I have been wanting to do some swirling for some time and had a little try with it when making my last batch which was made with goat's milk. Annabel from The Bluebirds are Nesting sent me some pigment that she used to make her pink soap. It came complete with warnings about not to use too much so I was very wary about turning my whole soap batch red instead of pink.
So I put the tip of a wooden skewer into the powder and then added some of the oils I had already weighed out and started stirring and as I stirred it got redder and redder and redder. It was quite and interesting process and took a while but I thought I had better not go overboard and add too much so left it at that so that I could see how it behaved when added to rest of the oils.
450 mls rain or filtered water (weighed)
172g caustic soda
250g coconut oil (copha can be used)
1000g olive oil
I added the cold water and caustic soda mixture to the cold coconut oil and olive oil and then mixed it together by stirring with a spoon at first and then with the stick blender. I didn't want it to get to trace as I wanted to add colours. Then I divided the mixture into three and added one third to a jug and then the other third to another jug before adding ultramarine liquid to the pink jug and the red pigment to the yellow jug. I left the other third uncoloured.
At this stage I remembered that I was supposed to add the fragrance oil and essential oil so tried to divide that evenly between the three and hope it didn't make the mixtures seize. I wanted to finish off the fragrance oil as I find that it is just so expensive to buy oils for scent that it just isn't worth it for me as I don't sell my soaps and the menfolk certainly couldn't care what it smells like.
With my mould ready, I then brought each third to a light trace and started pouring in some of the uncoloured soap, followed by the blue then pink and so on until the mould was full. I used my new loaf mould this time. Using a skewer, I tried to swirl the colours together but the mould isn't all that wide unfortunately so it was a bit difficult. I had seen swirling done with a wire coat hanger but the mould was really too small for that. I then scraped what was left in the containers onto the top and fiddled with a spoon trying to make some kind of design. LOL! This is how it turned out. Not too bad for the first time I guess.
I know I took it out of the mould much too early as it was still fairly soft and I did put it in the freezer for a little while beforehand to help it along but next time I will be more patient. I didn't wrap it up like I normally do either. The pink pigment actually turned out looking more apricot but I don't mind and perhaps when I use it again I will add more. The soap also has quite a few little holes which I presume would be from air bubbles although I did drop the mould onto the bench a number of times to get rid of them. They don't really bother me and I can't see them at all unless I have my glasses on. LOL!
I took a photo of the soaps with my beautiful dishcloths/washcloths done in Tunisian crochet by my Down to Earth Simple Living Forums swap partner. It was her first time doing this crochet and she did an extremely good job don't you think?
These bromeliads are flowering at present and look stunning which is amazing considering they don't get any TLC. Love plants like that. Don't you?
WOW your soaps look awesome! at least you gave it a try, i'm still not done any new types yet but am hoping to do some lavender soap this week using the 'tea' method (hot tea & lye)
ReplyDeletethose bromeliads are also very stunning!
thanx for sharing
DeleteThanks Selina. They are a bit of a work in progress.
Looks lovely Chel! I think that the cooler temperatures in this method mean that the soap reaction takes a bit longer. You just need to leave it longer to set properly. Just like how hot-process soap is ready quicker, because the extra heat will speed up the reaction. Wrapping it up will also help to keep the heat in :) Using tallow makes a hard bar too!
ReplyDeleteYes Liz, I think I will wrap up the next lot and see how that goes. I agree that the tallow makes a harder soap as someone gave me a bar in a swap.
DeleteThose look awesome! Cold process seems like it would be less intimidating maybe!
ReplyDeleteKathy, the room temperature method is quicker than heating up the oils I must say. Give it a try.
DeleteYour soap is very pretty, the swirls just perfect! Just like everything you do. I love when you share these things, especially soap making, as I am not able to do that here.
ReplyDeleteJ, what a shame you can't make soap where you are living. Maybe make some at your daughter's place and teach the boys when they are old enough.
DeleteNice! - looks like opal.
ReplyDeletePhil, opals with holes. Lol!
DeleteThe soap looks very pretty & I love the washcloths. I must try using the cold oils next time I make soap.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you can also just add the lye to the water and then add the hot lye to the oils and it will melt the coconut oil or copha if you use that instead. I had some coconut oil I bought on special and put the bottle out in the sun to melt a few hours before making the soap.
DeleteThanks for the tips.
DeleteWell done on your swirly soap. I have not tried the method of not heating the oils and doubt that I will. I don't like to fix things that aren't broke. I made 3 small batches a couple weeks ago and am waiting patiently for them to cure. Shampoo/body bars are what I am calling them. Figure one of the recipes should work for my hair.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried making bar shampoo yet?
No I haven't tried bar shampoo as yet. There is a recipe I think I pinned a while back which I think was made in the crock pot and now that I have a spare crock pot insert I might give it a try. I just have to find the recipe first. :-)
DeleteIt looks lovely Chel. I tried your method of not heating the oils (I was using beef tallow, oil and copha) but the tallow wouldn't melt fast enough and I ended up melting the copha in a separate pot, so I will return to the old method of melting the fats and adding to the lye mixture when the temps come down a bit. I LOVE our home made soaps and thanks to you and DTE, what I have learned I'm now passing on to friends who want to learn. I agree that the good fragrances are just too expensive but have had success with lavender oil and eucalyptus oil from the supermarket for when I have to use fragrance in my tallow soaps. We stopped buying shampoo at the same time as we started using the home made soaps, it works beautifully on our hair and we alternate shampoos with bi-carb. Even my hairdresser (every 3mths for a cut) has had to agree that the soaps are doing my hair more good than harm. Haha she never manages to sell any "products" to this customer. lol
ReplyDeleteSally, if I was using copha I would use the hot lye to melt it. Firstly I chop it up and add it to my olive oil then add the lye to the water and seeing as it is hot it melts the copha when you add it straight away. I was able to use a cold lye mixture to add to the cold oils as I had melted the coconut oil in the sun aheadmof time. I have used up the coconut oil I bought on special so will now go back to using copha as it is cheaper. You are fortunate that you have tallow to use. I could buy some from the butcher if I was motivated enough. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love the marbled effect! It reminds me of a Rainbow paddlepop! Which I also love!
ReplyDeleteOne batch of my soap the colour faded, three batches. The colour held. Interesting! I really think this is so pretty! Something to try next soap making session! With love Annabel.xxx