This is a common formula:

1. – Olive or cottonseed oil..................................    60 parts
Caustic potash, U.S.P........................................    15 parts

Alcohol and water, sufficient of each.

Dissolve the potash in 1 ounce of water, heat the oil on a water bath, add the solution of potash previously warmed, and stir briskly. Continue the heat until saponfication is complete. If oil globules separate out and refuse to saponify, the potash is not of proper strength, and more must be added-1 or 2 parts dissolved in water. If desired transparent add a little alcohol, and continue the heat without stirring until a drop placed in cold water first solidifies and then dissolves.

Commercial potash may be used, but the strength must he ascertained and adjusted by experiment. The soap thus made will be like jelly; it is dissolved in alcohol, 4 to 6 ounces of soap to 2 of alcohol, and after standing a day or two is filtered and perfumed as desired. A rancid oil would be easier to saponify, but the soap would likely be rancid or not as good.

2. – Ammonium sulphoichthyolate, 10 parts; distilled water, 15 parts; hebra’s soap spirit (a solution of potash soap, 120 parts, in 90 percent spirit, 60 parts; and spirit of lavender, 5 parts), 75 parts.