Substitutions

When you run out of a particular ingredient, especially fats, tallow, or oils, it's always tempting to substitute ingredients you have on hand.

Doing so can be risky. Whenever you change the proportions or ingredients in a recipe, you're changing the character of the soap. Still, if the temptation proves irresistible, keep the following guidelines in mind:

!. Never make substitutions when preparing lye. Using any other substance will create a disaster.

2. Try to use a fat or oil with a similar consistency and character to the fat or oil you're replacing.

4. Don't change the required weights listed in the recipe. Use as much of the substitute ingredient as you would have of the original ingredient.

5. Keep the proportion of the fats and/or oils to the lye the same as the proportion called for in the original recipe.

6. Don't change the proportion of liquids to solids.