The Natural Beauty Workshop

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps

These easy Melt & Pour style soap combine rich, moisturizing Walnut Oil with super scrubby Walnut Powder.  Scented with luscious Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil, and molded in our adorable Acorn Soap Molds, Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps make great gifts.  They are great for getting your hands extra clean after cooking, gardening, or a long day's work.

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps

Ingredients

1 lb. Shea Butter Melt & Pour Base

6 teaspoons & 1 tablespoon Walnut Shell Powder, Fine

1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Specks

1 tablespoon of Walnut Oil

1/2 ounce Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil

Directions
Carefully chop the Melt & Pour Soap Base into cubes and place it into a double boiler.  Heat the Soap Base in the double boiler until it has melted completely.  Meanwhile, measure and pour 1 teaspoon of Walnut Powder, Fine into each of the soap mold cavities, spreading it out evenly across the bottom of the mold.  When the Soap Base has melted, add 1 tablespoon of Walnut Powder, and 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Bean Specks, stirring well to combine them with the base.  Next, add 1 tablespoon of Walnut Oil, and stir again.  Remove the Base from the heat and stir it for one - two minutes, until it cools slightly.  Add the Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil and mix once more.  Now, take a large spoon and carefully spoon a small amount of the melted base into each of the soap mold cavities.  Stir each cavity just a little bit to help the base combine with the Walnut Powder inside.  Allow the molds to cool for just a minute or two before pouring in the rest of the melted Soap.  Once all of your soaps have been poured, allow them to cool completely before trying to move the mold, or remove the soaps.  Removing the soaps too early could damage them severely.  Once you are sure the soaps have hardened and cooled completely, turn the mold over onto a clean surface and gently tap them out.  Wrap cooled soaps immediately in cello bags to keep them from sweating.

Usage & Packaging

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps look adorable in our Small Cello Bags.  Try tying them shut with a matching ribbon, and tags.  You can download free, printable tags here:  

Download Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soap Labels

These soaps are great for exfoliation, and should be used in tough areas, such as hands, feet, and rough patches of skin.  Avoid sensitive areas, as the super scrubby power of this soap may be too harsh on delicate skin.

Using Additives in Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & Pour Soaps are fun and easy to make, especially when you stick to the basic elements, such as Scents, Colors, and Soap Base.  In our Holiday Projects Series we covered how to create basic Melt & Pour Soaps using those three main elements.  We often get questions regarding how to use Additives, such as Milk Powders, Herbs, or Exfoliants in Melt & Pour Soap.  Here is a little insight into including these specialty ingredients in your Melt & Pour creations.

Herbs
Many Herbs have the potential to change dramatically when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  Often, these changes are not apparent immediately, but appear within days or weeks after pouring the soap.  The most infamous for this behavior is Lavender Buds.  Lavender Buds look and smell great fresh out of the package, and can even be pretty when you first add them to your soap.  However, after a week or so they take on a brownish yellow tinge, and can bleed that color into the entire bar of soap.   Rose Buds and Petals also have a hard time retaining their beauty when fully immersed into Melt & Pour Soap.  When you are dealing with these tricky Herbs, try using them as toppings instead of embedding them completely inside your soap bars.  For example, Rose Buds look very cute peeking out of the top of soap.

Other Herbs, such as Parsley Powder, or Calendula Petals retain their color beautifully when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  These Herbs can be added at a rate of 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, depending on the appearance desired.  Experiment with small batches to get comfortable with how individual Herbs behave.  Natural ingredients, such as Herbs, often have unique quirks.

Some Herbs that work well in Melt & Pour Soap are: Alkanet Root Powder, Anatto Seeds, Beet Root Powder, Calendula Petals, Carrot Root Powder, Oat Straw Powder, Sandalwood Powder, Sea Vegetables.

