Making Soap

For once I documented  the process of a creative project, and now I can't find the pictures anywhere!  You'll have to take my word for it, I did make soap.

Someday I'd like to learn how to make soap from scratch, but for now I'm happy making fancy soap from soap blocks.  It's really fast and easy.  It's definitely a kid-friendly project.

This recipe comes from Darling Clementine, along with all the pictures. 

Citrus Peel Soap

Ingredients:

• 1 lb block soap (olive oil, glycerin, goat's milk are all good choices; available at craft stores)
• Molds--mini loaf pans, muffin tins or special soap molds are good choices (I used my heart-shaped measuring cups.  Those IKEA ice cube trays would make really cute little soaps).
• Turmeric powder
• Lemon and orange essential oils
• Fresh lemon and orange
• Pretty paper and ribbon for wrapping

Instructions:

1. Cut a block of soap into approximately 4" x 2" chunks and place in a microwave safe pitcher or bowl. Warm for 30 seconds to one minute, taking care to catch it before it foams over.
2. Remove from microwave and add 1/8th teaspoon turmeric powder. Stir with a spoon until dissolved.
3. Add 2-4 drops of orange essential oil until you are satisfied with the smell (I had to use more for it to really smell)
4. Grate 1 tsp of orange zest into the mixture and stir until combined. 
5. Pour into selected mold. Let set for 45 minutes (or until the soap sets) and freeze for 10 minutes more before demolding (the freezing is so the soap shrinks and you can coax it out of the mold easier).
6. Repeat with process for another bar of soap with more or less color. Use just a tiny speck of powder for lemon soap and substitute lemon zest and essential oil for orange. Make as many bars as you like.
   

I got my soap block from Go Planet Earth.  They have a good selection and the price was competitive.  I would use them again.  I got their organic soap base, and their goats milk soap base.  The organic soap looked like the one in the picture, and the goats milk turned out nice and creamy looking.

Another great place to go is Soap by the Loaf.  This is where to go if you are going to make lots and lots.  The minimum order is three loaves, with each loaf being about three pounds each.  If you're going to be making your soap from now on to avoid nasty chemicals, this is probably the way to go.