Honeycomb Soap Project
This palm-free recipe is made with butters and yellow beeswax to create a balanced bar. In fact, the soap has a full 7% yellow beeswax! Because of the high percentage, we recommend increasing your temperatures to 130-140° F so the beeswax stays melted.
This soap also contains bee pollen powder and Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil. The fragrance is a comforting combination of cream, honey, smoke, and dried fruit. To complement the ingredients, bubble wrap is placed on top. When it's pulled away, it reveals a realistic honeycomb pattern.
We recommend allowing this soap to go through gel phase. Because you're using higher temperatures and the bee pollen powder contains a small amount of natural sugars, the soap will get warm as it sits in the mold. When we tried to stop gel phase by putting it in the freezer and fridge, the soap still gelled in the center. Partial gel phase is completely fine - it's still wonderful soap. But it creates a ring in the center.
To prevent partial gel, leave the soap at room temperature. Cover with a box to gently insulate - we did not find a heating pad necessary. Keep your eye on the soap for the first hour to make sure it doesn't overheat and crack. Ifit does, place it in the fridge to bring temperatures back down.
What You Need:
Borage Oil - 4 oz
Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
Cocoa Butter Pastilles - 1 lb
Coconut Oil - 1 lb
Shea Butter - 1 lb
Yellow Beeswax - 1 lb
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Sodium Lactate - 4 oz
Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil - 2 oz
10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
Blue Cornflower Petals - 3 oz
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Borage Oil - 4 oz
- Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
- Cocoa Butter Pastilles - 1 lb
- Coconut Oil - 1 lb
- Shea Butter - 1 lb
- Yellow Beeswax - 1 lb
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Sodium Lactate - 4 oz
- Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil - 2 oz
- Blue Cornflower Petals - 3 oz
EQUIPMENT:
- 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
Instructions
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Bubble Wrap, cut to fit in mold
- 3.3 oz. Borage Oil (10%)
- 14.9 oz. Olive Oil (45%)
- 2.3 oz. Cocoa Butter (7%)
- 8.5 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
- 2 oz. Shea Butter (6%)
- 2.3 oz. Yellow Beeswax (7%)
- 4.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 10 oz. Distilled Water
- 2 oz. Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil
- 1/2 Tbsp. Bee Pollen Powder
- Cornflower Petals
MOLD PREP: Cut a piece of bubble wrap to cover the entire mold lengthwise and half of the width. This will be placed on top of the soap.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2 ounces of Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil into a glass container. Set aside.
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:
1
Slowly and carefully add 4.5 ounces of lye to 10 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Gently stir in 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the soap harden and unmold more quickly.
2
Combine 3.3 ounces of borage oil, 14.9 ounces of olive oil, 2.3 ounces of cocoa butter, 8.5 ounces of coconut oil, 2 ounces of shea butter, and 2.3 ounces of yellow beeswax in a large heat-safe container. Melt in the microwave on 30 second bursts. Add 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen powder to the melted oils and use the stick blender to get rid of clumps.
3
Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130-140° F, slowly add the lye water to the oils with a whisk. Then, switch to a stick blender. Tip: The soap gets thick quickly because of the beeswax, so use the stick blender sparingly.
4
Add all the Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil and mix in thoroughly with a whisk. If the soap is still quite thin, stick blend until you reach a medium trace. Pour the soap into the mold and tap it on the counter several times to disperse any air bubbles.
5
Use a fork to create texture down the entire length of the mold. Use gloved hands to gently press the bubble wrap into one side of the mold to make sure it leaves an impression. Add cornflower petals to the side of the soap with fork texture. Gently press the cornflower petals into the soap to make sure they stick.
6
Allow the soap to stay on the counter at room temperature. Cover the soap with a box to help lightly insulate and promote a thorough gel phase. We recommend keeping an eye on this soap for the first hour to make sure it does not overheat and crack.
Allow the soap to stay in the mold for about 2 days. Remove and peel away the bubble wrap. Cut into bars, and allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy! Tip: To prevent drag marks from the petals, place the soap on its side and cut.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Honeycomb Soap Project
- LEVEL Intermediate
- TIME 2 hours
- YIELD About 3 pounds of soap
Project Description
This palm-free recipe is made with butters and yellow beeswax to create a balanced bar. In fact, the soap has a full 7% yellow beeswax! Because of the high percentage, we recommend increasing your temperatures to 130-140° F so the beeswax stays melted.
This soap also contains bee pollen powder and Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil. The fragrance is a comforting combination of cream, honey, smoke, and dried fruit. To complement the ingredients, bubble wrap is placed on top. When it's pulled away, it reveals a realistic honeycomb pattern.
We recommend allowing this soap to go through gel phase. Because you're using higher temperatures and the bee pollen powder contains a small amount of natural sugars, the soap will get warm as it sits in the mold. When we tried to stop gel phase by putting it in the freezer and fridge, the soap still gelled in the center. Partial gel phase is completely fine - it's still wonderful soap. But it creates a ring in the center.
To prevent partial gel, leave the soap at room temperature. Cover with a box to gently insulate - we did not find a heating pad necessary. Keep your eye on the soap for the first hour to make sure it doesn't overheat and crack. Ifit does, place it in the fridge to bring temperatures back down.
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Bubble Wrap, cut to fit in mold
- 3.3 oz. Borage Oil (10%)
- 14.9 oz. Olive Oil (45%)
- 2.3 oz. Cocoa Butter (7%)
- 8.5 oz. Coconut Oil (25%)
- 2 oz. Shea Butter (6%)
- 2.3 oz. Yellow Beeswax (7%)
- 4.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 10 oz. Distilled Water
- 2 oz. Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil
- 1/2 Tbsp. Bee Pollen Powder
- Cornflower Petals
MOLD PREP: Cut a piece of bubble wrap to cover the entire mold lengthwise and half of the width. This will be placed on top of the soap.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2 ounces of Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil into a glass container. Set aside.
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:
1
Slowly and carefully add 4.5 ounces of lye to 10 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Gently stir in 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the soap harden and unmold more quickly.
2
Combine 3.3 ounces of borage oil, 14.9 ounces of olive oil, 2.3 ounces of cocoa butter, 8.5 ounces of coconut oil, 2 ounces of shea butter, and 2.3 ounces of yellow beeswax in a large heat-safe container. Melt in the microwave on 30 second bursts. Add 1/2 tablespoon of bee pollen powder to the melted oils and use the stick blender to get rid of clumps.
3
Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130-140° F, slowly add the lye water to the oils with a whisk. Then, switch to a stick blender. Tip: The soap gets thick quickly because of the beeswax, so use the stick blender sparingly.
4
Add all the Raw Honeycomb Fragrance Oil and mix in thoroughly with a whisk. If the soap is still quite thin, stick blend until you reach a medium trace. Pour the soap into the mold and tap it on the counter several times to disperse any air bubbles.
5
Use a fork to create texture down the entire length of the mold. Use gloved hands to gently press the bubble wrap into one side of the mold to make sure it leaves an impression. Add cornflower petals to the side of the soap with fork texture. Gently press the cornflower petals into the soap to make sure they stick.
6
Allow the soap to stay on the counter at room temperature. Cover the soap with a box to help lightly insulate and promote a thorough gel phase. We recommend keeping an eye on this soap for the first hour to make sure it does not overheat and crack.
Allow the soap to stay in the mold for about 2 days. Remove and peel away the bubble wrap. Cut into bars, and allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy! Tip: To prevent drag marks from the petals, place the soap on its side and cut.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman