Teach Soap

Anything special I need to know about adding a layer of cocoa powder to soap (like in this photo: )?

Do I just sprinkle a thin layer of cocoa powder between two layers of soap? Do I just use regular cocoa powder like the kind from my cupboard or is there a special kind that is made for soapmaking?

Just a thin layer; that's it.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

And I can use the regular Hershey's stuff in my cupboard?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yes, it's unsweetened dark chocolate powder. I tried it today in a batch of soap I made in a one-pound wooden mold. I used Bramble Berry Vanilla Select fragrance and it's gelling in the oven as we speak. I can't wait to see how it turns out

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Oh no . . . maybe it will. I didn't think it would discolor THAT much, but then this is my very first time making vanilla-scented soap so I really don't know what to expect.

Do I need to leave my soap in the oven overnight after I've turned off the heat? Or does it just need to be in there for a certain number of hours?

You can leave it in there overnight after you turn the oven off or take it out as soon as it's in full gel. Then leave it til it's cool.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

How can I tell if it's in full gel? If I open the oven up to check on it, won't that let out the little bit of warm air that might still be inside? Will that make any difference?

Do you have a window in that oven... turn on the light and you should be able to tell. I usually just leave it in overnight, then you would be sure.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I do have a window and it's kind of glistening. Maybe I'll take a quick peek.

Well this experiment was a flop. It didn't look bad when I pulled it from the oven (see below) but the layers separated when I began slicing it. Too much cocoa? Or maybe too much soap in my 1lb mold, causing the soap not to gel?

I'm nearly out of coconut and palm oils so I've been playing with lard recipes while waiting on my next shipment of oils to arrive.
Are lard recipes maybe not the best recipes for making layers?

I've never worked with vanilla before. This Vanilla Select Bramble Berry fragrance smelled great in the bottle but the loaf of soap did not smell good when I pulled it from the oven. I used a color stabilizer on the top layer (not the bottom). Does color stabilizer change the scent of the vanilla?

On the upside - I've finally figured out how to post photos within the forum:


by , on Flickr


by , on Flickr

What is the top limit on the amount of ounces of soap I should pour into my wooden 1lb mold?