Making Goat Milk Soap

I thoroughly enjoy making goat milk soap. There’s something satisfying about being involved in the process from start to finish; I milk the goat, freeze the milk, make the soap, package it, and sell it to people who discover, as I have, that goat milk soap (GMS) is one of life’s little-known pleasures. When fully cured, GMS is moisturizing and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. It’s nice to hear that many people who try it, like it. It’s also gratifying when people who have trouble with other soaps report that it is kind to their skin. I made my first batch of GMS because I needed to find uses for the daily gift of milk from our dairy goat. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do! Goat milk contains several vitamins, proteins and beneficial acids, and its pH is close to that of human skin. When added to soap, those elements nourish and moisturize. I’ve tried a few GMS recipes the past few months, and I got lucky with the first one I found. It uses lard, coconut oil and olive oil. For people who are vegetarian, palm oil can be substituted ounce for ounce for lard. I’ve also used a vegetable shortening recipe with success, and it produces a very creamy lather.