Cranberry Fig Cold Process Soap Tutorial

This is a simple "In the Pot" swirled Cold Process Soap scented with Bramble Berry Cranberry Fig, which performs amazingly in Cold Process Soap.  This soap was made during a demo session with our Elves for staff training, so please excuse the brief graphics!   This soap uses our Pre-Mixed Oils Pouch for a quick and easy start!  We used the whole pouch for this batch which makes over 2kg of soap, so you can pour a whole loaf plus more individual bars with the left over soap (I made 8 bars). This pouch of Pre-Mixed oils, with added Cocoa Butter, is the refill pack we supply with two of our Cold Process Soap Kits.   

These are the moulds I used in this project

The current stock of our Australian Olive Oil is very dark green, so may affect the finished colour of the soap and may change depending on colour used. I used some Titanium DIoxide to lighten the base colour of the oils in this project.

With this batch I made a whole loaf and then poured 8 more individual bars. The Medium Silicone Loaf Mould accounts for most of the soap, and then I combined the leftover soap in one jug and poured into individual decorative soap moulds for gifting.

What you need:

• 1 x Pre-Mixed Oils Refill Pouch
• 45ml Cranberry Fig Fragrance 
• 25g (1 tablespoon) Sodium Lactate
• Titanium Dioxide Liquid
• Royal Purple Liquid Pigment Dispersion Colourant
• Carmine Red Liquid Pigment Dispersion Colourant
• Brites for CP Pink (if you don't use this you will need to increase the Carmine and the colour will be less vibrant)

• 480g Distilled Water
• 208g Sodium Hydroxide/Lye
  
• Medium Silicone Loaf Mould

Equipment:
All your usual Cold Process Soap making equipment including safety gear
Mini mixer is handy for the colours, but you can make do without
Large bowl or jug – to hold 3 litres+
2 x large jugs – needs to hold 1.5 litres
2 x 250ml jugs or cups (I forgot my small jugs, and don't usually use glass bakers for Cold Process Soapmaking)
Large spoon or spatula
Medium Flexible Silicone Soap Mould 
Spare single cavity soap moulds for the balance of the soap after pouring the loaf

Method:

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.

Gentlly warm the pouch of oils to ensure they are all completely liquid and mixed well.
Empty the pouch of oils into a large jug or bowl.
Add the Soium Lactate to the lye water and then pour into the oils.

Bring to light trace using the stick blender.

Remove approximately two measures each of one cup of the thinly traced soap.
(Please note:  I usually use plastic for these cups, but they were left back in the soap room - glass beakers are NOT ideal!)

Add approximately a teaspoon of Liquid Titanium Dioxide to the main batch, a quick blast to disperse is all that is needed - keep it at light trace.
Now add the full amount of Cranberry Fig fragrance to the main bowl and mix in by hand thoroughly to keep the trace light.
Now add Royal Purple colour to one of the smaller portions and blast once to combine - you want a rich purple tone and light trace.
Now add equal portions of the Carmine and Brites for CP Pink to the other one ciup measure. Again a quick mix will disperse the colour, make it a nice dark tone.

If the surface of the swirl is a little plain, take a spoon or chopstick and rearrange the coilour. 
Note if you wanted a textured top you need to leave the soap for 15 minutes or so to enable the formation of the peaks.
I added a little Rainbow Glitter - this is optional

Scrape out all the spare soap into the main pot and then pour or spoon the leftover soap into the extra mould you have ready.
Note:  If the trace is now heavy, it is best to put the light weight silicone mould on a tray before pouring so that you can tap the mould down and remove any air pockets. 
Cover and Insulate both the moulds to encourage an even gel.  A cardboard sheet bent into an A shape protects the top of the loaf from being flattened by the insulation.
In a couple of days, the soap should be hard enough to unmould – it if it is still too soft leave it for several more days
Once unmoulded, slice to your preferred thickness and then cure for 6 weeks until ready to use 
 

Note:  If using the Add to Trolley, the Sodium Hydroxide, second mould and glitter are not included.  You also need to Distilled Water from the supermarket.