We have been making Tinctures, Infusions, and Decoctions with several dried herbs and with many of the powders that are available in the catalog. Today instead of using the extraction method to get the properties or color out of the dried herbs or powders I would like to show you how to use them directly in your cold process soaps. My main reason for doing this is to show you some wonderful color options for your soaps that the powders will provide.Today I am going to use Safflower Powder, this powder has a beautiful red orange color. Safflowers are a bright yellow orange flower, they appear dry and spiky in the fields. The dried flowers take on a red orange appearance and the herbal/floral aroma is a great addition. The powder is ground very fine and feels soft to the touch. You can add this powder directly to your soap for a great golden color.I have gathered some supplies and I’m ready show you how easy adding botanical color can be.
Supplies Needed:
Ingredients
Palm Kernel Oil
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Lye
Water
Powder of choice
Recipe in Grams
170.1 Palm Kernel Oil
141.75 grams Coconut Oil
141.75 grams Olive Oil
62.37 grams Lye
177 mL Water
1 tsp Powder
Recipe in Ounces
6 oz Palm Kernel Oil
5 oz Coconut Oil
5 oz Olive Oil
2.20 oz Lye
6 fl oz Water
5 grams Powder
Recipe in Percentages
38% Palm Kernel Oil
31% Coconut Oil
31% Olive Oil
Q.S. Lye
Q.S. Water
Q.S. Powder
I’m going to use the same soap recipe as I did when making the soap with infusions. This will give you some ideas and suggestions when you try the infusions or powders in your soap batches.
Begin by weighing all of the oils into a microwave safe container. Heat gently until liquid. Add the Sodium Hydroxide to the water to form a lye solution. Allow the oils and the lye to cool separately until they reach a lower temperature. We do not want to have the soap overheat and volcano. When cooled, mix the oils and lye solution together and blend with immersion blender until trace is achieved. Once your mixture has made it to trace add in your powder approximately 1 teaspoon, mix thoroughly then pour into a mold and allow to sit for 24 hours. Cut the soap. Allow the soap to cure. Longer curing time will result in a harder bar.
I have noticed that when adding the powder that I am getting a deep golden color or tint to the soap. I only used 1 tsp and got this fabulous color. Even though the powder color is red orange, when added to the soap it gets a golden dark yellow tone.
I have added a few photos to show you the process, I hope you are making some great soaps with me and enjoying the fun. Check out the last photo of all the soap lined up Safflower Powder is the first from the left, beautiful yellow color. I will keep watching and see if the color changes while it cures.
VN:R_U [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Safflower Powder in Cold Process Soap, 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating
I seriously would never retire if I had your job….I would be the really old (not wrinkled because of all the excellent creams and soaps I have been making) lady with the smile on my face…hehehehe
Janet
I seriously would never retire if I had your job….I would be the really old (not wrinkled because of all the excellent creams and soaps I have been making) lady with the smile on my face…hehehehe
Janet
Thank you for this series! Do you have follow up photos of the after-cure colours? I know some change over time (cf. vanilla ^_^)