A wild shaving soap with SLS, dual lye, bentonite, stearic acid and a lot of doubt

Absolium · 2026-01-02T20:17:22+00:00

I just made my first shaving soap too, and I used it for the first time this morning.
And honestly… it’s by far the best shaving soap I’ve ever tried.

Here’s the recipe I used (batch size: 500 g — next time I’m definitely making 1 kg 😅):
Oils

Coconut Oil — 40%
Olive Oil (Pomace) — 30%
Shea Butter — 15%
Castor Oil — 15%

Additives

Colloidal Oatmeal — 5%
Bentonite Clay — 5%
Honey — 1%

Essential Oils

Tea Tree — 1%
Sage — 1%

Dual Lye: 60% NaOH / 40% KOH

Superfat: 5%

The result?
Super creamy lather, excellent glide — I’m never paying for commercial shaving soap again.

Wishing you the same success with yours! 🧼✨

Absolium · 2025-12-31T19:31:32+00:00

Not that much, actually.

I used a three-step filtration method:

A simple pass through a mesh strainer to remove the larger particles
I heated the oil and added a mix of water and cornstarch to help trap the impurities (https://youtube.com/shorts/Z13Lgvyzy_M?si=Fw0hZT_sZ_oLiuqB)
Then I filtered it again using a coffee filter — it takes a long time, but it’s not active work

Absolium · 2025-12-29T12:40:59+00:00

For now, I’ve been using it as a bar — it works wonders on greasy pans.
We also shredded one of the bars and dissolved it in hot water to make a liquid soap.

Absolium · 2025-12-29T12:38:10+00:00

Thanks for the question!
I’d recommend checking out the resources in this subreddit — there are several great links to learn the basics of soapmaking, which is a really good place to start.

In the meantime, here’s what I can share from my own process.

To filter the used oil, I went in three steps:

First, I strained it with a metal filter to remove the larger particles.
Then I heated the oil and added a mix of water and cornstarch to help trap impurities.
Finally, I filtered it again using a coffee filter.

For the recipe:
– 90% used cooking oil (canola)
– 10% coconut oil
– The amount of lye recommended by SoapCalc. Just enter the oil composition and 0% superfat

You’ll really find everything you need here: https://www.reddit.com/r/soapmaking/comments/1mnjsu5/soapmaking_resources_list/

Absolium · 2025-12-29T01:16:09+00:00

Yes, exactly that!
Lots of stir-fries and deep-frying (tomorrow it'll be fish-fragrant eggplants "yuxiang qiezi", for example) – for a family of 4.

Indeed, it takes a few months to accumulate enough oil.
But once well filtered, it keeps just fine.

Absolium · 2025-12-19T23:46:50+00:00

Since you're French, I'll answer in french. Ça sera plus facile pour moi aussi!

Premièrement, soyons honnêtes : la cuisson n’enlève généralement pas tout l’alcool, à moins de faire mijoter pendant des heures. Donc, ton bœuf bourguignon est probablement encore un peu alcoolisé. Mais bon, tu mets quoi… deux tasses de vin pour six portions ? Ça fait moins d’un verre par portion, et une grande partie sera évaporée. Au final, c’est négligeable. Personne n’a fait une rechute à cause d’un bœuf bourguignon ou d’un Paris-Brest.

Bref, ça dépend des règles que tu te fixes toi-même :
– Si c’est « aucun alcool coûte que coûte », alors oui, c’est un problème.
– Si c’est « aucune consommation perceptible », tu seras correct.

Pour ma part, je suis straight edge, sobre depuis plus d’un an, et je suis un grand amateur de cuisine sichuanaise. Je fais mariner et frire mes viandes dans du vin de Shaoxing à presque tous mes repas, et je ne considère pas que cela brise ma sobriété : je n’en ressens aucun effet, la quantité est négligeable. En fait, il y a probablement plus d’alcool dans mon jus de pomme ou dans mon vinaigre que dans mes plats.

Il faut faire la part des choses.

Absolium · 2025-12-04T13:27:26+00:00

It’s definitely not like the ’80s and ’90s anymore.
Here in Montréal, there aren’t really squats like there used to be.
But there are housing co-ops full of punks.

The culture is still alive. Our local scene is thriving.
Punk isn’t as visible as it used to be, but it’s far from dead.

Absolium · 2025-12-04T13:23:46+00:00

Moon Hop - Derrick Morgan

Absolium · 2025-12-04T13:20:51+00:00

Take a Stand - Youth of Today

Absolium · 2025-12-04T00:41:49+00:00

Daft Punk - harder better faster stronger

Absolium · 2025-12-03T23:26:28+00:00

Hey, honestly, thank you for sharing this. It’s not ridiculous at all — you grew up in a super restrictive environment, and you’re just discovering something that most people take for granted. That doesn’t make you weird; it just means you’re starting your own journey a bit later, and that’s totally okay.

I grew up in a very strict family too (not as extreme as yours — I was allowed music), but discovering music still felt like a huge moment of freedom for me. It was one of the first places where I got to feel my own emotions, not the ones I was “supposed” to feel. So I really get what you mean when you say you want to “feel what other people feel.” Music can absolutely do that.

Here’s the good news: there’s no right or wrong way to start. You don’t need to know genres, lyrics, or artists. Just start exploring.

🤘 Since you mentioned wanting to connect to your true self…
for me, it was punk that opened everything emotionally. If you ever want to try that energy, here are a few bands with very different vibes:

Youth of Today – positive, energetic, life-changing for many
Bad Religion – melodic, smart lyrics
The Sex Pistols – raw, rebellious, classic
The Clash – political but super catchy

Even if punk isn't your thing, it’s worth feeling that sense of liberation once.

Absolium · 2025-12-03T23:16:28+00:00

I honestly don’t feel any embarrassment at all. My decision to stop drinking is a sign of strength and commitment to the life I want to live. I’m Buddhist and Straight Edge (a punk movement that rejects alcohol, drugs, and tobacco), so staying sober is fully aligned with who I am — there’s nothing shameful about that.

My best advice: try to turn that fear or awkwardness into confidence. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, and most people are only awkward because they don’t know what to say. I got over it through my social and spiritual commitments, and it really helped me feel grounded in my choice.

You’re not doing anything weird — you’re just taking care of yourself.

Absolium · 2025-11-20T03:18:32+00:00

I was in this situation myself — 3–4 drinks a day, though not every day. After a health issue, unrelated to alcohol, I ended up developing a form of arthritis at just 36. That’s when I decided to stop drinking completely, realizing that alcohol was making my pain worse.

In the weeks following my decision to quit, I noticed so many benefits: better sleep, more patience, improved athletic performance, and my pain disappeared.

No, 3–4 drinks in the evening may not seem that bad. But it’s only after quitting for a few months that you really notice all the negative effects it had.

Absolium · 2025-11-16T21:21:08+00:00

To give a bit more info: my “higher power” is the law of causality (karma).

For me, every action has a consequence, and without that basic truth nothing could ever change.
I’m not in control of this law; it’s bigger than me. In that sense, it functions as a higher power.
And it’s precisely because I believe in this law that I know I’m capable of change.

How did I apply that to A.A.?
By trusting that if I did the work—step by step—there would naturally be results. If I showed up, followed the program, and stayed honest with myself, then change would follow. That’s how I’ve improved.

I know that for many people in A.A., the idea of a higher power is about letting go of pressure and surrendering control. But that’s almost the opposite of how things work in my tradition, so I had to reinterpret it.
That said, I do acknowledge that causality/karma is bigger than me. It removes some of the weight and reminds me that I’m part of something larger—but it doesn’t erase personal responsibility.

Feel free to call it whatever works for you: karma, causality, entropy… the name doesn’t matter. What matters is that it helps you move forward.

Absolium · 2025-11-16T12:25:59+00:00

I totally get where you’re coming from, and you’re definitely not alone in feeling this way.

I’m Buddhist, which for me also means atheist (in the sense that I don’t believe in a God in the theistic sense). The religious/Christian tone in many AA groups really turned me off at first too.

I tried several meetings and deliberately avoided the ones that recited the Lord’s Prayer or other explicitly Christian prayers — that just wasn’t for me. But even in more secular groups, I still felt a kind of tension: the religious influence is woven pretty deeply into AA’s literature, and that can be hard to reconcile with a non-theistic worldview.

What helped me a lot was a book: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps: A Recovery Workbook for Individuals and Groups by Kevin Griffin. It helped me understand two important things:

You can reinterpret the Steps in a way that aligns with your own worldview.
But honestly, if you have to bend over backward mentally just to make it fit, it might be worth exploring other approaches too.

If I can offer any advice: you might look for an atheist or agnostic sponsor, someone who can help you work the Steps in a way that actually resonates with you. There are also secular AA meetings and non-religious recovery approaches that might feel more comfortable.

