"Sunshine Citrus & Poppy Seed"
Recipe Instructions
This recipe aims for a bright, refreshing, and gently exfoliating bar of soap that's both invigorating and nourishing for the skin.
TWEAK IT TO FIT YOUR PREFERENCE.
Ingredients
Oils:
- Olive Oil: 37% (Excellent conditioning and mildness)
- Coconut Oil: 30% (Provides hardness and a bubbly lather)
- Sweet Almond Oil: 20% (Lightweight, moisturizing, and conditioning)
- Castor Oil: 5% (Boosts lather and conditioning)
- Shea Butter: 8% (Adds luxurious conditioning and hardness)
Lye Solution:
- Distilled Water: Calculated according to a reliable lye calculator (e.g., SoapCalc.net) using a 5-6% superfat.
- Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Calculated using a reliable lye calculator to ensure proper saponification.
Signature Additives (added at trace):
- Lemon Essential Oil: 1.5% of total oil weight (Top note, bright and uplifting)
- Orange (10x) Essential Oil: 1% of total oil weight (Middle note, sweet and uplifting)
- Grapefruit Essential Oil: 0.5% of total oil weight (Top note, adds a zesty dimension)
- Poppy Seeds: 1-2 tablespoons per pound of oils (Provides gentle exfoliation)
- Turmeric Powder: 1/2-1 teaspoon per pound of oils (Adds a subtle warm yellow color)
Instructions
- Safety First: Wear appropriate safety gear (gloves, eye protection) when handling lye.
- Prepare Lye Solution: Carefully and slowly add the lye to the distilled water, stirring until fully dissolved. Always add lye to water, not the other way around. Allow the lye solution to cool to 100-110°F (38-43°C).
- Melt Oils: Gently melt the solid oils (coconut oil, shea butter) and combine with the liquid oils (olive oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil). Heat the oil mixture to the same temperature range as the lye solution (100-110°F or 38-43°C).
- Combine Lye Solution and Oils: Slowly pour the cooled lye solution into the melted oil mixture while blending with a stick blender.
- Trace: Continue blending until the mixture reaches "trace" – when it thickens and leaves a visible trail on the surface when you lift the blender.
- Add Signature Elements: At trace, stir in the essential oils, poppy seeds, and turmeric powder.
Pour and Mold: Pour the soap batter into your chosen molds.
Insulate and Cure: Cover the molds with a towel or plastic wrap and insulate them for 1-2 days to encourage the gel phase.
Unmold and Cure: Unmold the soap bars and place them on a curing rack, allowing air circulation on all sides.
Curing Time: Cure the soap for 4-6 weeks to allow it to harden, mellow, and for the saponification process to fully complete.
Notes:
- Superfat: The superfat percentage leaves a small amount of oil unsaponified in the finished soap, adding moisturizing properties.
- Essential Oil Blending: The recommended essential oil usage rate is up to 3% of your total oil weight. The essential oil blend in this recipe is structured with a higher percentage of top notes (lemon, grapefruit) for a bright initial scent, balanced by a smaller amount of a middle note (orange) for depth. Always research essential oils for skin safety before use.
- Lye Calculator: Using a reliable lye calculator like SoapCalc.net is essential for accurate lye measurements, which are crucial for safe and effective cold process soap making.
This "Sunshine Citrus & Poppy Seed" soap recipe offers a unique combination of oils for skin-loving benefits and a refreshing aroma profile. Enjoy the process of creating your very own signature soap!
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Soap Properties
Highlighted gray ranges represent recommended ranges for each property.
100
80
60
40
20
0
INS: 157.33 (ideal)
iodine: 59.52 (ideal)
Calculated Values for Oils and Preferences
| Superfat % | 5% |
| Saturated | 36.63 Ounce(s) |
| Mono-Unsaturated | 48.07 Ounce(s) |
| Poly-Unsaturated | 9.21 Ounce(s) |
| Saturated:Unsaturated Ratio | 61:39 |
| Lye concentration | 100% |
| Weight Unit | Ounce(s) |
| Soap type | solid |
Fatty Acid Profile
| Oleic | 43.57% |
| Linoleic | 8.81% |
| Linolenic | 0.40% |
| Ricinoleic | 4.50% |
| Lauric | 16.45% |
| Myristic | 6.54% |
| Palmitic | 7.81% |
| Stearic | 5.83% |
Recommended Additive Amounts
Swipe on table to see all values
For Advanced Soapmakers
| Sodium Lactate (60%)
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| Recommended Essential/Fragrance Oil | 4.38 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Ascorbic Acid
| 1 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Ascorbic Acid for A.A. | NaOH: 0.20 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Lactic Acid
| 0.75 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Extra Lye to Neutralize Lactic Acid for L.A. | NaOH: 0.44 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Tetrasodium EDTA
| 0.71 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Sodium Citrate
| 1.30 - 3.90 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Potassium Citrate
| 1.60 - 4.80 Ounce(s) | ||||||
| Rosemary Oleoresin (ROE)
| 0.04 - 0.05 Ounce(s) | ||||||
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Citric Acid Powder (anhydrous) |
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Extra Lye to Neutralize Citric Acid Powder for C.A. |
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