Cuban Inspired Cold Process Soap Recipe

About This Recipe:

We used the hanger swirl technique to make this Cuban-inspired soap. The bright colored layers remind us of the sorbet pink, sand yellow and ocean blue houses and old-time cars found in Havana. The soap is scented with Cuban inspired fragrance, Crafter’s Choice® Cuban Cocktail*. The blend of spicy heat and tropical fruity notes will leave you yearning for a vacation to the once forbidden island. 
*The Cuban Cocktail Fragrance Oil has been discontinued. If making this soap, we recommend using a fragrance that has been tested to perform well in CP. 

Shopping List:

(1) Distilled Water

(1) 2 lb Sodium Hydroxide Flakes

(1) 1 lb Olive Oil - Refined A

(1) 1 lb Coconut Oil - 76º Melt

(1) 1 lb Palm Oil

(1) 1 lb Sunflower Oil - Refined

(1) 2 oz Mango Butter - Refined

(1) 2 fl. oz Cuban Cocktail Fragrance Oil (Special Order)

(1) 2 oz Vanilla Color Stabilizer - CP Soap

(1) 2 oz Sodium Lactate 60%

(1) 1 Each Hairnets - 24 inch Disposable

(1) 2.5 gm Bag Neon Nuclear Orange Powder

(1) 2.5 gm Bag Neon Blue Disco Pants Powder

(1) 2.5 gm Bag Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder

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

(1) 1 Mold Regular Loaf Silicone Mold 1501

(4) 1 Piece Beaker - Natural Polypropylene

Recipe Ingredients:

• 10.64 oz. Distilled Water
• 3.95 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Flakes
• 14.0 oz. Olive Oil - Refined A
• 5.6 oz. Coconut Oil - 76º Melt
• 4.20 oz. Palm Oil
• 2.80 oz. Sunflower Oil - Refined
• 1.40 oz. Mango Butter - Refined
• 1.75 oz. Cuban Cocktail Fragrance Oil (Special Order)
• 0.85 oz. Vanilla Color Stabilizer - CP Soap
• 0.50 oz. Sodium Lactate 60%
• 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Hairnets - 24 inch Disposable
• 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Neon Nuclear Orange Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Neon Blue Disco Pants Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon(s) Neon Hot Pink Kisses Powder
• 1 Teaspoon(s) Titanium Dioxide Pigment Powder - For Oil

Equipment From Home:

• (1) Wire Hanger or Hanger Tool
• (1) Polypropylene Pitcher
• (1) Polypropylene Container for lye
• (1) Scale - Digital Display
• (1) Microwave-Safe Measuring Cup (64 oz.)
• (1) Microwave
• (3) Funnel Pitchers or Plastic Containers
• (1) Thermometer - Digital
• (1) Spatulas
• (1) Stick Blender
• (1) Chopstick or Skewer
• (1) Towels for insulating (optional)
• (1) Safety Equipment (goggles,mask,gloves)
• (1) Measuring Spoons
• (1) Ruler
• (1) Wire Cutters and Pliers

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. If you do not have a hanger tool you can make one using a wire hanger. Using wire cutters, trim the top of the hanger off. Measure the length of the inside of the longest side of your soap mold and using pliers bend the wire at two right angles so that it will fit in the soap mold. After you have bent the hanger make sure the tool fits snugly into the soap mold but not too tight that you will not be able to move it up and down. Using the pliers make any needed adjustments to the tool. 
2. Prepare the lye solution by weighing the water and lye in two separate containers. Pour the lye into the water, carefully mix in a well-ventilated area and set aside to cool while you prepare your oils.
3. Measure the oils and butters in a microwave-safe measuring cup and melt in the microwave. Set aside.
4. In three separate plastic beakers weigh the fragrance oil, the vanilla color stabilizer and sodium lactate and set aside. 
5. To prepare your colors add one neon color to each funnel pitcher, add the white to a plastic beaker. Add a small amount of melted oils/butters to each and mix each well. 
6. When your lye water has cooled to 120° F or cooler add the sodium lactate and mix in. 
7. Right before mixing your lye mixture and oils, combine the fragrance and vanilla color stabilizer. Blend well and allow to sit at least 2 minutes but no longer than 15 minutes total. When both the lye mixture and the oils are approximately 100° F or below, pour the lye mixture into the melted oils. 
8. Stick blend until emulsified. It is best to keep the batter at a very thin trace to start. Then add the fragrance/stabilizer mixture and blend in by hand or with a few short bursts of the stick blender. 
9. Using the scale, fill each funnel pitcher with approximately 11 oz. of soap batter. Add the white pigment mixture to the remaining soap batter. Blend each color moving from lightest to darkest until the colors are fully mixed in. 
10. You can layer the colors in any order you would like pouring thin layers of white in between the middle layers. It is best to bring the first color to a medium to thick trace so that the next color will not break through the layer. Reserve a very small amount of your first two neon colors to create a swirl on the top. 
11. After all layers have been poured, insert the wire hanger tool down the side of the loaf mold. While the tool is pressed against the bottom of the mold, move it fractionally towards the other side of the mold and then pull it straight to the top of the soap. We did not pull the tool completely out of the soap but made sure it remained covered by a thin layer. Continue this same motion until you reach the other side of the mold, then pull the tool straight out along the side of the mold. 
12. Sprinkle lines of the remaining soap batter on the top of the soap. Insert the tip of the skewer into the top and swirl the colors.
13. If preferred, insulate the mold and then allow to set at least 24 hours or longer until soap is firm enough to unmold and slice. Remove soap from mold and slice into bars.
14. Let soap cure 4-6 weeks. Package and label accordingly.

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