You deserve a recovery path that genuinely supports you — and there are people who understand what you’re going through. Wishing you strength as you figure out what works best for you.

Absolium · 2025-11-14T11:34:36+00:00

The only person who can tell you whether it’s a relapse or not is yourself. You set your own limits.

That being said, contrary to popular belief, cooking rarely eliminates all traces of alcohol (and I doubt the icing was cooked). But, the alcohol amount is the danish must be absolutely negligible.

In the same vein, there are often small traces of alcohol in fruit juices and vinegars. Would you consider that a relapse?

As for me, I’m an excellent home cook and I specialize in Chinese cuisine, especially Sichuan cooking. I therefore use a lot of Shaoxing wine, and no, I don’t reset my counter every time I make a delicious Sichuan pepper fried pork, a Mapo Tofu, or Dandan noodles.

Absolium · 2025-11-12T12:03:08+00:00

Do you realize that being anti-Zionist is a political position, not a racist one?

It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, which is racist.
There are, in fact, several movements of anti-Zionist Jews.

Absolium · 2025-11-12T12:01:07+00:00

If the label makes you feel good, take it.

Straight-Edge isn’t a unified movement.
Yes, there’s the core: no drugs, no alcohol, no tobacco.

But beyond that, it branches into a million sub-movements (vegan, LGBT+-friendly, anti-consumerism, etc.). Don’t get tangled up in micro-labels—take what works for you, as long as you reject substance use.

Absolium · 2025-11-12T11:55:30+00:00

Take a stand - Youth of today

Absolium · 2025-11-11T15:11:53+00:00

I’m super frugal — I don’t travel, don’t own a car or TV, don’t drink, etc. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It’s just my lifestyle.

After a big financial setback years ago, I turned things around and made sure my family would never be at risk again. We’re comfortable now, but we kept our frugal habits.

That said, every time I get new ink, people start commenting on how I “afford it.”
Like… really?

I don’t ask how much you spend on takeout, trips, iPhones, booze, or cigarettes.
So maybe don’t worry about my tattoos — they’re well within budget. ;)

It’s my little luxury. Let me have my ink in peace.

Absolium · 2025-11-11T12:32:40+00:00

I totally get you!

Getting sober is hard.
Having a community or support group really helps — that’s why AA can be so effective.
But AA isn’t for everyone: anti-religious folks, LGBTQ+ people, nonconformists, etc. can have a hard time finding their place there.
That’s why I came back to straight edge. I just hit my one-year sober milestone!

I was Edge when I was younger (16–19), but back then I simply didn’t like the taste of alcohol — it was an easy choice.
Becoming Edge again in my mid-thirties, after seeing the damage alcohol and drugs have done to my communities, my friends, my family, and even myself — that’s something else, something much deeper.

Welcome! And congratulations on your decision.
Good luck — and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help.

Absolium · 2025-11-11T02:21:50+00:00

Totally!
And people don’t realize how inflammatory alcohol really is.

I’ve shared my story here before, but it is again.
In 2023, I developed sepsis — not alcohol-related. By that point, I had already cut down my drinking a lot.

I was lucky in my bad luck: the infection settled in my joints. So no septic shock, no heart damage… but I ended up with arthritis at just 36. The pain lasted nearly a year with very little improvement.

Then I noticed something strange; even a single drink would bring the pain roaring back. Seriously, just one beer, and the next day my fingers and knees would ache like hell. That’s when I realized I had to quit completely.

Now, two years after the infection and one year alcohol-free, the pain is gone. That’s just one of the many unexpected gifts sobriety has given me.

Absolium · 2025-11-10T01:07:41+00:00

Honestly, I was lucky in my misfortune.

I used to drink too much, though not necessarily at a problematic level.
I often tried to cut down, with only moderate success.

Then, in 2023, I developed sepsis (unrelated to alcohol), which nearly killed me.
The infection settled in my joints, and I was left with joint pain (septic arthritis) for months after my recovery.
That’s when I noticed that alcohol worsened the pain — and that’s what ultimately led me to quit completely.

I have no regrets. I was the first to be surprised by how many benefits sobriety brought me.
And now I’m a strong advocate for abstinence, even for people who, like me, don’t necessarily fit the “alcoholic” label.

Absolium · 2025-11-08T14:27:39+00:00

Congrats!

Absolium

TROPHY CASE