Get ready for fall with a cold processed soap. Since cold process soaps take few weeks to cure, this is the perfect time to start. Grab your pumpkin spice latte and let’s jump into this recipe!
Ingredients:
- Essentials by Catalina Sodium Hydroxide Lye - 4.3 oz
- Water - 10 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil - 1 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Orange and Caramel Soap Colorants
- Essentials by Catalina Shea Butter - 4 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Castor Oil - 2 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Fractionated Coconut Oil - 10 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Avocado Oil - 10 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Almond Oil - 4 oz
- Essentials by Catalina Vanilla Stabilizer (Melt and Pour Formula) - 1 oz
- Calendula dried flower petals (optional)
Materials:
- Safety Gear: gloves, goggles, long sleeves, close toed shoes
- Heatproof bowls/beakers
- Thermometer
- Mixing tools
- Stick blender (optional)
- Soap pouring pitchers
- Soap loaf mold
Finding a Trace:
Finding a trace in your soap may seem intimidating, but it’s actually not that difficult.
So what is a trace?
A trace in soap making is the point at which the soap has thickened and blended enough to have formed a stable emulsion. It is at this point where the oils and lye are no longer at risk of separation.
One secret in knowing if you’ve reached a trace or not is if you can see oil streaks in the mixture. If you can see streaks of oil, you have not yet reached a trace. The first stage is a light trace. A light trace is when there are no oil streaks and your mixture is the consistency of a thin cake batter. If you lift your mixing tool over the bowl and let the soap mixture fall into the bowl, you should barely be able to see it on the top before it blends in completely.
The next stage is a medium trace. You will reach a medium trace shortly after a think trace. A medium trace can be recognized as a thick cake batter or thin pudding consistency. When lifting your mixing tool over the bowl, the soap drizzles should stay on the surface of your mixture.
The final stage of stage is a thick trace. A thick trace is the consistency of pudding and holds its shape.
Instructions:
- Wearing your safety gear: measure out your lye and water. Add the lye to the water and stir until the lye is completely dissolved. Set aside in a safe, well ventilated space and allow the mixture to cool to 110-120°F while you melt and mix your oils
- Melt the shea butter in a heatproof container in a double boiler, or in the microwave in 30 second increments
- Mix the melted shea butter, castor oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and sweet almond oil together in a bowl
- In a separate bowl, mix the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil with the Vanilla Stabilizer (Melt and Pour Formula)
- Once your lye and water mixture is cool enough, carefully mix it into the oil mixture. Make sure you are wearing your safety gear. It is easiest to mix with a stick blender, but not necessary. You can also whisk by hand and get the same results. Mix until you reach a thin trace
- Mix your fragrance and vanilla stabilizer mixture in first to evenly incorporate it into your soap. Then, divide your soap mixture into two separate soap pitchers. One pitcher should have about 1/3 of the soap mixture, and the other should have the other 2/3 of the mixture. It is okay if they are not exact.
- Add and mix in the colorants. In the pitcher with more soap, mix in the Orange Liquid Soap Colorant until the desired pigment is reached. In the other pitcher, mix in the Caramel Liquid Soap Colorant until your desired pigment is reached.
- Alternating colors, pour your soap quickly into the mold before it begins to thicken too much
- By the time you get your soap mixed and poured into the mold, it should be at a thick trace. Use a spoon or one of your mixing tools to shape the top
- Sprinkle the dried calendula flower petals on top for decoration
- Put in the refrigerator to set for 24 hours
- Cut your soap
- Set your soap aside and let cure for 4-6 weeks. This allows your soap to harden and any excess water to evaporate
- Enjoy your soap just in time for the Pumpkin Spice Season!
