Curry Powder in Cold Process Soap 5


Today begins our third day of using kitchen spices in soap by using curry powder, which is actually a blend of various spices. I was quite surprised when I learned that curry powder was a blend of spices as I had always thought that curry was a pepper like plant! This particular curry powder contains, turmeric, paprika, fenugreek, coriander, black pepper, cumin, ginger, celery seed, cloves, caraway, and cayenne.

I found the word curry is actually a Western term that was possibly derived the Tamil word “karai” which means gravy or sauce rather than a particular type of dish. Curry is a side dish that is served alongside a main dish of rice or bread. In India, curry dishes do not use the same spices and not all of the dishes are “spicy.” Outside of India, the tradition of keeping special blends of curry powder simply became uneconomical especially since access to fresh spices is more difficult and curry powder became increasingly standardized. I feel so enlightened now that I know more about curry powder and Indian cooking.

Collect needed items:

Ingredients
Hydrogenated Soy
Palm Kernel Oil
Sunflower Oil
Sodium Hydroxide
water
Curry Powder
Equipment
Scale
Soap Spoon
Gloves
Rubbermaid Drawer Organizer #2915
Immersion Blender
Time spent:
Weighing time: 8 minutes
Adding lye to water: 15 seconds, followed by 60 seconds of stirring
Heating of oils time: 90 seconds
Pouring lye solution into the fat mixture: 10 seconds
Using immersion blender to mix soap solution: 90 seconds
Adding Curry Powder and mixing well: 30 seconds
Pour into mold: 10 seconds
Allow soap to rest: 24 hours
Recipe in ounces:
6 ounces Hydrogenated Soy
6 ounces Palm Kernel Oil
4 ounces Sunflower Oil

2.2 ounces Sodium Hydroxide
6 fl oz water

1 teaspoon Curry Powder

We are going to use the higher end of the water recommendations in the Lye Calculator so we can mix the curry powder in easily. We are also making this soap in dry weather so the soap will dry/cure quickly. If you are making this in a humid location, please use a dehumidifier to help dry out the soaps.

Measure fixed oils on your scale. Warm the fixed oils on the stove or in the microwave. I melted the oils in the microwave. Add sodium hydroxide to the water. Mix well.

Combine oils and lye solution. Stir until thin trace. Upon light trace, add the curry powder. Stir well. Pour soap into molds. I used the Rubbermaid Drawer Organizers #2915 as the mold. Allow to sit until soap is firm.

The next morning cut into bars. Stack to allow good air circulation. Allow to cure for several days before using. Longer curing will result in a harder bar.

Notes:
I had originally thought that the curry powder would make an orange colored soap and I was right, at least for the first 48 hours after cutting. Now the color has mellowed out and the overall color is a pale dirty orange with various orange and brown colored specks. The curry powder did contribute a spicy scent to the soap after being added and during the gel phase. The soap does have a mild sweet spice scent now. It is not a strong scent and it should not interfere with any scent. I would recommend leaving 1 teaspoon as the maximum usage rate because I think this soap could possibly be irritating to the skin.

After looking at the finished soap, I think the best scents for this soap would be Lemon, Lemongrass or spicy scents like Brown Sugar & Spice, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Jack, and Spiced Fig. The color should have more play in the final scent decision. Sandalwood, patchouly and musk scents would also work well with the coloring.

The Curry Powdersoap samples have been sent to the Shipping Department to send out in orders. I really want to hear your comments about this or any of the other soaps with kitchen spices. I hope that anyone wanting a sample soap will request one and if we have any samples we will send them to you.

Cut soap after 24 hours.

Curry Powder.

Adding the lye to the water.

The lye and water need to be mixed together.

Stirring the lye solution.

Adding the lye solution to the melted fixed oils.

Mixing the lye solution and oils together.

Adding 1 tsp Curry Powder.

Raw soap into the mold.

Continuing to mix until light trace.

Blending raw soap and curry powder.

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Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Curry Powder in Cold Process Soap, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating

About Andee

Director of Happiness. I'm a thirty-something soap snob. I've grown up with handmade soaps, and I love them! I really like making lotions, soaps, and perfumes. I adore mixing scents to come up with something new. My favorite scent is either Wicked or Cotton Candy. I tend to hoard fragrances, I even have an Earl Grey Tea from the MMS catalog. I won't tell you how old it is, but it sure is good!

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5 thoughts on “Curry Powder in Cold Process Soap

  • Simona

    wow, this is s nice wild orange! however, I love the colour after 24 hours :).this is on my to do list 🙂

    Just in case anyone did the research – would there be any benefits from adding the curry powder to the soap, or simple aesthetics?

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  • kawleen

    I’m working on a school project that is about soap making and i’m actually reading benefits of different ingredients used in soaps. My guess would be it does bring some good. It has to. since all the spices carry a lot of good.

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    • Denise

      Though curry is reputed to have some beneficial properties, there is such a small amount used in this application, that it is doubtful any of those properties is in high enough concentration to create any benefit. Also, as soap is a wash-off product, it is not in contact with the skin long enough to have any effect.

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