Clays
Clay can lend extra cleansing ability, exfoliation, and color to your Melt & Pour Soaps.  Make sure to choose your Clay carefully, taking into consideration each Clay's strength.  Kaolin and Rose Clay are the gentlest Clays, while Illite Clay or Bentonite can be too harsh for sensitive skin.  Clay can be added to Melt & Pour Soap at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound.  The easiest way to add Clay to your Soap is to wet it with a small amount of Distilled Water prior to adding it to your Soap Base.  Creating a smooth paste with the Clay and Water will help keep the Clay from clumping when you add it to the Soap.  While Clays can help lend color to Soap, keep in mind that the resulting colors will be slighlty different than they dry Clay.  Expect earthy, dusky tones from added Clay.

Milk Powders
Milk and Honey Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soaps for their skin conditioning properties.  Keep in mind that the addition of these ingredients may shorten the shelf life of your Soaps.  Like most Additives, Milk Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soap Base at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap.  To add the Milk Powder, mix it with a small amount of warm water to form a slurry or paste.  Add the paste to your Melt & Pour Base and stir well to make sure it is fully dispersed.

Exfoliants
There are many different types of Exfoliants that can be added to Melt & Pour Soap.  To choose the right one, consider the texture and behavior of each Exfoliant.  The biggest challenge you are likely to encounter when working with these Exfoliants is their habit of either floating or sinking in soaps.  Using Suspension Melt & Pour Soap Base can sometimes help alleviate this issue.  Exfoliants are generally added at around 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, but you may want to add more or less to achieve the texture you are looking for.

Fruit Seeds and Fibers provide gentle exfoliation, but can alter the appearance of your soap.  Fruit Fibers will lend subtle color to Melt & Pour Soaps, but not always the color that you expect.  For example, Blueberry Fruit Fiber tends to make Opaque Soap Base slighlty gray, while Cranberry Fruit Fiber adds a gentle, pink tinge.  Fruit Seeds can look adroable in Melt & Pour Soaps, but they are particularly prone to floating or sinking when added to Melt & Pour Soap Base.

Jojoba Wax Beads come in a wide range of bright, beautiful colors, and provide gentle exfoliation.  They are very tempting to use in Melt & Pour Soap, but they can also be very tricky to work with.  If Jojoba Wax Beads are added directly to hot Soap Base they are likely to melt, changing the color of the soap, as well as making it much harder, with less lather.  In order to add Jojoba Wax Beads to Melt & Pour Soap they must either be added at a very low temperature, which can be quite challenging, or they must be used as a topping on soap bars and logs.

Grain Powders, such as Oat Flour, Oatmeal, Rice Bran Powder, or Adzuki Bean Powder provide a range of gentle exfoliation.  It may be helpful to mix the very fine powders, such as Oat Flour or Adzuki Bean Powder with a small amount of water before adding them to the Base, as they can have a hard time dispersing when added directly.

 Seed Powders and Nut Meals are generally the harshest Exfoliants.  These more instense Exfoliants are great for Gardener's Soaps, Mechanic's Soaps, and Pedicure Soaps. Use these Exfoliants with care.  Too much Exfoliant can cause the soap to be hard to use, while too little Exfoliant can cause them to feel harsh and scratchy.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps

Kibby, our CEO, and I dreamed up these funny little soaps while brain storming for another project.  Ever since our conversation that day I have wanted to experiment with this idea.  I had envisioned this recipe being one of those ideas that sound great in conversation, but prove to be nothing but trouble in practice.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when they worked out on the very first try!  In this unique recipe, we've used shredded Coconut and Opaque Melt & Pour Soap to make Coconut Macaroon Soaps.  To give the soaps a little extra stability, I dipped them in Soap that was colored with Cocoa Powder.  I was impressed when the test batch took on a recognizable shape, and was pleased as pop to find that this soap is also really pleasant to use.  The scrubbie Coconut Flakes make this a great hand soap for the kitchen, or for the bath.  I can't wait to make up a big batch of these little cookie soaps to give away as gifts.  I think my friends and family would find them to be simply delightful.

