Teach Soap

Hi All!!!
I'm about to make coffee soap. I need 30 ml of FO, but I only have 20 ml of Turkish Mocha (BB of course). I'm trying to use up the FOs I have at the moment before I go out and buy more!

I was wondering if I could add 10 ml of Vanilla Select (BB) and still retain a coffee scent? I did the toothpick trick, and it smells awfully nice but I can't tell if it's really smeling like coffee (might being it to work today and ask the lady who doesn't like coffee ). I realise Turkish Mocha has some vanilla in it so I think it would go nicely but it might be too much vanilla?

I could get away with a bit less FO as I am keeping a portion of the soap unscented for the "foam" on top (similar to this BB Chai Tea soap I made below)

That might make the vanilla less overpowering.

A friend suggested making the soap with coffee instead of water, so I was planning on making my lye water, and when it's around the temperature of boiling water I'd add some instant coffee to the mix. Has anyone tried this, and other than the awful smell when the coffee hits the lye, does it work? does it impart coffee scent to the soap, and also does it suds brown? (I'm trying to avoid this by working with the natural discoloration of the vanilla-based FO).

I'd love any insight anyone might have, it might help me think!!!

Thanks!!!

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Western Australia

I would not add instant coffee to your hot lye water. It could boil over and will stink to high heaven. I would use minimum water to dissolve the lye. Mix the instant coffee with the rest of the water. Adding Vanilla might not be a bad idea. It will make your soap very dark. After your combine the oils and the lye water, then I would add the dissolved instant coffee.

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

Ah, that makes sense!!! Thanks so much Soapbuddy!!!!!!!

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Western Australia

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

That is beautiful soap. What did you use to dust the top with?

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Thank yoyu!!

I just used a sprinkling of cinnamon on that one prior to texturing the top (and it's only on top so I'm hoping it'll wash off quickly and not cause any discomfort to anyone).
I am now wondering about using cardamom though, given the Chai Tea, but the cinnamon was right there!

I've also used poppy seeds (mango soap -- and I hope it's ok to post lots of pics!)


and cocoa:


that's about the extent of my toppings to date, though I am toying with the idea of coffee beans for the aforementioned coffee soap! If I can find 2 minutes to get to the shops!!

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Western Australia

I always add a little vanilla to my turkish mocha if I've omly got 1 oz. I think it's a little light for my nose. you could add some finely ground coffee to the soap for texture.

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Western Australia

Hi All!
I've decided that I really wanted to see what colour Turkish Mocha and Vanilla Select would do with nothing else added, so I will keep the advice for a next time, I have a coffee soap to which I added cocoa and ground coffee and while it's great, it suds brown, and I really wanted some coffee soap that didn't do that, so when I have cut a bar I'll come show you what I've made!

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Western Australia

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I also used vanilla with turkish mocha, with cocoa powder. I added the fo &cocoa powder to 2/3 and left 1/3 with nothing. Looks sweet enough to eat!!

Hi All!!
I'll start by apologising for people who are on another forum I'm on. I'm a bit duplicating my posts, but this forum helped me with the FOs in this soap (the other one was where we're having a play with recipes) so I only thought it made sense to post in both spots!

I made my Coffee soap on Thursday!
I used 2.5% FO, 1/3 of the FO was Vanilla Select and the rest (2/3) Turkish Mocha! Yum, what a great combination!!! Makes me want to have coffee and cookies or even croissants!!!

I've went with just the FO, no coffee, no ground coffee (except for decoration), and to see how the colour changes! So far I'm very happy.
I separated just under 2 cups of the soap blend (it was a 1272 gr of oils recipe) and added 1 tsp of Titanium Dioxide in 15 ml of water to it (actually, I mix the TiO2 and the H2O in the cup, then pour the soap on top). My TiO2 portion of soap has a bit of that crackling effect we get with TiO2 sometimes, but I decided I didn't mind . The swirl in the slices makes me think of when milk is poured in coffee. I'm really happy with it.

I decorated the top with ground coffee. I wanted to use coffee beans but I forgot to buy some!

The picture below shows the transition in the first 24 hours of the soap being cut. I'm going to take another picture in 4 weeks (I'm trying to balance the white paper under the soap so I get better comparisons).

The soap in the middle was the first slice I cut (had to see if the swirl had worked) the next morning I cut the log and the first slice had already darkened, so I took a side-by-side picture to "see" the difference between the first slice and a "fresh" slice which didn't get exposed to air. The slice on the far left is the soap after 24 hours of being cut. Not much difference now between the first slice and the other ones although it is still getting darker I believe.

And just for fun, this was the top of the soap before I cut it... looks like cookies and cream ice cream!


Thanks to everyone for their input, advice, etc. I took notes and when I make more coffee soap I'll use some of these tips!!! Thanks

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Western Australia

I like the darker soap on the left after it was out for a while.

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