Lemongrass & Exotic Lime Cold Process Soap Recipe

This is an ITP swirl using Chrome Green Oxide blended with Brites for CP Yellow and poured into the super-easy to use-and-unmould Silicone Column Mould.

What is ITP? This is a soaper's abbreviation for "In the Pot". This means you don't actually swirl the colour through the soap, the colour is simply poured into the main pot and the colours mix themselves as you pour the batch from the main soap pot into the mould.  A slab, column (vertical) or log mould are best for this kind of soap.

The most important thing with ITP style colouring is to avoid overtracing the soap. If it is too thick, it won't swirl well and will clump instead of flowing.  Also important is to use a Fragrance or Essential Oil that doesn't accelerate trace. (Just check the notes on each of our Fragrances so you know what to expect).

Originally this log was scented with Cucumber & Kiwi Fragrance, which has now been deleted.  We recommend using Lemongrass and Exotic Lime Fragrance as a substitute.  We coloured our batch with a combination of Chrome Green Oxide and Brites for CP Yellow to liven up the earthy chrome green oxide.  In the base portion 3/4 teaspoon White Satin Mica lightens up the base nicely.

If you are comfortable pouring traced cold process soap into the vertical mould, the technique is relatively easy to achieve.  We do recommend you make a few batches before trying an ITP swirl with the vertical mould

Ingredients:

• 100g Cocoa Butter
• 400g Coconut Oil
• 150g Macadamia Oil
• 500g Olive Oil
• 167g Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda/Lye)
• 300 - 400g of Distilled Water - Use the higher quantity if you are a beginner
  
  
• We used 40ml (approx 8 teaspoons) of Lemongrass and Exotic Lime Fragrance to give this batch its fresh, yummy Fragrance!
• Chrome Green Oxide - Hydrated in 10ml Distilled Water
• Brites for CP Yellow
• 3/4 teaspoon White Satin Mica
• 30g Sodium Lactate Plus
  
  
• Silicone Column Mould and a spare mould; we used our Flexible Small Square Mould for the left over soap.
• Don't forget all your usual safety gear for Cold Process Soap Making
  
  

Equipment:

Your usual Cold Process equipment including your safety gear, googles, gloves etc
Stick Blender (of course!)
Spatulas
Electronic Scales

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.

• Prepare your workspace and set out the colours and fragrance ready to go.
• Ensure you have locked the tongue and groove's of the mould together securely, if in doubt you can use bulldog clips for extra security.
• Prepare the Chrome Green Oxide - 1/2 teaspoon with 2 teaspoons of water.
• Also prepare the White Pearl Mica, mixed 3/4 teaspoon with 2 teaspoons of distilled water.
• Set aside a spare mould, and a jug ready for the green portion (a container up to 1 Litre) for the green swirl colour.
• Bring soap to thin trace, and then pour approximately 1 - 2 cups of soap into a container.
  
  
• Colour this portion with the the green oxide and about 20 drops of Brites for CP Yellow and briefly give it a blast with the stick blender - careful not to overtrace.
• Add the Pearl White Mica to the main soap pot and give it a blast with the stick blender to mix thoroughly - don't over trace.
• Now add the fragrance into the main pot and stir through thoroughly manually, os you don't increase the thickness of the trace.
• Now work quite quickly - pour the green portion into the main pot in 3 or 4 places towards the edge of the pot.
• DO NOT MIX THIS THROUGH AT ALL.

• Still working quickly, pour the soap into the loaf mould, beginning cautiously unless you have someone holding it steady for you.
• Continue pouring until you fill to 1 cm below the rim.
• By slightly twisting the soap pot as you pour you can alter the pattern a little if desired.

• Pour the rest of the traced soap into the spare mould.
• Column moulds hold their heat through gel, so only insulate if you are making this on a really cold day.

• See full instructions for In the Pot Swirling Technique HERE.
• Allow to sit in the moulds for a day or two longer than usual and then unmould and slice.

 

We made a second batch using infused Indigo Powder and Spring Meadow fragrance. 

Please Note:  You will also need to purchase Olive Oil, Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) and Distilled water from the supermarket. If you live in Perth and can collect your order, please order the Sodium Hydroxide for collection when you place your order.