SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and 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.

MOLD PREP: For this project, I used empty plastic yogurt containers. They make great soap molds because the soap does not stick to them, and they are slightly flexible which helps when unmolding. My containers were 6 ounces each, but you could use a different size if that's what you have on hand. You could also use a completely different container, click here for more mold ideas. Just make sure the containers are completely dry before use.

PUREE PREP: For this recipe, I used store bought carrot puree (aka baby food). If you’d like you can certainly make your own carrot puree at home. If purchasing puree from the store, just make sure the only ingredients are carrots and water. If the puree contains other ingredients, it may have unpredictable effects on the soap

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure .2 ounces of the bergamot essential oil and .3 ounces of the black pepper essential oil in a glass container. Set aside.

• Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.
• Melt and combine the coconut oil, olive oil and lard. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. 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 about 1 teaspoon sodium lactate.
• Once you’ve reached a thin trace, add the essential oil blend and stick blend until fully emulsified.
• Split off about half of the batter. It’s okay to eyeball it!
• To this container, add 2 tablespoons of shredded loofah and use a whisk or spoon to thoroughly mix in.
• Pour the loofah soap batter evenly into each yogurt container.
• To the remaining soap batter, add 1 heaping tablespoon of the carrot puree and use a whisk or the stick blender to thoroughly mix in.
• Carefully pour the carrot puree soap into the yogurt containers evenly.
• Tap each yogurt container on the counter firmly to help eliminate bubbles. Spritz the top of the soap with rubbing alcohol to help prevent soda ash. Allow the soaps to stay in the mold for about one week. Once the soaps have hardened, remove from the yogurt containers and allow the soap to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!