and candles are two of the oldest homestead crafts, and they share more than you might think: a good scale, a thermometer, careful measuring and respect for heat. This shelf will cover both, from lye and loaf molds to soy, paraffin and beeswax, plus goat milk soap supplies. We haven't made soap or poured candles here yet, so anything listed will be researched, not used, and the safety notes below come from the agencies that publish them.
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Short summaries of what each agency publishes. Follow the full guidance at the source and the label or safety data sheet for each product.
Sodium hydroxide (lye) burns eyes and skin and irritates the airways. CDC/NIOSH advises preventing all skin and eye contact; if it splashes, irrigate eyes and flush skin with water immediately, and get medical attention right away if any is swallowed. Wear splash goggles and chemical-resistant gloves, and keep children and pets out of the room.
Source: CDC/NIOSH Pocket Guide: Sodium hydroxide (opens in a new tab)
NIOSH lists aluminum, tin and zinc as incompatible with lye, and warns that lye meeting water can give off enough heat to ignite combustible materials. Mix in stainless steel or heavy plastic, away from anything that burns, and follow the safety data sheet that comes with your lye.
Source: CDC/NIOSH Pocket Guide: Sodium hydroxide (opens in a new tab)
There is no single safe percentage for fragrance or essential oil. IFRA Standards set limits oil by oil and by product category: soap is Category 9 (rinse-off), candles are Category 12 (not meant for skin contact) and body lotion is Category 5A. Ask your supplier for each oil's IFRA certificate and stay within its limit for what you're making.
Source: IFRA: Guidance for the use of IFRA Standards (51st Amendment) (opens in a new tab)
NFPA reports an average of 20 home candle fires a day and advises keeping candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. The U.S. Fire Administration adds: blow candles out when you leave a room or go to bed, and don't use lit candles in bedrooms or sleeping areas.
Sources: NFPA: Candle safety (opens in a new tab) · U.S. Fire Administration: Candle fire safety (opens in a new tab)
The National Candle Association advises trimming the wick to ¼ inch before each burn, never leaving a burning candle unattended, stopping when ½ inch of wax remains, and keeping candles at least 3 inches apart.
Source: National Candle Association: Candle safety tips (opens in a new tab)
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