Today I'd like to share my recipe for making one of my most popular soap scents, Blueberry Muffin.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. clear soap
- 5 oz. white soap (shea and goats milk soaps are also fine substitutes)
- a non-bleeding blue colorant
- your favorite Blueberry Muffin fragrance oil
Tools:
- digital scale
- microwave-safe container (such as a glass measuring cup)
- knife or soap cutter
- two 3 oz. soap molds in any shape you prefer
- eyedropper
- spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
- spoon or other mixing utensil
- temperature gun or infrared thermometer
Hint: Make sure all of your tools and work area are clean and dry before beginning!
STEP ONE Using your digital scale, measure out 1 oz of clear soap for the "blueberries". Using your soap cutter, slice the soap into small cubes (this will help the soap melt faster and more evenly) and place the cubes into your microwave-safe container.
STEP TWO Place your container in the microwave and melt for about 10-15 seconds. Do not allow the soap to boil. Always keep an eye on your soap while it's in the microwave! If you finish nuking and there are still a few small unmelted pieces, don't worry; just stir very gently and the heat of the melted soap will melt the remaining chunks.
STEP THREE Once all your soap has melted, add 1-2 drops of a *non-bleeding blue colorant. Proceed to add 2-4 drops of your fragrance oil. Gently mix with a spoon and pour into your mold. Spritz your rubbing alcohol over the surface to evaporate any bubbles. Now it's just a matter of waiting for this soap to harden before we move to the next step (depending on the temperature of your workspace and the thickness of the soap, this can take 10-30 minutes). Blow gently on the surface of the soap to tell if it has begun to set. If it doesn't move, you can always gently poke a corner of the soap. If it bends inward at your touch, it's not hard enough!)
*(Brambleberry has an assortment of non-bleeding colors. If you don't use a non-bleeding color, after a few weeks the blue color will leech into the white and you'll end up with an ugly and unpresentable bar of soap)
Hint: While you're waiting for your blue soap to harden, begin preparation for the next step: weigh out 5 oz of white soap and place it in your container (make sure you have cleaned it since using it for the clear soap!!!) and have it ready and sitting next to the microwave.
STEP FOUR Unmold. If you have trouble unmolding the soap, try popping the mold into the freezer for 30-60 seconds. Press your thumbs gently on either side of the mold and try to get an air pocket to form between the mold and the soap. Once you've succeeded in this, the soap should pop right out.
STEP FIVE Chop your soap into small "blueberries" and disperse between your two 3 oz. molds. Before adding your white soap, you will need to gently spritz the "blueberries" with rubbing alcohol. This will help to adhere the layers so the blue chunks won't fall out of your soap while bathing!
STEP SIX Remember how I hinted that you should have your 5 oz. white soap weighed out, chopped, and ready for nuking? Pop your container into the microwave and melt for 20-30 seconds. Add 4-5 drops of your Blueberry Muffin fragrance oil and mix gently. Once the soap and fragrance have been thoroughly mixed, slowly pour your white soap over the "blueberries". Spritz surface with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles.
Hint: Wait for your white soap to reach 125-135 degrees before pouring. If it is too hot, you will melt your "blueberries"! Note the image below: this white soap was poured freshly from the microwave. As a result, the white soap ended up melting blue chunks. You want your soap to look like the lower righthand bar after pouring.
If you don't have a temperate gun, test the soap with your fingertip before pouring; if it feels too hot for your finger, it is too hot to pour! While your soap is cooling, stir gently and frequently to prevent any skin from forming on the surface.
STEP SEVEN Unmold your soap, and eureka! You've just made a bar of gorgeous, delicious-smelling soap! You can use it right away. If you'd like to wait a few days before using, wrap your soap tightly in common kitchen plastic-wrap; this will preserve freshness and keep your soap from drying out or "sweating", which will give the soap an unsightly look.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Leave a comment if you'd like to see more soap tutorials.
