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Desert Sunset Soap Project image number null
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Desert Sunset Soap Project

Item No. PS000359
undefined out of 5 Customer Rating
LEVEL Advanced
TIME 2 hours
YIELD About 3 pounds of soap
COST
$193.06
This advanced soap project captures the beauty of the desert with embeds, layers, sparkles, and exfoliants.

This Desert Sunset Soap involves creating an embed, so plan to have two soap sessions to complete the project. Because it involves two days and a good understanding of trace, we recommend it for advanced soap makers. 

The first step is to create an embed in the Large Heart Silicone Column Mold. The heart-shaped soap is cut and molded to resemble a prickly pear cactus. Poppy Seeds in the cactus and walnut shells in the layer of dirt give texure and help bring the scent to life. The bars are scented with Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil, which adds a complex green scent to the bars. 

The next day, multiple sunset layers are poured in the 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold. Layers of yellow, orange, and purple complete the sunset. Gold UltraSparkle Mica on top of the bars gives a gorgeous sparkle. 

What You Need:

$193.06
19 products 2 tools

Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
  • Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • Sodium Lactate - 4 oz
  • Coconut Oil - 1 lb
  • Palm Oil - 1 lb
  • Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
  • Avocado Oil - 1 lb
  • Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil - 3.5 oz
  • Walnut Shells - 3 oz
  • Poppy Seeds - 3 oz
  • Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
  • Dark Green Mica - 1 oz
  • Hot Pink Mica - 1 oz
  • Brown Oxide Pigment - 1 oz
  • Desert Rose Mica - 1 oz
  • Yellow Mica - 1 oz
  • Sunset Orange Mica - 1 oz
  • Lavender Mica - 1 oz
  • Gold UltraSparkle Mica - 1 oz
  • Kaolin Clay - 1 oz
EQUIPMENT:
  • 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
  • Large Heart Silicone Column Mold - 1 mold

Instructions

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You will need:

Cactus Embed:

  • Large Heart Silicone Column Mold
  • 3.6 oz. Avocado Oil (20%)
  • 3.6 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
  • 3.6 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
  • 7.2 oz. Olive Oil (40%)
  • 2.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 5 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
  • Sodium Lactate
  • 1.3 oz. Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil
  • Dark Green Mica
  • Poppy Seeds

Base:

  • 10” Silicone Loaf Mold
  • 6.6 oz. Avocado Oil (20%)
  • 6.6 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
  • 6.6 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
  • 13.2 oz. Olive Oil (40%)
  • 4.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 10.2 oz. Distilled Water
  • Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil
  • Sodium Lactate
  • Brown Oxide
  • Desert Rose Mica
  • Walnut Shells
  • Yellow Mica
  • Hot Pink Mica
  • Sunset Orange Mica
  • Lavender Mica
  • Titanium Dioxide 
  • Gold UltraSparkle Mica
  • Kaolin Clay

COLORANT PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Dark Green Mica into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Use a mini mixer to get rid of clumps. 

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass container, measure 1.3 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil.

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 space. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.

Follow these steps:

MAKE THE EMBED

1

Slowly and carefully add 2.5 ounces of lye to 5 ounces of distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate to help the soap harden more quickly.

2

Measure and melt 3.6 ounces coconut oil, 7.2 ounces of olive oil, and 3.6 ounces of avocado oil in a large heat-safe container. Fully melt your container of palm oil until it is no longer cloudy, then measure 3.6 ounces of palm oil into the container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 100-120° F or (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until you reach a thin trace. 

3

Add all the dispersed Dark Green Mica and pulse your stick blender to mix. Then add 1.3 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil pulse with stick blender until the soap reaches a medium trace. Whisk in about 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds.

4

Set the Heart Silicone Column Mold against a wall where you plan to let it harden. You don't want to move it after you pour the soap, otherwise it can come apart. Carefully pour in the soap and let it harden for 1-2 days.

CUT THE EMBED

1

Unmold the soap. Cut the embed widthwise so it fits inside the 10" Silicone Loaf Mold. Then, place the embed vertically and slice off the point of the heart to create a flat base. 
TIP: We found it was easier to cut the embed into two pieces widthwise before cutting off the tip of heart.

2

You'll now have a piece of soap with a flat bottom, and two rounded mounds of the heart. Place your knife in the crevice between the two mounds, and cut them apart. While doing so, try to round the knife - you want your cactus to have a rounded side, rather than completely straight.

3

Using whatever tools you'd like (small knife, spoon, clay shaping tools) carve the two embeds to create a rounded cactus shape. There is no right or wrong way to do this! 
TIP: Save all the soap shavings to use as embed pieces in future batches!

 

MAKE THE BASE

COLORANT PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of titanium dioxide into 2 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). In separate containers, disperse 1 teaspoon of Brown Oxide, Desert Rose Mica, Yellow Mica, Hot Pink Mica, Sunset Orange Mica, and Lavender Mica into 1 of tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get rid of clumps. Have walnut shells and Gold UltraSparkle Mica nearby. 

Optional: To ensure the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Use a coffee grinder to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. 

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass container, measure 1.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil. Set aside. 

PIPING PREP: Prep a frosting bag and a frosting piping tip. Place the bag into a tall cup, and fold the edges of the bag around the cup so it stays in place and the soap can easily be added into the bag. 

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 space. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.

1

Slowly and carefully add 4.6 ounces of lye to 10.2 ounces of distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the soap harden more quickly.

2

Measure and melt 6.6 ounces coconut oil, 13.2 ounces of olive oil, and 6.6 ounces of avocado oil in a large heat-safe container. Fully melt your container of palm oil until it is no longer cloudy, then measure 6.6 ounces of palm oil into the container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to about 100° F or (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend and whisk until you reach a very thin trace.

3

Pour some of the soap into two seperate containers. These layers will be the bottom layer of sand, and the flowers for the cactus. To each container, add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil. Stick blend in quickly, then add colorants. 

  • Container A (200 mL.): 1 tsp walnut shells, 1/4 tsp. Brown Oxide, 2 tsp. Desert Rose Mica, 2 tsp. kaolin clay
  • Container B (200mL) - 2 tsp. Hot Pink Mica, 2 tsp. kaolin clay

Stick blend the brown soap until it is a medium trace, then pour into the mold. Use a spoon to spread it evenly. Stick blend the pink soap for about 15-20 seconds to thicken. Set aside to continue to thicken. 

4

Split the reminaing soap into four containers and add the following dispersed colorants. Do not add the fragrance oil. The fragrance will be added to each layer right before pouring into the mold. Mix in the colorants with a whisk.

  • Container A (250 mL): 1/2 tsp Yellow Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide
  • Container B (250 mL): 1/2 tsp. Sunset Orange Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanim dioxide
  • Container C (250 mL): 1/4 tsp. Lavender Mica, 1/4 tsp. Sunset Orange Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide
  • Container D (250 ml): 1 tsp. Lavender Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide

5

Carefully place the cactus embed into the mold. Place it however you'd like, in the center or off center. Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom to the yellow soap layer. If the soap is still extremely thin, pulse with the stick blender to thicken slightly. It should be able to support a layer of soap on top. Carefully pour or spoon it into the mold, on both sides of the embed. 

6

Whisk all the colors of soap to help keep them fluid. Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the orange layer. If it's still extremely thin, stick blend quickly. Then carefully pour or spoon the oange soap on top of the yellow, on both sides of the cactus embed.

7

Check on the pink soap. It needs to be thick enough to pipe. Stick blend if needed. Transfer to the piping bag, and pipe soap on top of the cactus embed. Build height on the flowers if you'd like by piping more, or keep the flowers small - it's up to you! Pour any leftover pink soap into an extra mold.

