This is a simple cold process soap recipe that uses yarrow and rose petal infused oils.
We have wild roses in abundance here in northern Alberta and when we can we collect some petals for various crafts. They smell fragrant and are high in antioxidant making them a lovely addition to this gentle everyday use hand and face soap.
Yarrow is another star herb, full of medicinal benefits. You can read about yarrow’s beauty and benefits in this Comfrey and Yarrow Pain Salve recipe and post. Or check out this simple Yarrow Infused Body Serum talking about the benefits of yarrow.
For today, I’m just going to share this simple soap recipe. If you’re a beginner cold process soap maker and would like to read about my simple soap making equipment, safety, and clean up; check out my Basic Tallow Dish Soap tutorial.
Before getting into the recipe, I add some crushed yarrow and rose petals to a jar and weigh in 10 ounces of olive oil and 10 ounces of avocado oil for a total of 20 ounces of oil. Put a lid on the jar and store it on a window sill to infuse, turning it around maybe once or twice a day… or when I remember.
Now for the soap recipe.
Geranium Rose Hand and Face Soap
9 ounces water
4.80 ounces sodium hydroxide
Begin by measuring out the water. Set aside. Measure out the sodium hydroxide. Carefully pour the sodium hydroxide into the water and stir. I typically add a little sodium hydroxide at a time, stir, walk away and get my other ingredients ready, coming back to my lye and water until all of the lye is incorporated and stirred in. Then I allow it to sit about 10 minutes while I continue weighing and measuring the rest of my ingredients.
20 ounces of infused oils
10 ounces coconut oil
2 tbsps of mango butter (can use tallow or shea butter)
Now weigh out the infused oils by straining them through a fine mesh strainer into the bowl you’re going to mix your batter in to. I just put it right on my scale, even thought I’ve previously weighed my oils I always lose a bit to the herbs and not being able to squeeze it all out so if necessary top up to 20 ounces in total with olive or avocado oil.
Now zero out the scale and add 10 ounces of coconut oil.
20 drops of Lavender
20 Drops of Geranium
30 drops of Mandarine
Although, you could use whatever essential oils you prefer.
1 tbsp of zinc oxide powder (non nano particle zinc)
2 tbsp French pink Clay
Measure and set the aside.
I’m dividing my batter to create a variegated color on the finished soap. This means I’m adding the essential oils and zinc powder to the entire batch of soap. Dividing out some of the soap into my mold and adding the French pink Clay to the rest of the batter before pouring it on top of the creamy white batter.
Once the lye solution is clear, the oils are weighed out, and the ingredients that go in after trace are measured and set aside, it’s time to mix the batter.
I’m using my hot lye solution to melt my oils. Carefully pour the lye solution into the oils stirring by hand until all of the oils are melted and mixed well.
Once melted I switch to using my immersion blender and blend until I reach trace.
Once trace has been reached, add in the essential oils and zinc powder.
Blend well. Next, pour about a third of the batter into a loaf mold. I like to tap my mold on the table and move it around so the creamy color is evenly distributed and sort of moves up the sides of my mold.
This batter is quite thick so I find using a whisk to mix in the French pink Clay to be more effective. Mix the French pink Clay into the rest of the batter.
Once mixed well, pour/plop, the pink batter on top of the cream. Gently tapping the mold and spreading the batter.
You can make swirly designs or do whatever you prefer on the top. I added some dried rose petal and yarrow flowers to mine.
This soap stays pretty cool but cracking can always happen. I find that when I put my soap in the fridge for about one hour it sets the top up nicely without cracking. Once cooled, I place it on the back of my hot stove to go through gel phase and leave it over night before cutting the next day. If the soap does crack, I’ve found that once you cut it it’s still beautful. People love handmade soap and even when I used to sell it my customers didn’t mind cracks.
I like to bevel the sides of my bars with a veggie peeler.
I place my bars on top of my kitchen cabinets to cure. We use them or gift them as they’re done.
The zinc and clay in these soaps makes them super soothing on the skin. Use them daily for handwashing, gentle enough for the face or just use a lovely bar in the shower.
Enjoy!
