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Crazy for Cubes

Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 45 minutes
Yields: About 9 pounds

I know I always say this (um, like a lot), but I think I just found my new favorite mold! There are a whopping 25 cavities in this bad boy. It has a glossy finish, which I love, and the cube shape fits perfectly into the palm of my hands. Plus, they are the ideal size for stamping with our new acrylic stamp line. They’re perfect! Ok…enough gushing about the molds. Check out my specially formulated recipe  below. Why specially formulated? The cube mold works best with super hard recipes. Since no air flow gets into the mold, it can take forever and a day to get the soap to release. The Sodium Lactate, low (4%) superfat plus water discount all contribute to being able to get this soap out of the mold with no sticking. Because of this, the recipe will move fast. Experienced soapers will still be able to swirl but if you’re a newbie? Stick to one color.

Recipe:

24.5 ounces Coconut Oil

39.2 ounces Olive Oil

24.5 ounces Palm Oil

9.8 ounces Palm Kernel Flakes

14.3 ounces Lye

27.4 ounces Distilled Water

2.2 ounces Sodium Lactate

6.7 ounces Energy Fragrance Oil

4 teaspoons Blue Mix LabColor

4 teaspoons Canary LabColor

Cube Silicone Mold

Buy everything you need for this project in the click of a button!

If you have never made cold process soap before, I strongly suggest getting a couple of  basic recipes under your belt before diving in. Check out Soap Queen TV on Cold Process if you want to get started with cold process. It’s a 4 part series that will take you through the basics (and be sure to watch the episode on Lye Safety). If you’re a book worm, Bramble Berry also has some helpful reading on the cold process technique.

ONE: Suit up! Make sure you’re wearing long sleeves and put on your goggles and gloves. Carefully add the lye to the water (never the other way around!) and mix until the water is clear. Set aside to cool.

TWO: Melt and mix the Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Olive Oil, and Palm Kernel Flakes. Add Sodium Lactate to cooled Lye water. Slowly add the lye water to the oils, stick blending for about 10-15 seconds or until you reach a light trace.

THREE: Add your fragrance oil and stick blend for a few seconds. Keep a whisk close at hand. We won’t be stick blending after this.

FOUR: Split your batch in half. Color one half with Blue Mix LabColor, and the other half with Canary LabColor.

TIP: When working with LabColors, it’s all about the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). The amount of colorant in the recipe is a good starting point, but you may find that you want to add more that’s totally fine! If you’ve never worked with LabColors before check out the blog post we did and learn how to properly use them to their full potential.

FIVE: Pour the Blue Mix colored batch into the mold. It should fill about half the cubes. For a fun visual appeal, I did a checkerboard pattern with the Blue Mix batch! As I filled each cavity, I made sure to leave about ¼ of an inch at the top to ease unmolding.

SIX: Fill in the remaining cavities with the Canary LabColor batch, leaving ¼ of an inch of room at the top.

SEVEN: Allow the soap to sit in the mold for at least 7 days. Yes, 7 days! We found that because of the self-insulating tendencies of the mold, the soap just isn’t ready to come out until it’s been sitting for a full 7 days.

EIGHT: Unmold your soap and allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. When it’s time to unmold, pull gently away from the sides of the mold and carefully ease each cavity down. It is a slow process but the results are worth it!

EXTRA BONUS PROJECT

Since I had a little bit of yellow and blue soap batter left I did an “In The Pot Swirl”. Pour your blue soap into the yellow soap and stir it one time. You’ll want to swirl it more but trust me…just do it once. Then pour the soap batter into an extra mold. Want to learn more about In the Pot Swirling? Check out THIS video from Bramble Berry.

I can’t wait to get feedback on this mold. Let me know what you think!

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62 Comments

    • Hi Yolande!

      While you can technically use silicone molds in the oven (they are rated up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit), there is a funny little thing that happens when you use silicone with a super hot gel phase. The soap actually sort of ‘boils’ on the inside and something about the lack of breathing in silicone makes little air bubble/water bubble pock marks on the entire outside of the loaf. I hope this helps! =)

      -Becky with Bramble Berry

  2. Could you use Lots of lather recipe or shampoo bar recipe in this mold? And is it an absolute must to use the sodium lactate? Is it possible to just let the soap sit in the molds longer so I do not have to use the sodium lactate? And how do I discount the water in a recipe if I want to use a different recipe?

  3. Do you know of a place we can custom order a stamp for our business logo on the cubes. Love the cubes and would like to stamp a full size logo.

  4. I purchased the cube mold and have made several batches of soap. I have a few questions:
    1. Do you know how I can stamp these soaps (like Savon de Marseille soaps are stamped?
    2. Any suggestions on how to package these? I really wanted the clear plastic boxes but can seem to find any that would fit.

    Thanks in advance,
    Marsha
    blissB A I N

    • Hi Sherri!

      Are you making CP or M&P cubes? If it is for CP, I’d suggest going with a thick cigar band. For M&P, I’d try the shrink wrap/saran wrap with a smaller sticky label!
      -Becky with Bramble Berry

  6. I love the jars you mix the soap in and pour out of. They are huge. Do you recall where you got them from ?

  7. Made these yesterday afternoon, 5% superfat, nice moisturizing recipe, unmolded them this morning. They turned out beautifully. I’m not sure about the size though. They seem a little awkward.

    • Hi Sherri!

      I’m so happy to hear that they turned out so well for you. What about the size seemed awkward for you? I know that some people have cut their cubes in half to have a less awkward bar of soap. 🙂
      -Becky with Bramble Berry

  8. Hi Anne Marie,

    I received my cube mold yesterday, and used it immediately. At first I was skeptical about using it without a water discount, for fear that even after 7 days it may still prove difficult to remove. But I charged ahead anyways using a recipe of mostly hard oils, a HIGH percentage of Shea Butter and also Olive and Sunflower oils, along with Sodium Lactate. I scented with my Beau Brummel (that I also received with my order yesterday and I SOOOOOO LOVE!!!)

    I checked the mold first thing this morning and could tell my soap was still quite soft, but also noticed shrinkage along one row. So I gently pulled that side of the mold away from the soap, and it came away perfectly with no sticking. I did this on all sides, then turned my mold upside down to have 1 cube fall out!!!! It was PERFECT!!! Only 18 hours after pouring!

    The soap is still too soft for me to comfortably remove them all today,for fear of nicking and denting them, so I will remove them in another 48 hours.

    But, overall, I used sodium lactate, 4% superfat, mostly hard oils, and no water discount, and did RTCP, and the cubes were releasing only 18 hours after pour!!!

    Awesome, AWESOME MOLD!!! Now I guess I need to order the 25 cube mold and about 5lbs of Beau Brummel!! Hahaha!!

    Thank you Bramble Berry for all of your top quality products!!

    Signed,
    A VERY happy, impressed & pleased customer named Kelley!

  9. How long does it take melt and pour soap to cool in this mold? My sister’s boyfriend is a surgeon, and he showers several times a day. He loves the soaps I make, and buys them in 10lb batches. It would make life easier if I had this mold and could pour them all at once.

  10. Although I love the mold and the look of the soap I am very intrigued by the measuring cup and the vat (not sure what else to call it) that you are using. What size is the measuring cup and the vat? And what is the correct term for the vat? Lol I was hoping BB sold both items because I would LOVE to get my hands on them!

  11. Do you have any problems with ash if you dont cover the top? can i spray with alcohol on top like you did on another project? also how do additives like botanicals,exfoliants and so forth work with mold? btw im so glad youre doing more videos take care

    • Soda ash is usually a temperature issue. It usually occurs when the soap cools to quickly. And yes, it can still happen regardless if you cover the top or not. Spraying with 91% rubbing alcohol has always worked for us.

      There are no special tricks for using botanical or exfoliants with this mold. I’m so glad you like it!!

      Courtney from Bramble Berry

  12. I love this mold! I just got mine in the mail today! I can’t wait to try it. I plan to use it for shampoo bars and they require superfatting. Can you offer some advice about release from the mold with a bar that is superfatted at 8-11%?

    • Time will be your friend because that recipe will be softer than one superfatted at 5%. Additionally, a lower % of water will help with the release but you’ll need to be extremely patient. I would wait for 7 days, use sodium lactate as well and then, if the soap isn’t coming out easily (start with the outside edges and then work inwards), you can freeze BUT try not to freeze and then have a ton of condensation form because the condensation can form water droplets that dry funny. So if you do that, make sure to run a fan over the soap to wick away condensation so it doesn’t leave any extra little prints =) I hope this helps!

    • Awesome! If you don’t use Sodium Lactate, leave that soap in the mold for a full 7 days (if it’s CP soap) and don’t be afraid to use the freezer if you have to. That Sodium Lactate coupled with a water discount does really help with releasing. Thank you for your business! =)

  14. I bought this mold as soon as I saw you Tweet it. I’ve used it with melt & pour. They take a little longer to get out of the mold but they look perfect. The cube design looks so modern. And they look great stacked up for photos.

    • Nice! I love that you bought the mold and you feel like it’s a modern look. I designed it JUST for that. Yeah! So happy that you see that and like it =)

  15. Umm, I’m just a new soapmaker poking around. Just thought I would ask – shouldn’t that little girl in the picture be wearing long sleeves and gloves?

    • Anne-Marie (the owner of Bramble Berry Soapmaking Supplies) has been soaping for soooooo long. She’s really an old pro…so sometimes she can break the rules. Definitely wear long sleeves and gloves if you attempt cold process.

      Courtney from Bramble Berry

    • Good eyes! You’re right, I should be wearing gloves and long sleeves. Notice the goggles are never optional for me. That said, I’ve been burned so many times in the (gulp) 18 years that I’ve been soaping that I often skip the gloves and long sleeves. But this is a case of ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ My skin is rhino tough! And I’ll do better with the gloves…. I promise! =)

  16. Hi Anne!!!

    Congrats!! You happy a super happy baby!!! Adorable!!

    Nice cubes I have to get that mold and amazing trick or treat soaps.

    Happy soaping!

    Mariana
    from Mar D. Jabones

    PS: a quick question what kind of paper do you use for making the homemade stencils? Thanks

    • Thanks re: the baby. We think he’s super cute too. =)

      Homemade stencils – we just used regular paper but label paper would also be good so you could stick it on really well.

      • Thanks Anne!!!

        I´ll find out the sticker paper, also I got a cube mold, so I have to do my CP batch. Yes!!! I started CP!!!! I love it!!!

        I´ll send some pics of my Halloween CP batch!!

        Many thanks,

        Mariana

  17. These moulds look fantastic. Just the right size for individual chunks,

    Are they available in the UK?

  22. You mentioned the self-insulating tendencies of the mold, does that mean one wouldn’t have to wrap it up in a towel to keep it warm? I love the size of soaps that this mold makes!

    • Self Insulating was perhaps the wrong term – I meant, ‘no air flow gets into the soap at all’ but I really couldn’t think of a cool term to say that with. You can either go no-gel with this or fully gel with a towel and perhaps a heating pad underneath it. I go NO GEL on this one because, since it’s silicone, sometimes, the soap can boil and get really hot and make little pock marks on the bottom of the soap.

      • So my question is this in regards to insulation. You pour the soaps, but you don’t have to cover them at all??? Don’t you need something on top just to keep out the contaminants? Especially since it would be sitting there for 7 days. I am a new cold process soapmaker so please excuse my ignorant questions.

        Have you tried a layering technique in this yet? That would be cool to add multiple colors. I know you are working on the swirl.

        • You could easily layer; just make the batches one right after one another.

          Re: gel phase, you don’t need to insulate to achieve gel phase and still get a nice bar of soap. It’s a personal preference. So, we didn’t insulate and didn’t gel this time.

          You could cover your soap with a piece of cardboard to protect the soap from getting anything in it though other than just a little bit of dust, we didn’t see anything major get into our soap =)

    • I’m still working on the perfect swirl technique for it but when I master it, ya’ll will be the first to know it =)

  24. Perfect WVU colors! I’m from Morgantown, WV and they’re playing LSU today.

    I’m liking the size. So often, the bigger soaps are difficult to hold.

  25. Um, that was supposed to be “do you SELL”, not do you see… sorry for the typo. I should put on my glasses. 🙂

  26. Love the checkerboard pour! Just wondering, do you see the gigantic clear soap pot? I can’t seem to find it on your website. If not, where can I find one, and what is it made of? Thanks!

    • We don’t sell them at Bramble Berry (sorry). We got ours at Cash and Carry, which is a local restaurant supply store.

      Courtney from Bramble Berry

  27. Whoohoo!!! I have been searching high and low for a cube mold, and I’ve hit the mother load! Bought mine last night and cannot wait to use it:)