Hand-milled soap is a fantastic option for crafters who prefer not to work with lye, but still love the look and feel of cold process soap. Hand-milling (also called rebatching) involves melting down pre-made cold process soap and adding a small amount of extra liquid. If you’d like to see this process in action, check out this How to Make Rebatch Soap video on Soap Queen TV.
For this recipe, rose water is used with pink Brazilian clay to give a light rosy hue. Topped with rose petals and scented with Ylang Ylang III essential oil, this Pink Clay & Primrose Hand-Milled Soap project is wonderfully feminine. This project would make a great gift for Valentine’s Day! These downloadable labels make packaging and giving to loved ones easy.
What You’ll Need:
2 lbs. Luxury Rebatch
4-6 oz. Rose Water
1 Tbs. Pink Brazilian Clay
1 Tbs. Primrose Extract
Rose Petals
.8 oz. Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil
6 Bar Oval Silicone Mold (2 molds)
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COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 tbs. Pink Brazilian Clay with 1 tbs. rose water. Use a mini mixer to get clumps worked out smoothly. The clays tend to sink to the bottom of the container, so be sure to give them one final mix right before you add them to the soap.
ONE: In a crock pot or double boiler, heat the rebatch and 4 ounces of rose water over medium heat until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, stirring frequently to ensure the soap heats evenly. Add additional small amounts of rose water if needed.
TWO: Add all of the pink Brazilian clay mixture into the soap, and use a spatula to stir in and fully incorporate.
THREE: Add the Evening Primrose Extract and Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil , and use a spatula to fully incorporate.
FOUR: Once all additives are fully incorporated, use a spatula to scoop the soap into the mold cavities. Using your hands or the spatula, press the soap into the mold to eliminate bubbles and air pockets.
Tip: Cover the soap with a piece of plastic wrap while you are pressing the soap into the mold to reduce the mess!
FIVE: Sprinkle rose petals on the top of the soap, and use your fingers to gently press them into the rebatch to ensure they adhere.
SIX: Once all the cavities are filled with soap and topped with rose petals, allow the soap to stay in the mold for 5-7 days. Once it is firm enough to remove, allow the soap to cure for several more days. This allows the moisture to evaporate, creating a harder and longer lasting bar.
Have you started your Valentine’s Day projects yet? Keep your eyes on the blog next week for a sparkly Valentine’s Day melt and pour project!
- 2 lbs. Luxury Rebatch
- 4-6 oz. Rose Water
- 1 Tbs. Pink Brazilian Clay
- 1 tbs. Primrose Extract
- Rose Petals
- .8 oz. Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil
- 6 Bar Oval Silicone Mold (2 molds)
- Disperse 1 tbs. Pink Brazilian Clay with 1 tbs. rose water. Use a mini mixer to get clumps worked out smoothly. The clays tend to sink to the bottom of the container, so be sure to give them one final mix right before you add them into the soap.
- In a crock pot or double boiler, heat the rebatch and 4 ounces of rose water over medium heat until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, stirring frequently to ensure the soap heats evenly. Add additional small amounts of rose water if needed.
- Add all of the pink Brazilian clay mixture into the soap, and use a spatula to stir in and fully incorporate.
- Add the Evening Primrose Extract and Ylang Ylang III Essential Oil , and use a spatula to fully incorporate.
- Once all additives are fully incorporated, use a spatula to scoop the soap into the mold cavities. Using your hands or the spatula, press the soap into the mold to eliminate bubbles and air pockets.
- Sprinkle rose petals on the top of the soap, and use your fingers to gently press them into the rebatch to ensure they adhere.
- Once all the cavities are filled with soap and topped with rose petals, allow the soap to stay in the mold for 5-7 days. Once it is firm enough to remove, allow the soap to cure for several more days. This allows the moisture to evaporate, creating a harder and longer lasting bar
Can I use a loaf mold instead of the oval molds?
Thanks!
You sure can! It may take a bit longer to unmold in loaf form. I would recommend waiting 1-2 days before checking the soap. Once it’s firm to the touch, it’s ready to unmold and cut. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Where can I store the soap while I wait for the few days? also, can I add other essential oils or other flowers? I live in the PNW and I seem to have these unique flowers that I sometimes like to use in floral waters. Do you have a recipe for that?
Hi Pooja!
We recommend storing the soap in a cool, dry place until it’s ready to unmold. You can keep it in your kitchen, garage, etc. Anywhere where it can harden. In a cool dry place, the water will evaporate more quickly so you can unmold it in 5-7 days. 🙂
Read more about how to store handmade products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
You can use any essential oil as long as it’s skin safe! All of the oils at Bramble Berry are, although some can be irritating if too much is used. Find out how much to add to the soap with our Fragrance Calculator: http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
Essential oils: https://www.brambleberry.com/Essential-Oils-C157.aspx
You can also add flowers if you like! Keep in mind, any natural ingredients you add to the soap will eventually turn brown. That is normal for natural ingredients, and something to consider before adding them. 🙂
We used rose petals on this Juicy Orange and Sweet Rose Cold Process Soap for a fun look: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/juicy-orange-sweet-rose-cold-process/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I would like to make this soap, but can’t find Evening Primrose Extract in Australia. Bramble Berry’s Australian distributor carries Evening Primrose Oil, can I use this instead? Thanks
Also, I don’t have soap to rebatch, can I use melt n pour?
Hi Mandy!
Evening primrose extract and evening primrose oil are a bit different! Our extracts are distributed in fractionated coconut oil, which is a lightweight oil. We haven’t worked with evening primrose oil a lot, so I’m not entirely sure if it has the same texture! If you like, you can leave the extract out of this recipe, or use another one. There are lots of great extracts to choose from. 🙂
Sunday Night Spotlight: Extracts: http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotligh-extracts/
You can make this recipe with melt and pour, but it will look quite a bit different! I wouldn’t recommend adding rose water to the recipe. You can add about 1 teaspoon of the extract per pound of soap.
As for the rose petals, they don’t stick to the top of melt and pour very well. You can add them to the soap, but keep in mind they will eventually go brown.
To find out how much essential oil to add, you can use our Fragrance Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
Hope that helps!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi, I love this soap! I have some cold-processed soap that isn’t cured yet can I use that or do I have to wait the whole 4-6 weeks before I can re-batch it?
Hi Devin!
So glad you like the recipe! You can rebatch that soap any time you like. The fresher your soap is, the less liquid you have to add to it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I love receiving new recipes for soaps thankyou so much
Hi Rae!
You are so very welcome! Glad you like the recipe. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry