This is a moisturising soap recipe which lathers well due to the Castor Oil content, and the Palm Kernel Oil makes a silky smooth bar of soap. We added French Kaolin Clay which adds some "slip" and creates a fairly white bar, (you can also use Bentonite Clay which creates a more earthy coloured soap). The clay allows the razor to glide over the skin. We suggest you use the amount of water specified because clays absorb moisture and the Bentonite Clay in particular is a smectite or swelling clay, which means that it will absorb quite a bit of water from the recipe.
This soap was made in our Flexible Mould - Loaf (Regular), though it can also be poured into two Silicone Column Moulds to make round logs of soap which can be sliced and then popped into a tin or clay pot. Alternatively, you can actually pour the traced soap directly into shaving mugs or tins which are lovely for market stalls and gifts.
Ingredients:
- 150g Castor Oil
- 500g Olive Oil
- 450g Palm Kernel Oil
- 400g Palm Oil, Sustainable
- 208g Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
- 500g Distilled Water
- 2 Tablespoons Bentonite Clay or French Kaolin Clay
- 40g Sodium Lactate Plus
- 10g/ml (2 teaspoons) Essential Oils (or we suggest Tangerine and/or Lavender essential oil blend) - this is very lightly scented as the skin can be quite sensitive when shaving
- Flexible Mould - Loaf (Regular)
Equipment:
All your regular Cold Process Soap making equipment and Safety Gear including Goggles and Gloves
3L Jug or Stock Pot
Beaker or Cup to mix and hydrate the clay
Small beaker to hold the Fragrance - helpful, not essential
Isopropyl Alcohol and Spritzer Bottle – optional – to prevent soda ash if you decide on a textured top
How to make it happen:
If you are a beginner, we recommend you make a few batches before attempting this soap. For how to make soap from Scratch, please see our Cold Process Soapmaking Instructions. You can also watch Soap Queen's You Tube Series on Cold Process Soapmaking.
- Prepare ingredients as usual.
- Mix the Sodium Lactate Plus and the clay in a jug ensuring there are no lumps in the paste.
- Use the stick blender to emulsify lye water and oils until you reach light trace.
- Then remove 2 cups of thinly traced soap and add to the clay mixture and mix well until smooth.
- Pour this mixture back into the main batch and stir to combine.
- Add the Essential Oils if using.
- Pour into the mould/s, cover and insulate to gel.
- After 24 hours, remove from the mould and slice.
- Allow four - six weeks to cure and dry fully.
| Difficulty: | Beginner |
| Yields: | 2 kg |
| Time: | 1 hour |
