Botanical Cold Process Soap Favors Recipe

About This Recipe:

These elegant soap favors are the perfect touch for a wedding or bridal shower! The blend of floral and green citrus from the lemongrass and lavender essential oils is complemented with Chamomile, Calendula Flowers, Lavender, Rose Petals, Hibiscus and Orange Peel sprinkled on top. They could easily be packaged with a simple cigar band or dressed up in a drawstring bag!

Shopping List:

(1) Distilled Water

(1) 2 lb Sodium Hydroxide Flakes

(2) 1 lb Coconut Oil - 76º Melt

(1) 1 lb Palm Oil

(1) 1 lb Safflower Oil

(2) 1 lb Olive Oil - Pomace

(1) 1 lb Shea Butter - Ultra Refined

(1) 1 lb Castor Oil

(1) 2 fl. oz Lavender 40/42 EO - Certified 100% Pure 139

(1) 2 fl. oz Lemongrass EO - Certified 100% Pure 138

(1) 2 oz Pampering Bath Tea Blend

(1) 1 Set SET: Long Loaf Wood Mold & Silicone Mold Insert

(1) 1 Piece Beaker - Natural Polypropylene

Recipe Ingredients:

• 29.64 oz. Distilled Water
• 11.16 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Flakes
• 23.50 oz. Coconut Oil - 76º Melt
• 15.50 oz. Palm Oil
• 15.50 oz. Safflower Oil
• 18.50 oz. Olive Oil - Pomace
• 2.50 oz. Shea Butter - Ultra Refined
• 2.50 oz. Castor Oil
• 1.60 oz. Lavender 40/42 EO - Certified 100% Pure 139
• 0.80 oz. Lemongrass EO - Certified 100% Pure 138
• 2 oz. Pampering Bath Tea Blend

Equipment From Home:

• (1) Safety Equipment (goggles,mask,gloves)
• (1) Polypropylene Pitcher
• (1) Polypropylene Container for lye
• (1) Scale - Digital Display
• (1) Spatulas
• (1) Empty gallon bucket
• (1) Microwave-Safe Measuring Cup (64 oz.)
• (1) Thermometer - Digital
• (1) Stick Blender
• (1) Towels for insulating

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 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. In a gallon bucket measure the liquid oils (Safflower Oil, Olive Oil and Castor Oil) and set aside.
3. Measure the hard oils and butters (Coconut Oil, Palm Oil and Shea Butter) in microwave-safe container and melt in the microwave. When melted, add the melted butters to the bucket of liquid oils and stir to combine.
4. In plastic beaker measure out the essential oils and set aside. 
5. When both the lye mixture and the oils are 100° F or below, pour the lye mixture into the oils. 
6. Stick blend until you reach a light trace. Add the essential oils and mix by hand or with a few short bursts of the stick blender.
7. Pour the soap batter into the mold and tap the mold on the counter to release any air bubbles. The recipe makes slightly more than the mold will hold. We had approximately 8 oz. of extra batter and poured two bars for the bride & groom. If you prefer, you can pour at a thicker trace and make a larger, heavily textured top using the extra batter. 
8. Sprinkle bath tea in 2 lines down the entire loaf. (The loaf will be split in half length-wise to make our guest-size slices.)
9. Insulate loaf and allow to set at least 24 hours or longer until soap is firm enough to unmold. Remove soap from mold and slice into bars. Start by slicing the loaf into (20) 1” slices, then cut in half again to make each slice into two tall and skinny guest-size bars. You should end with a total of 40 guest-size soaps.
10. Let soap slices cure 4-6 weeks. Package and label accordingly.

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