I’m working on creating a fun Valentines soap, and yesterday’s experiment didn’t turn out quite like I had planned. Today I repeated the experiment with just a couple of changes and had much better success!
Valentines Soap Test Batch #2
The one tweak that made all the difference in keeping the cream-colored soap the same consistency as the red soap was adding just a bit of olive oil to it. Here’s why: (for the non-soapmaking readers), there are a couple different ways to incorporate powdered soap colorants into the soap. Some are water-based, and others are oil-based. The red dye that I use is oil-based, so by adding the dye and oil mixture to that portion of the soap, it was slowing down the process of saponification (the chemical term used to describe the process of making soap). I used water-based titanium dioxide to whiten the cream-colored soap, so adding just a little bit of olive oil caused it to stay runny longer.
I didn’t add any fragrance to the cream or red colored soap, because sometimes it can cause the soap to set up faster as well. All the fragrance went into the bottom portion of the soap. So this time I decided to use some strawberry fragrance. YUM.
Here is yesterday’s batch, scented with Sweet Pea & Rhubarb, cut into little squares:
Sweet Pea & Rhubarb Soap
I think these will be perfect for more grab bags once they’ve had a chance to cure for a few weeks, don’t you?
Oh I love it, it is so cute. You amaze me with how creative you are and all the different looks you come up with for your soaps.
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You are making me want to start making soap! I used to make candles years ago and it was lots of fun.
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Keep up the great work (the soap and the blog).
Glennette Goodbread
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So pretty! I love the hearts!!
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Amy you are such a rock star. I love how clever you are!
Adorable!!
You do such beautiful work! I love the hearts in the soap.
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Oh my goodness, those are just too cute.
Geez Amy, I don’t think they could be any prettier! I love how they look. I LOVE strawberry scents. I bet the sweet pea and rhubarb is awesome as well.
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TOTALLY CAN’T WAIT until your first test batch of the Bleeding Heart (sweet pea & rhubarb) soap has cured…. I will buy it up! I loved how it turned out.
Although I love how your second run turned out too, I am especially partial to the first batch. It reminds me more of the flower, because the ‘heart shape’ isn’t AS defined! LOVE LOVE LOVE.
OOOOOOOH! This is sooooooooo pretty! Amazing! Great creative soap making Amy!!
I love the little hearts. So darn cute!!
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They’re just beautiful! Even the previous batch was pretty. You’re such a creative soap artisan!
OMG! You’ve done it again! I just heart those hearts!
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Wow, the comments!! Thanks so much! Kathleen B. just gave me a new idea – I may have to do ONE more test batch tomorrow.
Oh my gosh! It looks good enough to eat!
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Beautiful! Love it!
very cute! I love the little details in making soap
Oh, that’s lovely. Glad you went for Try 2.
Oh yumm that is so beautiful
These came out so nice. It looks like you have been experimenting with some new designs lately, and they are coming out beautifully. Keep up the great work, Amy!
Hi Amy,
I love, love, love the pastel pink color of this soap! Very beautiful work. What colorant did use to achieve this beautiful light pink?
@Dorenda – Thanks so much! It’s a combination of titanium dioxide and red lake dye – aka “non-bleeding” red.
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