I had had my doubts about this experiment while it was still just a theory, but am totally hooked on them now that I've made a batch.  While they aren't totally natural, they are tons of fun, handmade, and are certainly unique!  Did I mention that they also smell incredible?  I would love to see some photos if anyone else takes a crack at making these soaps.  Please feel free to email me or leave a comment with any questions that you may have.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps
Makes about 8 - 10 small soaps or 4 - 6 large soaps

Ingrdients
10 ounces Coconut Opaque Melt & Pour Soap Base
1 cup Shredded Coconut
2 teaspoons Cocoa Powder
2 teaspoons Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragance Oil
1/4 ounce - 1/2 ounce Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil

Directions
Cover a baking seet with waxed paper and set it aside.  Chop and melt 8 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap in a double boiler. If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 10 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, stir in 1 cup of Shredded Coconut and remove the base from the heat.  Quickly add the Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil and begin to stir.  Stir the mixture constantly until it begins to cool and congeal.  This is the tricky part.  You'll need to scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture as soon as it is cool enough to handle.  Mold the soap into a ball using the palms of your hands, and then press it gently onto the wax paper covered baking sheet.  You want to soap to remain round on top, but to be flat on the bottom.  Repeat this step with the remaining soap.  To keep the soap at the ideal temperature you may want to transfer the double boiler back onto the heat periodically, or simply keep the double boiler in the pot of warm water, leaving the stove burner off.  Once you are finished shaping the balls of soap, wash and dry your double boiler in preperation for the next phase.  Cut and melt 2 more ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base.  If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 2.5 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, add 2 teaspoons of Cocoa Powder and stir well.  (Tip: To help break up tiny clumps in the Cocoa Powder you can pre-mix it with a small amount of vegetable oil prior to adding it to the Soap Base.)  Take the melted Base off of the heat source, and add 2 teaspoons of Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragrance Oil.  Mix well.  Using a pair of tongs, carefully lower the bottom of each Soap Ball into the melted Soap Base.  After the bottom half is coated, transfer it back to the baking sheet, then grab the next soap ball.  Continue this process until each soap ball has been coated 2-3 times.  Allow the Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps about 30 minutes to fully cool and set before packaging.  These look adorable in Cello Bags, or presented in bakery containers.  Since Glycerin Soaps can have a tendancy to sweat, I recommend packaging these soaps individually in plastic wrap before placing them in another container such as a cello bag or bakery box.

On a more personal note, I thought some of my fellow crafters and soapers would get a kick out of the little notes that I leave for my hubby when I create especially delicious looking soaps or bath treats.  Unfortunately for my dear Mr. S., he has a bad habit of biting into things before he asks what they are.  Has anyone else had this problem with hungry members of the household?

Holiday Projects: Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & Pour Soap is a quick, easy, and nearly fool proof project that you can whip up for your friends, families, and co-workers in mass.  Your charming, handmade soaps are sure to be a big hit when created with some of our fantastic, holiday themed molds and ingredients.

The Soap Base
Melt & Pour Soap Base is a transparent, glycerin soap, which has been specifically designed for melting and reshaping.  Unfortunately, ordinary glycerin soaps will not behave this way, so you'll need to use soap that has been made specifically for this purpose.  Sold on FromNatureWithLove.com in 2 lb. blocks, Melt & Pour Soap is available in many varieties.  You can choose the most basic Clear or Opaque Soap Bases, or choose a specialty soap such as Goat's Milk Soap, Olive Oil Soap, or Aloe Vera Soap.  Melt & Pour Soaps are also available in a wide range of pre-colored bases.  These are great for crafters who only want to make a limited amount of soap, and don't want to invest in purchasing Color Additives.  Click here to see our full range of Melt & Pour Soap Bases.

