It’s another Throw-Back Thursday #tbt on Soap Queen TV. This time Christy from KB Shimmer is joining me to demonstrate a classic swirl. This video is from 2010, so please forgive the retro set design.
Please note that before making the soap in this video you should be comfortable making basic batches of cold process soap. This is definitely an advanced technique, so if you haven’t made CP soap before you must watch and practice the recipes in my basic Cold Process soapmaking video series (it’s free!).
In this video we talk about using room temperature lye water. What this means is that we mixed up the lye solution 3 or 4 hours before we made our soap so that it wouldn’t be hot when we used it. You could even mix up your lye solution the day before – just be really sure it is well labeled and not left in a place where someone might think it was just water. Using room temperature lye helps to slow down the saponification process so that you have plenty of time to work with your soap and make those beautiful swirls!
Buy all the ingredients and the mold to make this soap here.
Ingredients:
29.4 oz Olive Oil
16 oz Palm Oil
12.8 oz Coconut Oil
3.8 oz Cocoa Butter
1.9 oz Castor Oil
20.7 oz Distilled Water
8.9 oz Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
2.5 oz. Lemon Essential Oil
1.5 oz. Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil
1/2 tsp Ultramarine Blue Pigment
1/2 tsp Ultramarine Violet Pigment
1/2 tsp Yellow Oxide
Tools:
2 Heat safe non-reactive containers
3 small non-reactive containers for colors
Stick Blender
Small Spatulas
Wooden Skewers
Safety Gear:
Gloves
Goggles
Apron
Long sleeve shirt and pants
How many pounds does this make?
Hi Zoe!
This recipe makes 93.5 ounces, or almost 6 pounds of soap. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Dear Soapqueen,
I tried to make this recipe last week, without the fragrances. I made one big batch and split that in 4 containers (the same way you do this). I noticed that the yellow container thickend (traced) much faster than the other colors. This is not the first recipes I noticed this. Both with yellow oxides and with yellow pigments.
I know about fragrance causing trace excelleration, but can color do so too?
With kind regards,
Annemieke
Hi Annemieke!
Color can speed up trace as well! Titanium Dioxide can speed up trace slightly. What kind of color were you using?
If you notice that color is accelerating, you can wait until the last minute to add it. That should give you a little more time to work with your soap. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Dear Kelsey,
Thanks for the reply and the advice. I will keep it in mind next time when I play with color to add them just before pouring.
I used yellow iron oxide (INCI Iron Oxide Yellow (CI 77492))…
With kind regards,
Annemieke
Hi Annemieke!
You’re welcome! If you have any other questions let me know. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am a newbie and I am wondering about whether a preservative (i.e., Germanen II or Germall Plus should be used in soap recipes? Thanking you in advance for your advise.
Hi Linda!
Soap doesn’t need a preservative. Yay! It has a pH level that doesn’t allow mold or bacteria to grow. I’ll include a blog post with more information on preservatives and when to use them. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
The soap is beautiful and I really appreciate Anne-Marie’s efforts to share knowledge.
Based on this article, using the Lye at room temperature slows down trace. Is there any reason why I couldn’t do everything at room temperature? Also, if the Lye is at room temperature, do the oils need to be room temperature too?
Thanks!
Hi Christi!
I’m so glad you like this soap!
Using room temperature lye water can give you more time to work with your soap. This is also the same with cooler oils.
However, some of the oils in this recipe, like coconut oil, are solid at room temperature. This means they need to be a little warmer so they are fully melted.
I would recommend having your oils and lye water around 100F, and ideally within 10 degrees of each other. That will still give you some time to work while also ensuring your oils are all melted. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks for the quick reply – I will give it a try at 100 degrees. I’ve got a Bramble Berry order on its way with all the beautiful colorants used in this recipe. I am looking forward to trying this technique. 🙂
Hi Christi!
You’re welcome! Also, that’s so exciting! Let us know how it goes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
can other color options work instead of pigments
Hi Donna!
Absolutely! We like to use pigments because you get great consistent results, but there are some other great colorant options out there.
You can use micas to color your cold process soap. You use them the same way as pigments! Mix 1 tsp. of the mica into 1 Tbsp. of a light carrier oil, like sweet almond oil. Then, mix thoroughly and add the dispersed color to your soap.
Keep in mind some micas will morph in cold process. Each will say if they do on the description on our website. 🙂
You can also use LabColors, which are liquid colorants. I’ll include a post about how to dilute and use LabColors.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Talk It Out Tuesday: Colorants: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/talk-it-out-tuesday-colorants/
Diluting Bramble Berry LabColors: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/diluting-bramble-berry-labcolors/
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
Micas: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx
LabColors: https://www.brambleberry.com/LabColors-C171.aspx
Hey – I love the retro set! Love the soap too – I’m going to try this technique.
Hi Michael!
Isn’t that set fun? Also, I’m glad you like it! Have fun soaping. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi,
I’m curious, why do you use Lemon EO, when it doesn’t stick in cold process?
Thanks.
Hi Martina!
You are correct, citrus essential oils tend to fade in cold process soap. However, by anchoring with another essential oil like Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil, it does stick better! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry