Natural Handmade Swirl Soap

Tina Glenn blends oils and butters to create her natural handmade swirl soap.

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Filed under: Soap Making, Handmade, How To

Materials and Tools:

food grade vegetable oils and nut butters as follows:
-30-percent olive oil
-30-percent palm oil
-25-percent coconut oil
-5-percent castor oil
-5-percent cocoa butter
-5-percent shea butter
-5-percent lye super fat
water
sodium hydroxide (lye)
essential oils
rose color cosmetic clay
kitchen scale
plastic bucket
soap cutter (similar to a wide cutting blade)
soap slicing machine
stockpot and hot plate
latex gloves
glass jar
pitcher
mixing spoon
safety glasses and safety mask
stick blender
soap molds

Step 1

Steps

1. Measure oils and butters by weight. Starting with cocoa butter, add coconut oil which makes the soap lather. The palm oil adds conditioning. Add shea butter. Cut the elements into smaller pieces to help speed the melting process.

2. Pour all the measured ingredients into a stockpot. Place the stockpot on a hot plate and melt the oils. Pour the melted oils back into the bucket and set aside to cool.

3. Place a glass jar on the scale and measure the lye. Measure the water into a pitcher. (Specific measurements were not provided.)

4. Mix the lye and water solution outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Wear a safety mask and safety glasses.

5. Add the olive oil to the other oils.

6. Pour the lye water solution into the oils and use an immersion blender to emulsify the two solutions together.

Step 7

7. Pour one fifth of the raw soap into a separate container. Add the rose colored cosmetic clay to this container of soap and mix it with a stick blender.

8. Add the fragrances to the oils and blend.

9. After the soap in the pot thickens to the consistency of runny pudding, pour the colored soap into the pot in a C and S pattern (for the swirls). Do not mix them.

Step 10

10. Pour the soap into molds, cover the molds with the tops, then with blankets or quilts. Let the soap set overnight.

11. Remove the soap from the mold and cut it into slices using a soap-slicing machine. Let the natural handmade swirl soap set for a few weeks to "cure" before using.