Cherry Blossom and Clay Cocoa Butter Melt & Pour Soap Recipe

This geometric design soap has a fine Cherry Scrub Granule diamond embedded in the centre to ensure gentle, light exfoliation.  It is coloured with natural Dusky Rose Mediterranean Clay and is scented with Cherry Blossom Fragrance.

This soap project is comprised of six pours – to ensure perfect colouring and thickness melt the two identical layers and then reheat and need digital scales.

Ingredients:

• 240g Clear Natural Melt and Pour Soap Base
• 960g Cocoa Butter Natural Melt and Pour Soap Base
•   10g Dusky Rose Mediterranean Clay
• 1 – 1½ teaspoons Cherry Scrub Granules
• 25g/ml Sodium Lactate Plus  (Approx 1½ tablespoons)
• 30g/ml Cherry Blossom Fragrance Oil
  
  
• Isopropyl Alcohol and Spritz Bottle
• Silicone Tall Loaf Mould 
• Silicone Embed Mould - Square*
  *We no longer stock this mould but the embed can be made using the base of the loaf mould poured 2cm deep and cutting a square strip from one side. :)

Equipment:

• 2 x 1 litre microwave safe jugs
• 1 x 500ml microwave jug
• Covering for the jugs betwen pours
• Spatula, spoon, stirring sticks
• 1 x small measure/cup to hydrate the clay
• Digital Scales
• Thermometer – really helpful, though optional
• Disposable Pipettes or a dropper
• 2 x Metal Skewers ** If using, these are not required if using soap props
  

The soap loaf is comprised of 5 layers with one embed = 1300g soap in total
  layers 2 and 4  are poured from the same “batch” of melted soap
and layers 1 and 5 from same “batch” of melted soap

Overview:

First Pour = Thin base layer:  Contains 120g Clear Melt and Pour Soap with 8g/ml Fragrance with Dusky Rose Clay  (this is half of the prepared melted soap)
Second Pour = Thicker opaque layer:  Contains 220g Cocoa Butter Soap with 12g/ml Fragrance with Dusky Rose Clay (this is half of the prepared melted soap)
Third Pour = Uncoloured middle layer:  Contains 400g uncoloured Cocoa Butter Soap with 12g/ml Fragrance.  Place the square embed with the Cherry Scrub Granules on the diagonal - I used 2 props of soap (use all of the melted soap)
Fourth Pour = Thicker opaque layer:  Contains 220g Cocoa Butter Soap (this is the remaininghalf of the prepared soap from the second pour re-melted)
Final Pour = Thin top layer:  This is the same as the first layer – contains 120g Clear Melt and Pour Soap (this is the remaininghalf of the prepared soap from the first pour re-melted)

Prepare all the ingredients:

Dice all of the soap and then:

Embed Pour:  120g Cocoa Butter Base with Cherry Scrub Granules in it

Main Loaf Jug 1 - 240g Clear Soap Base with 8g/ml Fragrance (for two pours) has 2 teaspoons clay mixture
Main Loaf Jug 2 - 440g Cocoa Butter Soap Base with 12g/ml Fragrance (for two pours) has the rest of the clay mixture
Main Loaf Jug 3 - 400g Cocoa Butter Soap Base with 12g/ml Fragrance (for one pour) is uncoloured

Small beaker:  Mix the Dusky Rose Clay with 4 teaspoons Sodium Lactate Plus – make sure there are no dry spots

Prepare the embed:

• Make the embed column - melt 120g Cocoa Butter Soap Base in a small jug, add 8g Cherry Blossom fragrance and the Cherry Scrub Granules.
• Stand the embed mould into a jug to support it, and then pour the soap into the mould.
• Allow to set up.

STEP ONE

• Place Jug 1 (240g Clear Soap Base) in the microwave, heat for short bursts (I like to cover the jug with a piece of card to avoid evaporation).  Check frequently and stir.  Return to microwave until liquid ay - this is half of the prepared melted soap).
• Add the 2 - 3 teaspoons of the clay mixture and stir well to combine – spritz with alcohol to avoid any bubbles or spots.
• Add 8g/ml Cherry Blossom Fragrance and stir well to combine.
• Place the mould onto the scales and tare the weight to “zero”.
• Pour 120g of this soap into the mould, spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol (this is half of the prepared melted soap).
• Cover the jug with a cover and place in a warm spot until required for the final pour.

STEP TWO

• Place Jug 2 (440g Cocoa Butter Soap Base) in the microwave, heat for short bursts (cover the jug with a piece of card to avoid evaporation).  Check frequently and stir.  Return to microwave until liquid.
• Add 12g/ml Cherry Blossom Fragrance and the rest of the clay mixture and stir well to combine.
• Return to the set up soap in the mould on the scales, and tare the weight to “zero” again.
• Spray the surface of the set soap liberally with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Pour 220g of this soap into the mould, spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol (this is half of the prepared melted soap).
• Cover the jug with a cover and place in a warm spot until required for the fourth pour.

STEP THREE

• Prepare the embed soap column ready to embed.  If using "soap props" cut these and place them onto the second set, layer of soap. If using skewers place these in the soap.  Sit the soap column on the diagonal into the mould.
• Place Jug 3 (440g Cocoa Butter Soap Base) in the microwave, heat for short bursts (cover the jug with a piece of card to avoid evaporation).  Check frequently and stir.  Return to microwave until liquid.
• Add 12g/ml Cherry Blossom Fragrance and stir well to combine.
• Return to the set up soap in the mould on the scales, and tare the weight to “zero” again.
• Spray the surface of the set soap and the embed column liberally with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Pour all 400g of this soap into the mould, spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Allow to set up.

STEP FOUR

• Place Jug 2 (with the remainder of the pastel coloured soap) into the microwave and re-heat for short bursts (cover the jug with a piece of card to avoid evaporation).  Check frequently and stir.  Return to microwave until liquid.  Don’t overheat or you’ll need to wait for it to cool again before pouring.
• Return to the set up soap in the mould on the scales, and tare the weight to “zero” again.
• Spray the surface of the set soap liberally with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Pour the rest of this soap (220g) into the mould, spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol.

STEP FIVE

• It's time for the final pour!  Jug 1 will have fully set up by now, so re-melt in short bursts in the microwave.  Check frequently and stir.  Return to microwave until liquid – don’t overheat or you’ll need to wait for it to cool again before pouring.
• Return to the set up soap in the mould on the scales, and tare the weight to “zero” again.
• Spray the surface of the set soap liberally with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Pour this final layer of dark pink soap into the mould, spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol.
• Allow to set up for several hours.  If leaving overnight cover the mould to avoid any sweat forming on the top.
• Slice as usual.