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Safflower and Ginger Soap Project
Safflower is a thistle-like plant with a variety of uses. The crop is used to make oil, dyes, and more. In this soap, safflower petals are sprinkled on top for a pop of color and texture.
The layered design requires a good understanding of soap texture, also known as trace. To create a diagonal layer, the mold is propped up on one side and the soap is allowed to harden in the mold. Once it’s firm enough, the mold is set evenly on the counter and the remaining soap is layered on top. This requires the second and third layer of soap to stay thin and workable while the bottom layer hardens.
The ginger essential oil aids in the layering process. Because it accelerates, it helps the soap harden faster. The oil is added to each layer right before it’s poured into the mold, which creates firm bottom layers that are not disrupted as easily by the soap on top.
If you don’t have experience creating layers in cold process, we recommend getting a few basic layering recipes under your belt first. A good option is the Pink Salt & Gold Cold Process Soap. It has uneven layers, which are much easier to create. Even with lots of practice, we have a hard time making 100% straight layers – you’ll notice they’re not perfectly even in these bars.
This recipe does contain a very small amount of ginger essential oil. Because it’s an expensive essential oil, we used the smallest amount possible while still being able to smell it in the final bar. The amount in this recipe does give a light ginger scent. If you want a stronger scent, feel free to use more according to the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator.
What You Need:
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Babassu Oil - 1 lb
- Coconut Oil - 1 lb
- Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
- Shea Butter - 1 lb
- Sunflower Oil - 1 lb
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Ginger Essential Oil - 1.75 oz
- Yellow Brazilian Clay - 1 oz
- Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
- Poppy Seeds - 3 oz
- Marigold - Calendula, Dried - 3 oz
EQUIPMENT:
- 5 lb Mold With Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb Wood Mold - 1 mold
Instructions
You will need:
- 5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
- 12.8 oz. Babassu Oil (25%)
- 10.2 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
- 15.3 oz. Olive Oil (30%)
- 2.6 oz. Shea Butter (5%)
- 10.2 oz. Sunflower Oil (20%)
- 7.4 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 15.2 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
- 1 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
- Yellow Brazilian Clay
- Titanium Dioxide
- Poppy Seeds
- Safflower Petals
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of ginger essential oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Add 1 teaspoon of the titanium dioxide into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Add 4 teaspoons of yellow Brazilian clay into 4 tablespoons of distilled water. Use a mini mixer to get rid of any clumps. Have poppy seeds and safflower petals nearby.
Optional: To ensure the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, 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.
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 7.4 ounces of lye to 15.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set 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 3 teaspoons sodium lactate.
2
In a large glass bowl, combine and melt the 10.2 ounces of coconut oil, 15.3 ounces of olive oil, 2.6 ounces of shea butter, 12.8 ounces of babassu oil, and 10.2 ounces of sunflower oil.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Safflower and Ginger Soap Project
- LEVEL Advanced
- TIME
- YIELD About 5 pounds of soap
Project Description
Safflower is a thistle-like plant with a variety of uses. The crop is used to make oil, dyes, and more. In this soap, safflower petals are sprinkled on top for a pop of color and texture.
The layered design requires a good understanding of soap texture, also known as trace. To create a diagonal layer, the mold is propped up on one side and the soap is allowed to harden in the mold. Once it’s firm enough, the mold is set evenly on the counter and the remaining soap is layered on top. This requires the second and third layer of soap to stay thin and workable while the bottom layer hardens.
The ginger essential oil aids in the layering process. Because it accelerates, it helps the soap harden faster. The oil is added to each layer right before it’s poured into the mold, which creates firm bottom layers that are not disrupted as easily by the soap on top.
If you don’t have experience creating layers in cold process, we recommend getting a few basic layering recipes under your belt first. A good option is the Pink Salt & Gold Cold Process Soap. It has uneven layers, which are much easier to create. Even with lots of practice, we have a hard time making 100% straight layers – you’ll notice they’re not perfectly even in these bars.
This recipe does contain a very small amount of ginger essential oil. Because it’s an expensive essential oil, we used the smallest amount possible while still being able to smell it in the final bar. The amount in this recipe does give a light ginger scent. If you want a stronger scent, feel free to use more according to the Bramble Berry Fragrance Calculator.
You will need:
- 5 Pound Mold with Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
- 12.8 oz. Babassu Oil (25%)
- 10.2 oz. Coconut Oil (20%)
- 15.3 oz. Olive Oil (30%)
- 2.6 oz. Shea Butter (5%)
- 10.2 oz. Sunflower Oil (20%)
- 7.4 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 15.2 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
- 1 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
- Yellow Brazilian Clay
- Titanium Dioxide
- Poppy Seeds
- Safflower Petals
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1 ounce of ginger essential oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Add 1 teaspoon of the titanium dioxide into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Add 4 teaspoons of yellow Brazilian clay into 4 tablespoons of distilled water. Use a mini mixer to get rid of any clumps. Have poppy seeds and safflower petals nearby.
Optional: To ensure the titanium dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, 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.
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 7.4 ounces of lye to 15.2 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set 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 3 teaspoons sodium lactate.
2
In a large glass bowl, combine and melt the 10.2 ounces of coconut oil, 15.3 ounces of olive oil, 2.6 ounces of shea butter, 12.8 ounces of babassu oil, and 10.2 ounces of sunflower oil.
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman