Pure Honey Soap Project
Honey is a popular additive in cold process soap. It’s a wonderful humectant and great from a marketing standpoint. Adding honey to soap does pose some challenges though. The natural sugar can cause the soap to overheat. The key is keeping temperatures cool and not using too much honey.
We recommend a usage rate of 1 teaspoon honey per pound of soap. Once the soap is in the mold, put it in the freezer for 24 hours.
This Pure Honey Cold Process Soap contains a full tablespoon of local honey. It’s scented with Pure Honey Fragrance Oil, which gives the bars a wonderfully sweet scent. We kept the design of these bars simple to allow the honeycomb texture on the outside to shine. The secret to the honeycomb look is lining the mold with bubble wrap. Once the bubble wrap is peeled away, it reveals the realistic honeycomb pattern.
What You Need:
Argan Oil - 4 oz
Coconut Oil - 1 lb
Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
Sunflower Oil - 1 lb
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Pure Honey Fragrance Oil - 4 oz
Castor Oil - 1 lb
10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
Palm Oil - 1 lb
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Argan Oil - 4 oz
- Coconut Oil - 1 lb
- Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
- Sunflower Oil - 1 lb
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Pure Honey Fragrance Oil - 4 oz
- Castor Oil - 1 lb
- Palm Oil - 1 lb
EQUIPMENT:
- 10 inch Silicone Loaf Mold
Instructions
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Bubble wrap, cut to line mold
- 1.8 oz. Argan Oil (5%)
- 1.8 oz. Castor Oil (5%)
- 7 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
- 10.5 oz. Olive Oil (30%)
- 7 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
- 7 oz. Sunflower Oil (20%)
- 4.8 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 11 oz. Distilled Water
- 2.3 oz. Pure Honey Fragrance Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Honey
MOLD PREP: Cut the bubble wrap to lay inside the mold with the bubble texture facing up. Tape it to the sides of the mold so it doesn’t move around.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2.3 ounces of Pure Honey 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 soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 4.8 ounces of lye to 11 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 1.8 ounces of argan oil, 1.8 ounces of castor oil, 7 ounces of coconut oil, 10.5 ounces of olive oil, 7 ounces of palm oil, and 7 ounces of sunflower oil (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have both cooled to 100-110° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until you reach a light trace.
3
Add 1 tablespoon of honey. Use the stick blender to fully combine - alternate pulsing and using it to stir.
4
Add 2.3 ounces of Pure Honey Fragrance Oil. Use the stick blender to pulse and stir the fragrance oil into the mixture until completely combined.
5
Continue to stick blend the soap until you reach a medium trace.
6
Pour the soap into the mold and tap it on the counter several times to disperse any air bubbles. Use a spoon or spatula to even out the top. Immediately place the soap into the freezer for 24 hours to prevent overheating.
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!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Pure Honey Soap Project
- LEVEL Intermediate
- TIME 1 hour
- YIELD About 3 pounds of soap
Project Description
Honey is a popular additive in cold process soap. It’s a wonderful humectant and great from a marketing standpoint. Adding honey to soap does pose some challenges though. The natural sugar can cause the soap to overheat. The key is keeping temperatures cool and not using too much honey.
We recommend a usage rate of 1 teaspoon honey per pound of soap. Once the soap is in the mold, put it in the freezer for 24 hours.
This Pure Honey Cold Process Soap contains a full tablespoon of local honey. It’s scented with Pure Honey Fragrance Oil, which gives the bars a wonderfully sweet scent. We kept the design of these bars simple to allow the honeycomb texture on the outside to shine. The secret to the honeycomb look is lining the mold with bubble wrap. Once the bubble wrap is peeled away, it reveals the realistic honeycomb pattern.
You will need:
- 10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
- Bubble wrap, cut to line mold
- 1.8 oz. Argan Oil (5%)
- 1.8 oz. Castor Oil (5%)
- 7 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
- 10.5 oz. Olive Oil (30%)
- 7 oz. Palm Oil (20%)
- 7 oz. Sunflower Oil (20%)
- 4.8 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 11 oz. Distilled Water
- 2.3 oz. Pure Honey Fragrance Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Honey
MOLD PREP: Cut the bubble wrap to lay inside the mold with the bubble texture facing up. Tape it to the sides of the mold so it doesn’t move around.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2.3 ounces of Pure Honey 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 soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 4.8 ounces of lye to 11 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 1.8 ounces of argan oil, 1.8 ounces of castor oil, 7 ounces of coconut oil, 10.5 ounces of olive oil, 7 ounces of palm oil, and 7 ounces of sunflower oil (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have both cooled to 100-110° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until you reach a light trace.
3
Add 1 tablespoon of honey. Use the stick blender to fully combine - alternate pulsing and using it to stir.
4
Add 2.3 ounces of Pure Honey Fragrance Oil. Use the stick blender to pulse and stir the fragrance oil into the mixture until completely combined.
5
Continue to stick blend the soap until you reach a medium trace.
6
Pour the soap into the mold and tap it on the counter several times to disperse any air bubbles. Use a spoon or spatula to even out the top. Immediately place the soap into the freezer for 24 hours to prevent overheating.
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!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman