Baby’s breath flowers are a delicate addition to any bouquet. They usually play second fiddle to larger flowers, but for this soap we let baby’s breath take center stage. We kept the design extremely simple – the entire batch is colored white and dried baby’s breath flowers are placed on top.
To get the bright white shade, we used only light-colored oils. We also added plenty of titanium dioxide, which does pose a few obstacles. Using a large amount of titanium dioxide can lead to glycerin rivers. They can be prevented by using a water discount, so this recipe is discounted by 15%.
Titanium dioxide is similar to clay in soap – it tends to dry it out. The wood mold also insulates the soap, causing it to become quite warm. We found the combination of titanium dioxide, heat, and a water discount led to cracking. After tweaking the recipe a few times, we found an amount of titanium dioxide that led to extremely white bars without cracking. The key was soaping with slightly cooler temperatures (100-110 ° F) and placing the soap in the freezer for 24 hours.
The soap is made with Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil, which is a soft and delicate scent that doesn’t discolor. The Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil is part of our Modern Floral Collection, which includes four new scents, extracts, dried botanicals, and more. Click here to see all the new products.
The baby’s breath flowers used on top were purchased fresh and allowed to dry for several weeks. We picked off the flowers to sprinkle on top prior to soaping. Interestingly, we found that the flowers bled a yellow hue onto the soap.
What You Need: Click below to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!Baby’s Breath Soap Tutorial
Tall Narrow Wood Loaf Mold
6.8 oz. Canola Oil (17%)
1.2 oz. Castor Oil (3%)
10 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
8 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
6 oz. Shea Oil (15%)
8 oz. Sweet Almond Oil (20%)
5.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
11.2 oz. Distilled Water (15% water discount)
2.5 oz. Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil
2 tsp. Titanium Dioxide
Dried Baby’s Breath Flowers
Find the supplies you need for this project below
If you’ve never made cold process soap before, stop here. We highly recommend checking out our FREE four part SoapQueen.tv series on cold process soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. And if you’d rather do some reading, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, including Pure Soapmaking. You can also check out the digital downloads for that instant gratification factor.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2.5 ounces of Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil into a small glass container and set aside.
MOLD PREP: Line the Tall Narrow Wood Loaf Mold with freezer paper with the shiny side up. For tips on how to line the mold, click here.
SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
ONE: Slowly and carefully add 5.6 ounces of lye to 11.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add 2.5 teaspoons sodium lactate.
TWO: In a large glass bowl, combine and melt the 10 ounces of coconut oil, 6.8 ounces of canola oil, 1.2 ounces of castor oil, 6 ounces of shea oil, 8 ounces of sweet almond oil, and 8 ounces of palm oil (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning).
THREE: Add 2 teaspoons of titanium dioxide to the oils and use a stick blender to fully combine until there are no chunks.
FOUR: Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to about 100-110 degrees F, add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until a thin trace.
FIVE: Add the 2.5 ounces of Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil, and use the stick blender to mix in. Continue blending until you reach a medium trace.
SIX: Pour all of the soap batter into the mold. Firmly tap it on the counter to help get rid of bubbles. Use a spoon to manipulate the top and add a very light texture.
SEVEN: Sprinkle dried baby’s breath flowers on top of the soap, concentrating them toward the center. Use a little more than you’d like, as some may fall off during the cutting process. Use gloved fingers to gently press the flowers into the soap to help them stick better.
EIGHT: Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help prevent soda ash. To prevent cracking and glycerin rivers, place the soap in the freezer for 24 hours. Allow the soap to fully thaw and harden for another 2-3 days.
To remove, slide out the bottom piece of the mold and gently push the soap down and out. You can also grab the freezer paper and lift it up and out. Peel away the paper and cut the soap into bars. To avoid drag marks, lay the soap on its side and cut. Allow the bars to harden and cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy.
- Tall Narrow Wood Loaf Mold
- 6.8 oz. Canola Oil (17%)
- 1.2 oz. Castor Oil (3%)
- 10 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
- 8 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
- 6 oz. Shea Oil (15%)
- 8 oz. Sweet Almond Oil (20%)
- 5.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 11.2 oz. Distilled Water (15% water discount)
- 2.5 oz. Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil
- 2 tsp. Titanium Dioxide
- Dried Baby’s Breath Flowers
- Slowly and carefully add 5.6 ounces of lye to 11.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add 2.5 teaspoons sodium lactate.
- In a large glass bowl, combine and melt the 10 ounces of coconut oil, 6.8 ounces of canola oil, 1.2 ounces of castor oil, 6 ounces of shea oil, 8 ounces of sweet almond oil, and 8 ounces of palm oil (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning).
- Add 2 teaspoons of titanium dioxide to the oils and use a stick blender to fully combine until there are no chunks.
- Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to about 100-110 degrees F, add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until a thin trace.
- Add the 2.5 ounces of Baby’s Breath Fragrance Oil, and use the stick blender to mix in. Continue blending until you reach a medium trace.
- Pour all of the soap batter into the mold. Firmly tap it on the counter to help get rid of bubbles. Use a spoon to manipulate the top and add a very light texture.
- Sprinkle dried baby’s breath flowers on top of the soap, concentrating them toward the center. Use a little more than you’d like, as some may fall off during the cutting process. Use gloved fingers to gently press the flowers into the soap to help them stick better.
- Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to help prevent soda ash. To prevent cracking and glycerin rivers, place the soap in the freezer for 24 hours. Allow the soap to fully thaw and harden for another 2-3 days. To remove, slide out the bottom piece of the mold and gently push the soap down and out. You can also grab the freezer paper and lift it up and out. Peel away the paper and cut the soap into bars. To avoid drag marks, lay the soap on its side and cut. Allow the bars to harden and cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy.
Hi BB team, I was curious I kept the soap in the freezer for a full 24 hours yesterday. My soap cracked overnight. Dont understand why? I used sunflower oil instead of shea oil. Also used fresh babys breath and added slick. Thanks Kelley
That’s really strange! Usually cracking happens with overheating which putting your soap in the freezer should prevent. It could be the additive you used and fresh versus dried baby’s breath could have caused your soap to get a little too hot, even in the freezer.
The tall mold you used is discontinued by Bramble Berry. What alternative mold should be used? I have the 10 inch and 5 pound molds. Thank you.
For a similar shape of soap you can use our Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold: https://www.brambleberry.com/Tall-12-Silicone-Loaf-Mold-P6073.aspx
You can also use one of the molds you already own if you prefer. You’ll just need to resize the recipe to fit your mold depending on which one you use.
How to Resize Cold Process Soap Recipes: https://www.google.com/search?q=resize+soap+queen&rlz=1C1KMZB_enUS554US554&oq=resize+soap+queen&aqs=chrome..69i57.1775j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Does the silicon mold hold up on it’s own without the structure of the wooden mold? Love the different shape that the tall mold offers. Thanks!
Yes! The Tall 12″ Silicone Loaf Mold can be used on its own; it has sturdy walls that stand up on its own.
https://www.brambleberry.com/Tall-12-Silicone-Loaf-Mold-P6073.aspx
I have Shea butter bit Shea oil, can I use that instead?
You can use shea butter, but it will change the consistency of the recipe. It will make it harder than the liquid shea oil, and also more prone to crack. You may want to make a small test batch to see what you think.
Also, remember to run the recipe through the Lye Calculator again after any substitutions: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
Learn more about substituting oil here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-substitute-oil-in-cold-process-recipes/
I do it and i put it in freezer for4 hour when i removed it its crack from the top ? What can i do
The soap will still be fine to use, even with the crack. You can leave it as is or cut the top off so it’s more smooth.
For your next batch, we recommend leaving the soap in the freezer for a full 24 hours so it stays cool. That should help prevent the cracking.
I love the beauty of this soap. Breath taking
Thank you Diane, we appreciate your sweet comment. Hope you get a chance to give this recipe a try.
This soap is absolutely gorgeous yet so simplistic looking. I definitely have to make it! Thanks for tutorial!
Thanks Deb, have fun!
What are your thoughts on substituting goats milk for the water to make this a goats milk soap?
You can use goat milk in this recipe, it will add a nice creamy feeling. Make sure to keep the milk cold the whole time – if it gets hot it can scorch and discolor the bars.
Learn more about working with milk here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-add-lye-to-milk-for-cold-process-soap/
Hi. You all ran out of the canola Oil. Which one can I replace it with? Or can I use ultra filtered canola oil that I have at home in lieu of the one that is sold out?
Thanks
You can use rice bran oil in place of canola, it feels similar and is also light in color: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rice-Bran-Oil-P4971.aspx
You can also use olive oil, but the soap will be more yellow: https://www.brambleberry.com/Olive-Oil-Pure-P5246.aspx
Remember to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator after any substitutions: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
5.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
11.2 oz. Distilled Water (15% water discount)
Hello I am new in cold process Making, please let me know if total amount of water to use is 11.2 oz and 5.6 oz of sodium hydroxide.
One more question, it should be placed in the refrigerator after pouring it in the mold?
Yes, 11.2 oz. of distilled water and 5.6 oz. of lye is the correct amount for this recipe. Once the soap is in the mold put it in the freezer for 24 hours to prevent cracking and glycerin rivers.
Thank you! I will do it. I will be more than happy to see results because every time I tried, I am afraid of the results (cracking!!) it is realy hot where I live… max daytime is 41.2 Celsius
How can I increase recipe for 4.5 mold? Your lye superfatting only goes to 10%. Thank you.
It looks like this recipe did not have that high of a superfat. We normally superfat at about 5%.
How to Resize Cold Process Recipes: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-resize-cold-process-soap-recipes/
I made this recipe using the refined white shea butter instead of shea oil and I absolutely love the lather it produces. This olive-free recipe is great for lather. I topped with Chamomile buds since I didn’t have baby’s breath. The baby’s breath fragrance oil is beautiful! Thank you Annemarie for a wonderful recipe!
