I recently had a request from one of my friends to make a charcoal and clay soap. I decided to try and create an old design of mine from a soap challenge where I used dividers and a hanger swirl. Well, I thought I did everything exactly the same way, but that’s the way it goes in soap making. Trying to recreate a swirl (especially one that was an accident in the first place) is almost impossible. Not that I’m giving up. :) If you’d like the recipe or want to see the video I made, just keep reading.
RECIPE
Olive Oil – 30%
Coconut Oil – 26%
Shea Butter – 15%
Avocado Oil – 9%
Cocoa Butter – 7%
Sunflower Oil – 7%
Castor Oil – 6%
Superfat – 5%
I used the milk-in-oil method for this recipe. This method calls for equal amounts of water, milk, and sodium hydroxide. The water and sodium hydroxide are mixed together as usual, while the milk is added to the melted oils (that’s how I do it, anyway). I always add a bit more water (14g) just to make sure my sodium hydroxide completely dissolves.
Here’s a good post by Lovin’ Soap on the milk-in-oil method: http://bit.ly/2IJBCx9
Water = same amount as your calculated sodium hydroxide + 14 grams
Coconut Milk = same amount as your calculated sodium hydroxide
To calculate your sodium hydroxide for your specific recipe amounts, you can use a soap calculator like the one at Majestic Mountain Sage: http://goo.gl/7hH5Vw
Rose Clay:
2 teaspoons hydrated with distilled water
I used 1 teaspoon of the hydrated rose clay per cup of soap
Activated Hardwood Charcoal:
2 teaspoons mixed with 1 tbsp sunflower oil
I used 2 teaspoons of this mixture per cup of soap
White Kaolin Clay:
1 tablespoon hydrated with distilled water
I used 1.5 teaspoons of the hydrated kaolin clay per cup of soap
Essential Oil Blend:
Lavender – 5 parts
Tea Tree – 1 part
Peppermint – 0.5 parts
VIDEO
Thank you so much for reading my post!
P.S. In case you’re interested, I have an affiliate store where I’ve listed all of the soap making supplies and materials that I purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2DZmGfJ
If you use those links to buy anything, it won’t cost you anything extra, but I will receive a very small percentage of the sale. Every little bit helps, though, so thank you very much if you do! :)
Kápia Méra 
Absolutely beautiful! The colors are perfect together! I love watching you make soap. The design is like opening a present when you slice it. Thanks
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Thank you so much!! :)
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Bravo! Another wonderful video and another loaf of soap that came out beautifully! Thank you for sharing – I always enjoy your posts and videos!
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Thank you, Annie! That’s so sweet of you to say! I really appreciate you watching and commenting. :)
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I love your palm-free, all natural approach. You do beautiful work.
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Thank you so much, Marsha!
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Bellisimo! Can I ask if you discounted the water you used hidrating your clays from your water amount? 🙏 thanks.
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Thank you! No, I don’t discount any extra water I use for the clays.
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That was pretty cool. I like making home made soap but not suffocated:)
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So fancy wasn’t meaning suffocated
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Turned out beautiful.
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Hi Mera,
I am happy to see ur recipes, I tried it also, it came out well. Just I want one clarification for dry skin ,and oily skin people what type of clays and butters should we use in it .plz send me the ur videos URL link regarding that .
Thanks
Jaya
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Thank you. I’m glad it worked well. I don’t have a video or post discussing the clays or oils for skin types. However, here’s a great article from Soap Queen discussing that issue – https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/which-clay-is-right-for-your-skin/ -Holly
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I love this soap !!! And as a newbie I was just wondering ,once I calculate my lye water needed for this recipe, I need the same amount of milk as the water? And will this work with Oat milk?
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Thank you, Raquel! Regarding your question about the amount of water and milk – once you calculate the sodium hydroxide required for your recipe, you’ll use that number to calculate your water and milk requirements. Water = sodium hydroxide amount + 14g. Milk = sodium hydroxide amount. Let’s say, as an example, your recipe calls for 100g sodium hydroxide. That means your water amount = 100g + 14g and your milk amount = 100g. The little extra 14g of water is just to make sure the sodium hydroxide dissolves completely in the water. You’ll mix the water and sodium hydroxide together and sit it aside to cool (it will get very hot since you’re using so little water initially). You’ll add the milk to your melted oils. Then you’ll add the lye water to the milk and oil mixture. Here’s a post by Lovin’ Soap that explains it really well and she even mentions using oat milk :) – https://www.lovinsoap.com/2013/02/the-classic-oatmeal-goats-milk-and-honey-cold-process-soap-milk-in-oil-method/ Good luck in your soap making journey! -Holly
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