Sea Salt Swirl Soap Project
Making cold process soap with salt is a fun and interesting process, but it does require a little know-how. Salt inhibits bubbles and creates a creamy, dense lather. To balance this, you can increase the amount of coconut oil in your recipe - some soapers even go up to 100%! We used 80% in this recipe, along with argan oil, olive oil, and shea butter to keep skin moisturized.
To complement the white and blue swirl, the bars are scented with Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil. In addition to pink salt inside the bars, we added some on top for decoration and light exfoliation. Do not use any grain of Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt in cold process soap - they will completely kill lather and may cause weeping.
What You Need:
12 Bar Square Silicone Mold - 1 mold
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Argan Oil - 4 oz
Coconut Oil - 7 lbs
Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
Shea Butter - 1 lb
Pink Sea Salt - Medium - 2 lbs
Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil - 3.5 oz
Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
Sea Clay - 1 oz
Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment - 1 oz
Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- Argan Oil - 4 oz
- Coconut Oil - 7 lbs
- Olive Oil - Pure - 1 lb
- Shea Butter - 1 lb
- Pink Sea Salt - Medium - 2 lbs
- Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil - 3.5 oz
- Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
- Sea Clay - 1 oz
- Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment - 1 oz
EQUIPMENT:
- 12 Bar Square Silicone Mold - 1 mold
Instructions
You will need:
- 12 Bar Square Silicone Mold
- 24 oz. Coconut Oil (80%)
- 3 oz. Olive Oil (10%)
- 1.5 oz. Argan Oil (5%)
- 1.5 oz. Shea Butter (5%)
- 4.8 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 10.8 oz. Distilled Water
- 2.2 oz. Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil
- 15 oz. Pink Sea Salt, Medium (plus 1-2 ounces for the top)
- 2 tsp. Sea Clay
- 1/2 tsp. Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment
- Titanium Dioxide
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2.2 ounces of Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of sea clay and 1/2 tsp. Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment into 1 tablespoon of distilled water. Disperse 1 teaspoon of titanium dioxide into 1 tablespoon of lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get rid of any clumps. Set colorants aside.
SALT PREP: Measure 15 ounces of medium pink sea salt into a small container. Have a couple extra ounces nearby to sprinkle on top.
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 4.8 ounces of lye to 10.8 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.
2
In a large heat-safe container, combine and melt 24 ounces of coconut oil, 3 ounces of olive oil, 1.5 ounces of argan oil, and 1.5 ounces of shea butter.
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 until thin trace.
4
Whisk in the 2.2 ounces of Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil.
5
Split off 300 mL of soap into a separate container and add all of the dispersed sea clay and pigment mixture. Stir until combined.
6
To the remaining soap, add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide. Stick blend the white soap until it reaches a medium trace. Add the 15 ounces of pink salt and stir.
7
Pour the green soap into the container of white soap in different areas and various heights. Use a spatula to stir and swirl the soap 1-3 times - be careful to not over-mix or the colors will muddle.
8
Pour the soap into each cavity. If you find the salt is falling to the bottom, use a spoon to add some to each bar. Sprinkle pink sea salt on top.
9
Once you’re happy with the look, spritz the top with alcohol to prevent soda ash. Allow it to stay in the mold for at least 1 day - the soap helps this batch harden quickly. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks before using. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Sea Salt Swirl Soap Project
- LEVEL Advanced
- TIME 2 hours
- YIELD About 3 pounds of soap
Project Description
Making cold process soap with salt is a fun and interesting process, but it does require a little know-how. Salt inhibits bubbles and creates a creamy, dense lather. To balance this, you can increase the amount of coconut oil in your recipe - some soapers even go up to 100%! We used 80% in this recipe, along with argan oil, olive oil, and shea butter to keep skin moisturized.
To complement the white and blue swirl, the bars are scented with Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil. In addition to pink salt inside the bars, we added some on top for decoration and light exfoliation. Do not use any grain of Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt in cold process soap - they will completely kill lather and may cause weeping.
You will need:
- 12 Bar Square Silicone Mold
- 24 oz. Coconut Oil (80%)
- 3 oz. Olive Oil (10%)
- 1.5 oz. Argan Oil (5%)
- 1.5 oz. Shea Butter (5%)
- 4.8 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 10.8 oz. Distilled Water
- 2.2 oz. Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil
- 15 oz. Pink Sea Salt, Medium (plus 1-2 ounces for the top)
- 2 tsp. Sea Clay
- 1/2 tsp. Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment
- Titanium Dioxide
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 2.2 ounces of Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil into a small glass container and set aside.
COLORANT PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of sea clay and 1/2 tsp. Hydrated Chrome Green Pigment into 1 tablespoon of distilled water. Disperse 1 teaspoon of titanium dioxide into 1 tablespoon of lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get rid of any clumps. Set colorants aside.
SALT PREP: Measure 15 ounces of medium pink sea salt into a small container. Have a couple extra ounces nearby to sprinkle on top.
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 4.8 ounces of lye to 10.8 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.
2
In a large heat-safe container, combine and melt 24 ounces of coconut oil, 3 ounces of olive oil, 1.5 ounces of argan oil, and 1.5 ounces of shea butter.
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 until thin trace.
4
Whisk in the 2.2 ounces of Midnight Waters Fragrance Oil.
5
Split off 300 mL of soap into a separate container and add all of the dispersed sea clay and pigment mixture. Stir until combined.
6
To the remaining soap, add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide. Stick blend the white soap until it reaches a medium trace. Add the 15 ounces of pink salt and stir.
7
Pour the green soap into the container of white soap in different areas and various heights. Use a spatula to stir and swirl the soap 1-3 times - be careful to not over-mix or the colors will muddle.
8
Pour the soap into each cavity. If you find the salt is falling to the bottom, use a spoon to add some to each bar. Sprinkle pink sea salt on top.
9
Once you’re happy with the look, spritz the top with alcohol to prevent soda ash. Allow it to stay in the mold for at least 1 day - the soap helps this batch harden quickly. Allow the bars to cure for 4-6 weeks before using. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman