Cucumber Melon Layered Cold Process Soap Loaf

This now classic Fragrance is delicious all year round, but its name  does scream summer!  This recipe makes approximately 1500g of soap, allowing sufficient soap to make the three equal layers it requires.  You'll notice from the graphics I over-traced it a little, forgeting I had Shea Butter and Palm Kernel Oil in my mix, so try and work at a lighter trace than the graphics show!  For the middle layer I swirled some neon orange through the uncoloured soap, but you could simply make this one colour if you prefer.

Ingredients:

•   50g Organic Shea Butter
• 400g Olive Oil
• 100g Castor Oil
• 250g Coconut Oil
• 250g Palm Kernel Oil
  
  
• 153g Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
• 400ml/g of Distilled Water
  
  
• 4 teaspoons Sodium Lactate Plus
• 40g/ml Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil
•   6g Athena Green Mica
•   2g Rockmelon Orange Neon Pigment - approximately ½ teaspoon (maximum) moistened in a little reserved portion of the olive oil
  
  
• Flexible Mould - Loaf (Regular) plus a spare mould or two for the left over soap
• Isopropyl Alcohol and Spritzer Bottle

Equipment:

All your regular Cold Process Soap making equipment including Safety Gear including Goggles and Gloves
3 x Jugs to hold 1 litre traced soap - one for each layer
1 x Jug to hold 200g traced soap
3 x small cups to mix colours in
Small beaker to hold the Fragrance - helpful, not essential

Overview of Layers:

You will be making 3 portions of soap = 466g each, ONE of which needs to have 100g removed for neon colour:

1.  The bottom layer is a fixed green colour using 2 - 3g Athena Green Mica, with ⅓ of the fragrance
2.  The middle layer has 100g removed and coloured with but has Rockmelon Orange Neon Colour dispersed in oil swirled through it.  Use ⅓ of the fragrance in this portion.
      ie:  Remove 100g from this jug and colour with Rockmelon Orange, leave 360g traced soap is uncoloured Add the fragrance, and then use ITP technique to swirl before pouring.
3.  The top layer is a fixed green colour using 2 - 3g Athena Green Mica with ⅓ of the fragrance.

Method:

If you are a beginner, we recommend you make a few batches before attempting this soap so that you know what to expect.   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. 

Colour Prep: 

Measure the colours into the three little pots.
Mix with some of the Olive Oil allocation to remove any lumps.

Soap:

Add the Sodium Lactate Plus to the cooled lye water and stir to combine.
Bring the soap to light trace.
Place the first jug on the scales, and then tare the scales to zero.
Pour 460g traced soap into each jug.

The bottom layer: Add the contents of the Athena Green Mica pot, with ⅓ of the fragrance.

Manually stir to combine well.

Carefully pour into the mould in an even layer.
Tap the mould on the bench to settle the soap.

Remove approximately 100g of soap from Jug 2 and add the moistened Rockmelon Orange.

Stir through the small jug.

Now decide if you want to swirl through the main layer, or have it monochrome.
If it's one colour add the ⅓ fragrance and the colour and stir well to combine.
If it's ITP Swirled colour add the ⅓ fragrance to the large jug and stir through first, and then add the  colour.

Mine is ITP Swirled, but as you can see I overtraced it, so the swirl is not as distinctive as I like.
Pour over a spatula to ensure you create a nice even layer without breaking through the surface of the layer underneath.

Tap down the mould again to settle the second layer.

Repeat the process for the base layer.
Add the contents of the second Athena Green Mica pot, with the final ⅓ fragrance.
Stir to combine and then pour into the mould over the spatula again.

Tap the mould down on the bench firmly.
Now use a chopstick or skewer and create a swirled pattern on the surface of the soap.

Spray or dust with Medallion Gold Mica (Optional), spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol and insulate to gel.
Leave in the mould for up to a week and then unmould.
Slice and set aside to cure for 4 to 6 weeks.

Note:  The trolley items do not include Olive Oil, Distilled Water, Medallion Gold Mica.