Molds
While there are many household objects that can be used as make-shift Melt & Pour Soap molds, you may want to invest in a high quality, plastic mold for making Holiday gifts.  FromNatureWithLove.com carries a great line of soap molds, many of which are perfect for creating holiday themed soaps.  Our entire line of Melt & Pour Soap Molds are currently on Clearance, starting at just $4.00 each!

Saddle Soap Molds have a classic shape that can be used for almost any scent or color.

Our Star Soap Molds are adorable. They would be perfect for kid's holiday soaps.

These lovely Dove Soap Molds portray a very peaceful image.

Last, but not least, our Bell Soap Molds are another Clearance find that is perfect for the holidays.  You can also re-use containers such as potato chip cans, orange juice cartons, or milk cartons as melt & pour soap molds.  Just make sure whatever you are using has been cleaned out very well.  You can also use items such as silicone bakeware, or flexible ice cube trays to make melt & pour soap, but we wouldn't recommend using any of these items for food after you've used them for soap.  Set these items aside just for soapmaking.

Coloring Melt & Pour Soap
There are several methods of adding color to Melt & Pour Soaps.  Using pre-colored Melt & Pour Soap Base would definitely be the easiest way to do this, but you can also add color by hand.  This allows you to be a little more creative and spontaneous during your soapmaking.

• FD&C Liquid Dyes - These water based, brightly colored, liquid dyes provide bright, easy to customize colors.  These dyes are very easy to use and can be added directly to the soap base, drop by drop.  FD&C Dyes can also be mixed and matched to produce new and unique shades of color.  It should be noted, though, that FD&C colors can bleed into one another when used in layers.
• Oxides & Ultramarines - These dry, powdered colorants are mineral based.  They provide deep, matte color and are a bit trickeier to use in Melt & Pour Soap than liquid dyes.  In order to incorporate Oxides and Ultramarines into Melt & Pour Soap Base it must first be mixed with a small amount of oil.  Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap).  Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed.  When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.
• Pearlecent Micas - Available in a very wide range of colors, Pearlescent Micas provide shimmering colors to Melt & Pour Soaps.  These mineral based powders have been colored using a wide variety of additives, tints, and minerals to produce such a wide range of colors.  Pearlescent Micas can be added directly to Melt & Pour Soap Base, but they tend to clump quite a bit when this is done.  Like Ultramarines and Oxides, Pearlescent Micas disperse easier when they are first added to a small amount of oil.  Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap).  Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed.  When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.

Scenting Melt & Pour Soap
Melt & Pour Soaps can be scented with natural ingredients such as Essential Oils or Absolutes, or they can be scented using synthetic Fragrance Oils.  Which ingredient you choose depends on your personal preference, and the preferences of those you are giving the soaps to.

Essential Oils & Absolutes - Since Essential Oils and Absolutes contain active ingredients, they have the ability to add beneficial properties to your soaps.  However, these same active ingredients can also make your soaps dangerous if used incorrectly, or by people with certain health conditions.  Most skin safe Essential Oils can be used in Melt & Pour Soaps at about .5 oz. per pound of soap. However, it is very important that you research any Essential Oil thoroughly before adding it to your soaps.  Many Essential Oils will have usage rates particular to that oil. Heed the expert advice that you find during your research and never take a guess when it comes to using these potent natural ingredients.

Essential Oils for Holiday Soaps:

• Black Spruce
• Chocolate Peppermint
• Cypress
• Fir, Balsam
• Fir, Silver
• Geranium
• Ginger
• Gurjam Balsam
• Jasmine
• Juniper
• Mandarin
• Myrrh
• Patchouli
• Peppermint
• Pine
• Rosewood
• Sandalwood
• Spearmint
• Vanilla
• Yuzu

Fragrance Oils - While Fragrance Oils are not natural, they have been specifically designed for use in soaps, and skin care products.  They are easy to use and come in a very wide range of scents.  Fragrance Oils can be used at a rate of about .5 to 1 ounce per pound of soap.  Add less Fragrance Oil when working with spicy scents such as Cinnamon.  Fragrance Oils can still contain components that may irritate the skin.

