Interesting Soap Making ingredients
Fragrances, Textures and Colorings

If you want To give your soap a pleasant fragrance, color or texture, why not try adding some of these soap making ingredients. Just add a little at a time once you have reached the "trace" stage until you're happy with the look and smell of your soap mix.

Natural Coloring

• Brown - Use cocoa powder
• Salmon Pink - Use cayenne pepper
• Yellow - Use turmeric
• Peach - Use paprika
• Beige - Use cinnamon powder
• Yellow/peach - Use curry powder

Bear in mind, the color will look much darker and warmer when first added to the liquid soap mixture compared to after it has set. Take into account how fat changes from gold to white and try to imagine how your color might change in its appearance by fading or lighten up. Bottom line is, if you stumble on to something you like then make a note of it.

Using Fragrance or Essential Oil

You will need between 1.5 to 4oz of fragrance or essential oil to each 8 pound batch of cold processed soap, dependent upon how scented you like your soap, and the strength of the oils used. Peppermint, rosemary, cinnamon, clove, spearmint and bitter almond are probably the strongest of all the essential oils.

Generally use 1-2 teaspoons per pound of soap.

Handy Equivalents

• 88 Drops...........1 Tsp
• 3 Teaspoons........1 Tablespoon
• 1 Tablespoon.......1/2 oz
• 2 Tablespoons......1 oz
• 16 Tablespoons.....1 Cup

For in depth information on the many essential oils available and their properties check out the Essential Oil Use Chart

Homemade Soap Recipe Textures

• Oatmeal is great for the skin and makes an excellent facial soap; different amounts of grinding will give different effects from course to mild.
• Cornmeal and poppy seeds will produce a good exfoliating soap.
• Tea Tree oil is good for anyone that's suffering with acne.
• Geranium oil makes a great moisturising soap for dry skin
• Grated orange or lemon peel gives a wonderful aroma, appearance and texture.
• Almonds and finely ground walnut shells are give a good look and feel
• Lavender Buds, Eucalyptus Leaves (ground or they may feel a little abrasive) make wonderful soap making ingredients
• Flower petals look lovely in soap; although most petals darken or become black they still give a really nice affect. Try sprinkling a few on the top of the soap as well as within.
• How about slicing, shredding or grounding a loffah for a unique look and feel
• For a really good affect try Coconut Flakes - sprinkle some on top or incorporate in the soap.

 

Check out topping your castile soap with flowers or herbs like in the photo below

 

Now check out some pleasant soap making equipment