Vanilla Bean with Cocoa Swirl CP Soap Recipe

About This Recipe:

Vanilla and cocoa are the superstars in this recipe. Vanilla Bean Noel is one of our absolute favorite fragrance oils and it is so easy to blend with other fragrances. In this recipe we will use cocoa powder and Vanilla Bean Noel Fragrance Oil to make yummy swirls of creamy browns using white pigment powder for a nice contrast. If you have never used this fragrance oil you are truly missing out! Enjoy!

Shopping List:

(1) Distilled Water

(1) 2 lb Sodium Hydroxide Flakes

(1) 1 lb Palm Oil

(1) 1 lb Coconut Oil - 76º Melt

(1) 1 lb Olive Oil - Refined A

(1) 2 fl. oz Vanilla Bean Noel* Fragrance Oil 113

(1) 2 oz Cocoa Powder

(1) 2.5 gm Bag Titanium Dioxide Pigment Powder - For Oil

(1) 1 Mold Regular Loaf Silicone Mold 1501

Recipe Ingredients:

• 9.32 oz. Distilled Water
• 4.66 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Flakes
• 13.0 oz. Palm Oil
• 10.0 oz. Coconut Oil - 76º Melt
• 9.0 oz. Olive Oil - Refined A
• 2.0 oz. Vanilla Bean Noel* Fragrance Oil 113
• 1 Tablespoon(s) Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tablespoon(s) Titanium Dioxide Pigment Powder - For Oil

Equipment From Home:

• (1) Safety Equipment (goggles,mask,gloves)
• (1) Polypropylene Pitcher
• (1) Polypropylene Container for lye
• (1) Scale - Digital Display
• (1) Spatulas
• (1) Microwave
• (1) Microwave-Safe Measuring Cup (64 oz.)
• (1) Double Boiler (optional)
• (1) Stove Top (optional)
• (2) Plastic Containers or Funnel Pitcher
• (1) Thermometer - Digital
• (1) Stick Blender
• (1) Skewer

Directions:

NOTE: This project and these instructions have been written for someone who has experience making soap and knows the potential dangers due to working with sodium hydroxide. It will not outline all safety methods of working with dangerous chemicals, it is simply a soap recipe for advanced soapmakers.

1. Prepare the lye solution by weighing the water and lye in two separate polypropylene containers. Pour the lye into the water, carefully mix in a well-ventilated area and set aside to cool while you prepare your oils. 
2. Melt the Coconut Oil and Palm Oil in double boiler or microwave until melted.
3. Add Olive Oil and stir and then set aside.
4. While lye water is cooling prepare your colors.
5. In first funnel pitcher or plastic container, add Cocoa Powder with a few drops of distilled water and stir then set aside. The water helps break down clumps of the cocoa powder when mixing with the soap batter.
6. In the second plastic container, add Titanium Dioxide - For Oil with a few drops of the melted oils to break up the color and then set aside.
7. When lye water and oils have cooled to under 120°F,  pour lye into liquid oils and hand stir. Then using the stick blender mix in short bursts until batter has reached a light trace.
8. To the container with the Titanium Dioxide, add 8 oz. of the soap batter.
9. Divide the remaining soap batter between the container with cocoa powder and the uncolored main batter.  
10. Mix the colored soap batters until completely mixed.
11. Add 1 oz. of fragrance oil to the pitcher with cocoa powder and 1 oz. of fragrance to the uncolored batter and stir well. Mix with stick blender for a few bursts to make sure the scent is incorporated. 
12. With the mold on a flat surface, pour the cocoa powder batter filling the mold to about half of an inch high.
13. Pour about the same amount of the uncolored soap batter slowly down the middle of the loaf mold.
14. Hold the white colored soap batter over the mold and drizzle two lines up and down the mold. 
15. Gently pouring, repeat the layers once more over the mold and leave just enough batter to pour one line of each color on top.
16. Take a skewer, and starting on the end, stick it just through the top layer and make circular motions all along the top.
17. Let sit for 24-48 hours before unmolding.
18. Remove soap from mold and slice into bars. If you have trouble unmolding you may place the loaf in the freezer for 45 minutes. Let cure 4-6 weeks. 
19. Wrap as desired and label accordingly.

To Use: Lather onto wet skin and rinse with warm water.  Avoid contact with eyes.