Fragrance Oils for Holiday Soaps:

• Bayberry
• Brambleberry Preserves
• Cinnamon
• Cranberry Peppermint
• Egg Nog
• Evergreen
• Frankincense & Myrrh
• Gingerbread
• Holiday Fruitcake
• Pomegranate
• Pumpkin Pie
• Roasted Nuts
• Spiced Mulberries
• Sugar Plum
• Sweet Clove
• Vanilla Pumpkin

There are many more wonderful Fragrance Oils available at FromNatureWithLove.com that would be great for holiday soaps.  Click here to check out our complete selection.  You may also want to try one of our Fragrance Oil Samplers.  These variety packs let you sample several Fragrance Oils at once.

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap

1. Using a sharp kitchen knife, carefully chop the Melt & Pour Soap Base into cubes.
2. Melt the cubes in a double boiler over medium to high heat.  Make sure the soap is completely melted before moving on.
3. Pour the soap from the double boiler into a small mixing bowl or pyrex dish.  We've found that using a pre-warmed pyrex dish can be very helpful.
4. Add the color to your melted soap base first. This will allow the soap to cool slightly before adding your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil. Add the Color Additive of your choice using the directions above.
5. Next, add your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil and stir well.  Don;t stir too quickly though, as that will cause bubbles to form in the soap.
6. Carefully pour the melted soap base into a mold.  Spritzing the surface of the soap with alcohol can help stop bubbles from forming on the top.
7. Allow your soaps to cool completely before attempting to un-mold them. Trying to take them out too early can ruin your soaps. When they have cooled, simply turn the mold over and gently press on the outside of the mold to release the soaps. If you are having trouble, try putting the mold in the freezer for 1-2 minutes before trying again.
8. Wrap your soaps in plastic wrap or tightly sealed Cello Bags as soon as they are fully cooled.  Humidity in the air can cause the glycerin in your soaps to sweat, creating small beads of moisture on the soap's surface. Keep your soaps as dry as possible to avoid this happening. If your soaps do sweat, simply wipe them off with a warm, slightly damp paper towel. You can add a few drops of alcohol to the towel for a smooth finish.
9. Make sure you label your soaps with all the ingredients they contain before giving them to friends and family.  You should include the ingredients in the Melt & Pour Soap Base, and the ingredients you've added.

Ordering Supplies

Melt & Pour Base: It takes roughly 4 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base to make 1 bar of soap. For every two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order, you'll get about 8 bars of soap. (If you are using a mold with very large cavities, you may need to fill them only 1/2 or 2/3  full in order to produce 4 ounce bars.)

Fragrance Oils: You can use .5 to 1 ounce of Fragrance Oil per pound of soap, so you should order 1 to 2 ounces of Fragrance Oil for every 2 lb. block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Essential Oils: Most Essential Oils should be used at about .5 oz. per pound of Soap Base. If you are using Essential Oils, order 1 ounce of Essential Oil per two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Color Additives: Unless you are making huge quantities of soap you should do fine if you order the smallest sizes available of any colorants you'd like to use. For example, a 1 ounce bottle of FD&C Dye or a 1/2 ounce bag of Mica will be more than enough for a holiday project.

To Make About 8 Bars (As low as $11.11*)

• 2 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 2 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 1 ounce of Essential Oil
• Optional Color Additives

To Make About 16 Bars (As low as $19.58*)

• 4 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 4 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 2 ounces of Essential Oil
• Optional Color Additives

To Make About 32 Bars (As low as $27.25*)

• 6 pounds of Melt & Pour Soap Base
• 6 ounces of Fragrance Oil or 3 ounces of Essential Oil
• Optional Color Additives

* Prices based on Colored Transparent Melt & Pour Soap Base, and Spiced Plum Fragrance Oil. Don't forget to use discount code: NBWS4277 during online checkout to receive an additional 5% off qualifying items.