That’s awesome, glad to hear you’re loving the recipe. Thanks for the sweet comment Marilyn.
I would love to try and make this soap however I’m not a fan of using Palm oil. Is there another oil I could substitute?
Babassu oil can be used in place of palm oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Babassu-Oil–P6807.aspx
You can also add a hard oil like cocoa butter up to 15% to add firmness like palm oil does. Coconut oil or tallow up to 33% work as well. Read more about common oils and what properties they add to soap here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/
This post on substituting oils has some great information too: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-substitute-oil-in-cold-process-recipes/
Thanks! I new to soap making and will check out those resources.
Hi! I did this soap, and it was perfect, but after two days it have brown spots. I put the blumble gum fragrance.
I would like to know, what is the brown spot? Please let me know.
Thank you
Do you know if that fragrance has vanilla in it? If so, it may discolor the soap brown: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/why-did-my-soap-turn-brown/
Hi Kelsey, The soap didn’t turn brown. It was only brown spots. After two days that I took out the mold. I am confused 🤷🏻♀️
Can you send a picture of that soap? That would be helpful. You can email it to [email protected] or message us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrambleBerry/
This recipe really intrigued me, but since I had neither the white BB flowers, nor the Baby’s Breath fragrance, I adjusted the recipe with some pink Baby’s Breath flowers I had and added pale pink clay to delicately color the soap. The fragrance I used was a combination of some Rose Fragrance mixed with Aloe&Clover Fragrance, plus some Gardenia Fragrance I had left.
I had some misgivings regarding this fragrance combination, especially about the Rose accelerating the trace – but it came out absolutely fabulous; the Aloe&Clover tempered the sweetness of the Rose and Gardenia.
That sounds like a perfect combination, especially for spring. Thanks for sharing – we love hearing how people get creative with these recipes.
The soap is beautiful. Do you think it would make much difference to put 2 ounces of Baby’s Breath in the soap, since you sell it in 2-ounce bottles?
You can add 2 ounces if you like. The soap will have a lighter scent but you’ll still be able to pick up the notes.
Find out how much to add to your recipe with our Fragrance Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
This ones’s especially pretty! Looks like it would make a terrific wedding favor.
Absolutely, that’s a great idea.
Hello, I love all your recipes and this one looks beautiful! I have a stick blender that I use for making lotions, will it be safe to use my stick blender for both soap and lotions? I know after a couple of days it will be basically soap rather than lye on the stick blender, but would like to be able to make both soap and lotion in one day without worrying about lye being in the lotion. Would it be best to have a stick blender for each? Thank you, and thank you for all your amazing recipes!
You can use that same stick blender for lotion and soap, just make sure to clean it really well in between uses. You can also buy a few stick blender heads to keep on hand as well: https://www.brambleberry.com/Replacement-Head-for-Black-Stick-Blender-P6792.aspx
I am new to soap making. How do you heat in a bowl?
You can put the bowl in the microwave to heat it, or place it over a pot of simmering water. Make sure the bowl is glass, stainless steel, or heat-resistant plastic.
I’m a newbie soaper and learning fast. Anyhow the the term 15 % water discount is what exactly I can guess what it is but rather be sure than sorry. I love this baby’s breath soap looks awesome!!
Hi Jerry! If you go up to the search bar at the top of the Soap Queen blog and type in “Water Discounting Cold Process Soap”, you will find a really good article here that explains everything in detail. I just love Ann-Marie’s articles!
Sherry is correct, we have a great article that explains water discounting in detail. I’ve included the link to that below. I hope this helps!
Water Discounting Cold Process Soap: How and Why
https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/water-discounting-cold-process-soap-how-why/
This is beautiful soap!
Thanks Joan!
Gorgeous! I have everything except shea oil…what could I use instead or could I use more of the other oils listed?
Cocoa butter, avocado butter, or any other hard oil can be subbed for shea, but you really should then run the resulting recipe through the Lye Calculator to make sure you get the right amount of lye. I hope I could help and happy soaping!
I would think that you want to sub liquid oil with another one that’s close with consistency. I believe the recipe calls for shea oil rather than butter.
If you’d like to replace the shea oil in this recipe, you could increase the other oils slightly, or introduce another lightweight liquid oil. I would recommend something with a neutral color so it does not affect the white color. Sweet almond oil, avocado oil, chia oil, or sunflower oil would all be nice choices.
Thank you!!
Hi BB team, i was wondering about the same question… so we can substitute with light colored oils, so can it be rice bran oil or sesame seed oil?
Thank you for giving us so much information and inspiration☺💖
Rice bran oil has a natural yellow color so you may want to avoid it in this recipe. Sesame oil is a good option though.
Rice bran oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rice-Bran-Oil-P4971.aspx
Sesame oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sesame-Oil-P4889.aspx