8

Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the orange/purple soap and whisk in. Then carefully pour into the mold on both sides. Add 02. ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the purple layer and pour into the mold, covering the cactus and flowers.

9

Use a spoon to give the top of the soap texture, however you'd like. Then carefully sprinkle Gold UltraSparkle Mica on top.

9

Sprtiz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol. If you live in a cold climate, you can place this loaf on a heating pad for 1-2 hours to gently insulate it. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 1-2 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

See more

Desert Sunset Soap Project

  • LEVEL Advanced
  • TIME 2 hours
  • YIELD About 3 pounds of soap

Project Description

This Desert Sunset Soap involves creating an embed, so plan to have two soap sessions to complete the project. Because it involves two days and a good understanding of trace, we recommend it for advanced soap makers. 

The first step is to create an embed in the Large Heart Silicone Column Mold. The heart-shaped soap is cut and molded to resemble a prickly pear cactus. Poppy Seeds in the cactus and walnut shells in the layer of dirt give texure and help bring the scent to life. The bars are scented with Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil, which adds a complex green scent to the bars. 

The next day, multiple sunset layers are poured in the 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold. Layers of yellow, orange, and purple complete the sunset. Gold UltraSparkle Mica on top of the bars gives a gorgeous sparkle. 

You will need:

Cactus Embed:

  • Large Heart Silicone Column Mold
  • 3.6 oz. Avocado Oil (20%)
  • 3.6 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
  • 3.6 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
  • 7.2 oz. Olive Oil (40%)
  • 2.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 5 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
  • Sodium Lactate
  • 1.3 oz. Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil
  • Dark Green Mica
  • Poppy Seeds

Base:

  • 10” Silicone Loaf Mold
  • 6.6 oz. Avocado Oil (20%)
  • 6.6 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
  • 6.6 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
  • 13.2 oz. Olive Oil (40%)
  • 4.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 10.2 oz. Distilled Water
  • Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil
  • Sodium Lactate
  • Brown Oxide
  • Desert Rose Mica
  • Walnut Shells
  • Yellow Mica
  • Hot Pink Mica
  • Sunset Orange Mica
  • Lavender Mica
  • Titanium Dioxide 
  • Gold UltraSparkle Mica
  • Kaolin Clay

COLORANT PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of Dark Green Mica into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Use a mini mixer to get rid of clumps. 

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass container, measure 1.3 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil.

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 space. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.

Follow these steps:

MAKE THE EMBED

1

Slowly and carefully add 2.5 ounces of lye to 5 ounces of distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate to help the soap harden more quickly.

2

Measure and melt 3.6 ounces coconut oil, 7.2 ounces of olive oil, and 3.6 ounces of avocado oil in a large heat-safe container. Fully melt your container of palm oil until it is no longer cloudy, then measure 3.6 ounces of palm oil into the container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 100-120° F or (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until you reach a thin trace. 

3

Add all the dispersed Dark Green Mica and pulse your stick blender to mix. Then add 1.3 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil pulse with stick blender until the soap reaches a medium trace. Whisk in about 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds.

4

Set the Heart Silicone Column Mold against a wall where you plan to let it harden. You don't want to move it after you pour the soap, otherwise it can come apart. Carefully pour in the soap and let it harden for 1-2 days.

CUT THE EMBED

1

Unmold the soap. Cut the embed widthwise so it fits inside the 10" Silicone Loaf Mold. Then, place the embed vertically and slice off the point of the heart to create a flat base. 
TIP: We found it was easier to cut the embed into two pieces widthwise before cutting off the tip of heart.

2

You'll now have a piece of soap with a flat bottom, and two rounded mounds of the heart. Place your knife in the crevice between the two mounds, and cut them apart. While doing so, try to round the knife - you want your cactus to have a rounded side, rather than completely straight.

3

Using whatever tools you'd like (small knife, spoon, clay shaping tools) carve the two embeds to create a rounded cactus shape. There is no right or wrong way to do this! 
TIP: Save all the soap shavings to use as embed pieces in future batches!

 

MAKE THE BASE

COLORANT PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of titanium dioxide into 2 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). In separate containers, disperse 1 teaspoon of Brown Oxide, Desert Rose Mica, Yellow Mica, Hot Pink Mica, Sunset Orange Mica, and Lavender Mica into 1 of tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get rid of clumps. Have walnut shells and Gold UltraSparkle Mica nearby. 

Optional: To ensure the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Use a coffee grinder to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. 

FRAGRANCE OIL PREP: In a glass container, measure 1.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil. Set aside. 

PIPING PREP: Prep a frosting bag and a frosting piping tip. Place the bag into a tall cup, and fold the edges of the bag around the cup so it stays in place and the soap can easily be added into the bag. 

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 space. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.

1

Slowly and carefully add 4.6 ounces of lye to 10.2 ounces of distilled water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the soap harden more quickly.

2

Measure and melt 6.6 ounces coconut oil, 13.2 ounces of olive oil, and 6.6 ounces of avocado oil in a large heat-safe container. Fully melt your container of palm oil until it is no longer cloudy, then measure 6.6 ounces of palm oil into the container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to about 100° F or (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend and whisk until you reach a very thin trace.

3

Pour some of the soap into two seperate containers. These layers will be the bottom layer of sand, and the flowers for the cactus. To each container, add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil. Stick blend in quickly, then add colorants. 

  • Container A (200 mL.): 1 tsp walnut shells, 1/4 tsp. Brown Oxide, 2 tsp. Desert Rose Mica, 2 tsp. kaolin clay
  • Container B (200mL) - 2 tsp. Hot Pink Mica, 2 tsp. kaolin clay

Stick blend the brown soap until it is a medium trace, then pour into the mold. Use a spoon to spread it evenly. Stick blend the pink soap for about 15-20 seconds to thicken. Set aside to continue to thicken. 

4

Split the reminaing soap into four containers and add the following dispersed colorants. Do not add the fragrance oil. The fragrance will be added to each layer right before pouring into the mold. Mix in the colorants with a whisk.

  • Container A (250 mL): 1/2 tsp Yellow Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide
  • Container B (250 mL): 1/2 tsp. Sunset Orange Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanim dioxide
  • Container C (250 mL): 1/4 tsp. Lavender Mica, 1/4 tsp. Sunset Orange Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide
  • Container D (250 ml): 1 tsp. Lavender Mica, 1/2 tsp. titanium dioxide

5

Carefully place the cactus embed into the mold. Place it however you'd like, in the center or off center. Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom to the yellow soap layer. If the soap is still extremely thin, pulse with the stick blender to thicken slightly. It should be able to support a layer of soap on top. Carefully pour or spoon it into the mold, on both sides of the embed. 

6

Whisk all the colors of soap to help keep them fluid. Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the orange layer. If it's still extremely thin, stick blend quickly. Then carefully pour or spoon the oange soap on top of the yellow, on both sides of the cactus embed.

7

Check on the pink soap. It needs to be thick enough to pipe. Stick blend if needed. Transfer to the piping bag, and pipe soap on top of the cactus embed. Build height on the flowers if you'd like by piping more, or keep the flowers small - it's up to you! Pour any leftover pink soap into an extra mold.

8

Add 0.2 ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the orange/purple soap and whisk in. Then carefully pour into the mold on both sides. Add 02. ounces of Agave Bloom Fragrance Oil to the purple layer and pour into the mold, covering the cactus and flowers.

9

Use a spoon to give the top of the soap texture, however you'd like. Then carefully sprinkle Gold UltraSparkle Mica on top.

9

Sprtiz the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol. If you live in a cold climate, you can place this loaf on a heating pad for 1-2 hours to gently insulate it. Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 1-2 days. Unmold and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!