by Rustic Escentuals
Fathers like to be pampered too! Here is a special gift you can make for the man in your life for his special day.
Supplies and equipment needed
Microwave
2 Microwave safe glass containers
Sharp knife to cut soap into cubes
Spray bottle with rubbing alcohol
Butter knives
Rubber gloves
Disposable pipette
Thermometer to monitor soap temperature
13 oz Ultra Clear Melt & Pour soap base
3 oz Goats Milk Melt & Pour soap base
Gel Soap colorants in Emerald Green and Black
Green Irish Tweed Fragrance Oil
Flexible 6 Oval Bar Silicone Mold (6 cavities) **
** We no longer carry the mold shown in this tutorial. The oval silicone mold will work perfectly in place of that mold.
Step 1: Cut up 13 oz of Ultra clear Melt & Pour soap base into small cubes and place into a microwave safe glass container.
Step 2: Melt the soap base in a microwave in 30 second bursts until melted. Do not burn or boil – this will result in a poor quality rubbery soap. If there are any small chunks of soap left, stir slowly; the heat of the soap will melt these small chunks.
Step 3: I wanted to get a nice dark green color so I mixed Gel Soap Colorants in Emerald Green and Black. Add 5 drops of Emerald Green and 3 drops of Black and stir slowly until mixed well.
Step 4: Add 4 ml of Green Irish Tweed Fragrance Oil. Stir slowly until mixed well.
Tip: Always stir slowly when adding colorants, fragrances or any type of additions to your soap base to avoid creating any more bubbles than you have to.
Step 5: Use a thermometer to monitor the soap temperature; it should be about 130° – 135° to avoid warping your mold. If soap is too hot, keep stirring slowly until you reach the desired temperature.
Step 6: Using the 3 cavity Oval Rim Bar Soap Mold, pour a layer of green soap base halfway up each cavity. Remember to pour slowly to avoid excess bubbles. You will only be using about half of the melted soap here.
Step 7: Spritz the soap with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any bubbles that formed while you were pouring.
Step 8: Let this first layer sit for about 5 minutes. You want the layer to harden enough to support the second layer without bowing in. Press gently with your finger to test. If your finger is able to form a dent, wait another minute or two.
Step 9: While the first layer is hardening, prepare the second layer using Steps 1 -2. You will be using 3 ounces of Goats Milk Soap Base here. This isn’t a large amount of soap, so melt using 15-second bursts until melted. Take the melted soap base and add 3 drops of Gel Soap Colors in Emerald Green and stir slowly.
Step 10: Add 1 ml of Green Irish Tweed fragrance oil with a pipette and stir slowly.
Step 11: Soap temperature should be around 130°. You want this a bit cooler so you don’t melt your first layer.
Step 12: When ready, spritz the 1st layer liberally with alcohol (don’t forget the edges). This will help the layers adhere to each other. Pour a thin second layer of goats milk soap base slowly into each cavity. After pouring into each cavity, spritz with alcohol to remove any bubbles.
Step 13: When the second layer is hardened (about 3 minutes) re-melt the remainder of the green soap base you used for the first layer. Melt in short burst of 30 seconds and stir well. Make sure your soap is cool enough before pouring.
Step 14: Spritz the second layer with alcohol and pour slowly to the top of each cavity. Spritz again with alcohol after pouring to get rid of the bubbles.
Step 15: Wait 2 – 3 hours for the soap to completely harden. Turn over and slowly press on the underside of mold to release the soap.
Tip: If the soap won’t come out, wait another 1/2 hour or so – don’t fight it. You can even pop the soap in the freezer for 5 minutes but I don’t recommend longer than that.
Step 16: Package your soap for gift giving – remember, men love to pamper themselves too!
