Pumpkin Sandalwood Soap Project
The Hanger Swirl technique creates an interesting and unique design in each bar. The classic version involves layering various colors and moving the Hanger Swirl Tool up and down within the mold. It's a technique that involves a good understanding of trace - don't over stick blend or the colors will not swirl.
What You Need:
Lots of Lather Quick Mix - 54 oz
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Sodium Lactate - 4 oz
Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil - 1.75 oz
Black Oxide Pigment - 1 oz
Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
Sunset Orange Mica - 1 oz
Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica - 1 oz
10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
Hanger Swirl Tool
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Lots of Lather Quick Mix - 54 oz
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Sodium Lactate - 4 oz
- Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil - 1.75 oz
- Black Oxide Pigment - 1 oz
- Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
- Sunset Orange Mica - 1 oz
- Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica - 1 oz
EQUIPMENT:
- 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
Instructions
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
- 35 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
- 5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 11.2 oz. Distilled Water
- 2 tsp. Sodium Lactate
- 1.5 oz. Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil
- Black Oxide
- Sunset Orange Mica
- Titanium Dioxide
- Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1.5 ounces of Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Add 1 tablespoon of a lightweight oil (like sweet almond oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil) to 3 separate containers. Then, add 1 teaspoon of black oxide, titanium dioxide, and Sunset Orange Mica into the separate containers. Use a Mini Mixer to fully incorporate the color into the oil. Have Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica and the Black Oxide nearby to dust on top of the soap.
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.
TOOL PREP: Bend the hanger tool so it fits inside the mold by length.
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 soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 5 ounces of lye to 11.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside and when it's cool, add 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate. That helps the soap harden and unmold more quickly.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it’s completely clear. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 35 ounces into a large heat-safe container. 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 trace.
3
Split the soap equally into 3 containers. Add all the titanium dioxide into the first container, all the Sunset Orange Mica into the second, and 1 teaspoon of black oxide into the third. Whisk the colors in from lighest to darkest.
4
Pour the fragrance oil evenly into the black and orange soap and whisk to fully incorporate. If your trace is still extremely thin, very quickly stick blend the soap from lightest to darkest to achieve a light-medium trace.
5
Pour half of the black soap into the mold and tap it on the counter to disperse air bubbles.Carefully pour or spoon half of the white soap on top. Then carefully pour or spoon half of the orange soap on top.
6
Repeat this process with the remaining soap, pouring the black, then white, then orange soap into the mold.
7
Insert the Hanger Swirl Tool in the mold on the side closest to you. Push it to the bottom, move it about 1/6th of the way through the mold, and pull it back toward the top. Be sure not to break through the soap on top. Move the tool away from you again and push it back toward the bottom. Repeat that motion until you reach the other side of the mold - move the hanger tool away from you, pull it toward the top, move it over, and push it back toward the bottom. When you reach the other side of the mold, pull the Hanger Swirl Tool out carefully.
8
Use a small spoon to create texture on top of the soap. When you're happy with the look, lighly dust Black Oxide on top - it's easier with a small sifter, followed by Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica.
10
Spritz with 99% isopropyl alcohol to prevent soda ash and cover the soap to insulate for 24 hours.
11
Leave the soap in the mold for 2-3 days. Remove, cut into bars, and let them cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Pumpkin Sandalwood Soap Project
- LEVEL Advanced
- TIME 2 hours
- YIELD About 3 pounds of soap
Project Description
The Hanger Swirl technique creates an interesting and unique design in each bar. The classic version involves layering various colors and moving the Hanger Swirl Tool up and down within the mold. It's a technique that involves a good understanding of trace - don't over stick blend or the colors will not swirl.
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
- 35 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
- 5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 11.2 oz. Distilled Water
- 2 tsp. Sodium Lactate
- 1.5 oz. Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil
- Black Oxide
- Sunset Orange Mica
- Titanium Dioxide
- Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1.5 ounces of Pumpkin Sandalwood Fragrance Oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Add 1 tablespoon of a lightweight oil (like sweet almond oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil) to 3 separate containers. Then, add 1 teaspoon of black oxide, titanium dioxide, and Sunset Orange Mica into the separate containers. Use a Mini Mixer to fully incorporate the color into the oil. Have Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica and the Black Oxide nearby to dust on top of the soap.
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.
TOOL PREP: Bend the hanger tool so it fits inside the mold by length.
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 soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 5 ounces of lye to 11.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside and when it's cool, add 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate. That helps the soap harden and unmold more quickly.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it’s completely clear. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 35 ounces into a large heat-safe container. 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 trace.
3
Split the soap equally into 3 containers. Add all the titanium dioxide into the first container, all the Sunset Orange Mica into the second, and 1 teaspoon of black oxide into the third. Whisk the colors in from lighest to darkest.
4
Pour the fragrance oil evenly into the black and orange soap and whisk to fully incorporate. If your trace is still extremely thin, very quickly stick blend the soap from lightest to darkest to achieve a light-medium trace.
5
Pour half of the black soap into the mold and tap it on the counter to disperse air bubbles.Carefully pour or spoon half of the white soap on top. Then carefully pour or spoon half of the orange soap on top.
6
Repeat this process with the remaining soap, pouring the black, then white, then orange soap into the mold.
7
Insert the Hanger Swirl Tool in the mold on the side closest to you. Push it to the bottom, move it about 1/6th of the way through the mold, and pull it back toward the top. Be sure not to break through the soap on top. Move the tool away from you again and push it back toward the bottom. Repeat that motion until you reach the other side of the mold - move the hanger tool away from you, pull it toward the top, move it over, and push it back toward the bottom. When you reach the other side of the mold, pull the Hanger Swirl Tool out carefully.
8
Use a small spoon to create texture on top of the soap. When you're happy with the look, lighly dust Black Oxide on top - it's easier with a small sifter, followed by Snowflake UltraSparkle Mica.
10
Spritz with 99% isopropyl alcohol to prevent soda ash and cover the soap to insulate for 24 hours.
11
Leave the soap in the mold for 2-3 days. Remove, cut into bars, and let them cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman