Menthol Crystal Cold Process Soap Project
Bramble Berry menthol crystals are created with a cold extraction method. Essentially, oil is extracted from mint leaves and then frozen. The resulting crystals can be melted with oil or alcohol and added to recipes at 0.5-2%.
This recipe uses 1% menthol crystals. It’s enough to give the bars a very light scent and a cooling sensation on sensitive areas of skin. You can increase or decrease the amount depending on your personal preference.
We left these bars uncolored and added poppy seeds for exfoliation. The 10% water discount helps the soap release from the mold faster. A discount does cause acceleration, but that works well for this simple design.
What You Need:
6 Cavity Silicone Circle Mold - 1 Mold
Lots of Lather Quick Mix - 33 oz
Menthol Crystals - 1 oz
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Poppy Seeds - 3 oz
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Lots of Lather Quick Mix - 33 oz
- Menthol Crystals - 1 oz
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Poppy Seeds - 3 oz
EQUIPMENT:
- 6 Cavity Silicone Circle Mold - 1 Mold
Instructions
You will need:
- 6 Cavity Silicone Circle Mold
- 16 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
- 0.2 oz. Menthol Crystals
- 2.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 4.8 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
- 1 tsp. Poppy Seeds
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 2.3 ounces of lye to 4.8 ounces of distilled water. Gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved. Set it aside to cool. 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 1 teaspoon sodium lactate.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather until it’s completely clear. Shake the bag to mix all the oils. Measure 16 ounces of the Quick Mix into a heat-safe bowl. Add 0.2 ounces of menthol crystals. Stir the oils to help the menthol crystals melt – this may take a few minutes. Continue stirring until you no longer see any crystals. Note: If the crystals aren’t dissolving, the oil may not be hot enough. They melt around 120° F and hotter. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat using 20 second bursts and continue to stir.
3
Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend the mixture to a thin to medium trace.
4
Add 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds and use a whisk or spatula to fully mix them in.
5
Place the mold on a cutting board for easy pickup. Pour the soap into each cavity. If the soap starts to get thick, use a whisk to stir and loosen up the batter. Tap the mold on the counter to get rid of bubbles. If you’d like, use a large spoon to smooth the top.
6
Allow the soap to harden in the mold for 1-3 days (depending on if you used sodium lactate or not). Unmold each soap and allow the soaps to cure for 4-6 weeks before use. Enjoy.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Menthol Crystal Cold Process Soap Project
- LEVEL Beginner
- TIME 2 hours
- YIELD 1.5 pounds of soap
Project Description
Bramble Berry menthol crystals are created with a cold extraction method. Essentially, oil is extracted from mint leaves and then frozen. The resulting crystals can be melted with oil or alcohol and added to recipes at 0.5-2%.
This recipe uses 1% menthol crystals. It’s enough to give the bars a very light scent and a cooling sensation on sensitive areas of skin. You can increase or decrease the amount depending on your personal preference.
We left these bars uncolored and added poppy seeds for exfoliation. The 10% water discount helps the soap release from the mold faster. A discount does cause acceleration, but that works well for this simple design.
You will need:
- 6 Cavity Silicone Circle Mold
- 16 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
- 0.2 oz. Menthol Crystals
- 2.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 4.8 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
- 1 tsp. Poppy Seeds
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 2.3 ounces of lye to 4.8 ounces of distilled water. Gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved. Set it aside to cool. 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 1 teaspoon sodium lactate.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather until it’s completely clear. Shake the bag to mix all the oils. Measure 16 ounces of the Quick Mix into a heat-safe bowl. Add 0.2 ounces of menthol crystals. Stir the oils to help the menthol crystals melt – this may take a few minutes. Continue stirring until you no longer see any crystals. Note: If the crystals aren’t dissolving, the oil may not be hot enough. They melt around 120° F and hotter. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat using 20 second bursts and continue to stir.
3
Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend the mixture to a thin to medium trace.
4
Add 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds and use a whisk or spatula to fully mix them in.
5
Place the mold on a cutting board for easy pickup. Pour the soap into each cavity. If the soap starts to get thick, use a whisk to stir and loosen up the batter. Tap the mold on the counter to get rid of bubbles. If you’d like, use a large spoon to smooth the top.
6
Allow the soap to harden in the mold for 1-3 days (depending on if you used sodium lactate or not). Unmold each soap and allow the soaps to cure for 4-6 weeks before use. Enjoy.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman