The Strawberry Soap
I found this recipe while I was poking around in the library and came across Melinda Coss’ book-The handmade soap book (1998:36)
Ingredients :
12oz (340g) vegetable fat (shortening)
8oz (227g) tallow (dripping)
8oz (227g) coconut oil
4oz (113g) olive oil
2oz (57g) beeswax
14oz (397) distilled or spring water
6oz (170g) fresh strawberries
5oz (142g) sodium hydroxide (caustic soda/lye)
½ tsp (2,5g) diluted red cosmetic pigment (D&C red 28)
1oz (28g) wheatgerm oil
2 tsp (10g) strawberry fragrance oil
Method : (summarized according to Melinda Coss 1998:36)
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Place the fats, base oils and beeswax in a stainless steel or enamel pot over low heat.
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Set aside 4oz (113g) of the water and pour the remainder into a plastic bowl or jug.
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Remove the leaves and stalks from the strawberries and place them in a liquidizer, adding the water you set aside. Liquidize them until liquid, then add this to the rest of the water.
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Add the sodium hydroxide to the strawberry liquid and stir until dissolved.
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Add this mixture to your melted fat and oil mixture over low heat. Stir until “trace” is reached(should take about 30 minutes).
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Add the coloring, wheatgerm and fragrance oil and stir.
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Pour into a greased mold of choice and cover with a towel or blanket, set it aside for about 48 hours or until it’s hard enough to remove from mold and cut into shapes you desire.
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Cover the soap again and leave to cure for 4 weeks before use.
Remarks :
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As you can see, this is not an easy soap to make. For a beginner like me it took 3 tries before I was satisfied with the result. But it was well worth it!
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I highly recommend Melinda Coss’ book, “the handmade soap book”, it’s great for beginners as well as advanced soap makers. Some recipes include : Fruity soaps(blackberry smoothy, peach malba), Floral soaps (sunflower and calendula, honey blossom), Dairy soaps(poached egg, milk chocolate soap) Antiseptic soaps and MUCH MUCH more!
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According to Melinda Coss (1998:36) this is a medium/soft soap with medium bubbles but NOT recommended for sensitive skins.
Warning : Sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye is a very harmful substance with corrosive properties, wear rubber gloves, protective eye wear(plastic goggles or spectacles) and a mask if possible(fumes) at all times when handling this chemical, a parent or guardian should be present at all times if you are still a child or teenager. Work in a well ventilated area and also, NEVER add water to your sodium hydroxide/caustic soda/lye, add the chemical to water.)
Bibliography :
COSS, M. 1998. the handmade soap book. 80pp
New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. 24 Nutford Place London W1H 6DQ
London*Cape Town*Sydney*Auckland
Reproduction by Modern Age Repro House Ltd, Hong Kong
Printed and bound in Singapore by Tien Wah Press (Pte) Ltd
ISBN 1 85368 807 X HB
ISBN 1 85974 006 5 PB
