Madder Root Cold Process Soap Recipe

Prefer to use natural colourants in your Cold Process Soap? In the following recipe, and to show it at its lowest strength, we did not force gel or insulate the mould at all. We soaped it in early summer, so about 22°C ambient room temperature, and approximately the same soap batter temperature. We discounted the water a tad and some thickening was noted.

Note: If you would like a textured top, you need to balance the thickness of trace with its ability to sit nicely on top in that textured look.

Ingredients:

•   80g Cocoa Butter
• 400g Coconut Oil
• 150g Rice Bran Oil
• 450g Olive Oil
• 159g Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda/Lye)
• 270 - 400 mls/g of Distilled Water (we used 350g) - Use the higher quantity if you are a beginner
• 100g Madder Root Powder
• 35ml - 40ml (approx 7 teaspoons) of Bergamot Black Tea Fragrance Oil to give this batch its delicious fragrance!
• Flexible Mould - Loaf (Regular) - and a spare mould for any left over soap
• Stainless steel saucepan (approximately 1 Litre size)
• Spatula
• All your usual safety and Cold Process Soap Making equipment

Method:

For how to make soap from scratch, please see our Cold Process Soapmaking Instructions Page and to find out more about Madder Root Powder see our blog post HERE.

If you are a beginner, we recommend you make a few batches before attempting this soap as it can be a little overwhelming trying so many new things when just starting out. If you are more experienced, you can follow the instructions below.  Follow all the usual safety procedures.  If you are not familiar with these please begin with the basic tutorial on the link above.

Prep:  The madder root powder is best infused a day or two ahead of making the soap.You can even make up a big batch with nice fresh olive oil, and just pour off what is required for each batch. For this project we used 100g of powder in 450g Olive Oil using the direct heat method. I used the cooktop for this batch, but you can also use a small crock pot.

• Weigh 450g Olive Oil into the saucepan.
• Heat on low until the oil has warmed sufficiently (approximately 40 - 50°C).
• Add the madder root powder and stir to combine
• Turn down the heat and regulate it to keep it at this temperature - do not allow to simmer or boil.
• I like to do this for a couple of hours - keeping a good eye on it.
• Allow to cool

Making The Batch:

• Now, it's very straight forward!
• Prepare the lye as usual and set aside to cool.
• Combine and heat the oils as usual, including all of the madder oil infusion.

• Pour the lye water into the oils and mix to light trace, then add the Bergamot Black Tea Fragrance Oil (or your preferred Essential Oil or Fragrance).

• We experienced some thickening of the soap batter, so poured straight into the mould.If you want a textured top, use the spatula (as pictured) and insulate to gel to get the darkest colour.  If you want more the colour of our soap, this was not insulated.

• Cut and cure as usual.