Coriander Seed Powder in Cold Process Soap

Today begins our seventh day of using kitchen spices in soap by using Coriander Seed Powder.

Coriander seeds are used in various dishes both ground and whole. Whole coriander seeds are used for pickling vegetables, flavoring sausages or smoked meats, brewing Belgian wheat beers, as a replacement for caraway seeds in rye bread, or roasted for an out of hand snack. Coriander seed powder is used in various dishes across the world like chutneys, curries, salsa, soups, rice, bread, fish and more.

Did you know that the whole coriander plant can be used in cooking? Places that have Spanish or Latin American influences call coriander leaves “cilantro”? Cilantro is the Spanish name for the coriander plant.

Collect needed items:

Ingredients
Hydrogenated Soy
Palm Kernel Oil
Sunflower Oil
Sodium Hydroxide
water
Coriander Seed 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 Coriander Seed 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 Coriander Seed Powder

We are going to use the higher end of the water recommendations in the Lye Calculator so we can mix the coriander seed 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 coriander seed 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 coriander seed powder would have a final coloration of a warm brown. I was surprised when after adding the coriander seed powder the soap still did not have any odd color change. After 24 hours, the soap was a pale tan color with a few brown flecks. This color made me think of the color of whipping cream with vanilla extract added before whipping it to make whipped cream. The soap does not have a scent now, but it did have a spicy orange scent after the coriander seed powder was added and during the gel phase. I would recommend 2 teaspoons per pound of fat as the maximum usage rate.

After looking at the finished soap, I think the best scents for this soap would be citrus, harvest or comforting scents like Oatmeal Milk & Honey, Honey Harvest, Honey Almond, Intense Almond, Love Muffin, Bitter Orange Orchid, Lotus, and Lemon Verbena.

The coriander seed powder soap 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.