November 07, 2011

Shea Butter Soap

Shea Butter Guest Soaps
Inspired by a simple recipe in The Everything Soapmaking Book, I custom-make my soaps with moisturizing shea butter and beeswax for its emolliency. I love the luxurious lather, that is creamy and silky at the same time.

Shea Butter Soap
10 oz. light olive oil
6 oz. coconut oil
1 T. shea butter
6 fl. oz. water
2.25 oz. lye (NaOH)
1 T. fragrance oil (optional: I highly recommend Brambleberry's Fresh Zucchini Flower)

Technique: cold process
Target temps: 110–150°F (higher temp* if using beewax or small molds)
Mold requirements: 3 cup capacity
Time in molds: 48+ hrs
Time to maturity: 4 weeks

Final Results: 16 guest-size moisturizing bars
Color: creamy white
Aroma: softly floral
Lather: low

*High temperature encourages faster trace. Hand whisk to ensure complete emulsification/thorough saponification. Have simple molds ready. If you use a stick blender and wind up with a heavy trace, the batter may be too thick in detailed molds.

3 comments:

Bees For Sale said...

Very neat! Where did you get the moulds with the bee logo made up?

HB said...

@Bees For Sale The mold is also from Brambleberry. www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=bee I hope you have something similar in the UK. They are a great resource for soapmakers.

Bees For Sale said...

Thanks for the info! I'm sure we must have something similar over here. I'll get researching! Cheers!

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