Vanilla Cold-Process Soap Recipe
This vanilla soap is luxurious, moisturizing, and offers a rich, long-lasting vanilla fragrance. It’s a simple yet indulgent cold-process soap, ideal for personal use or gifting. Makes 10 bars.
Servings: 10 bars
Equipment
- Thermometer
Ingredients
- 4.28 ounces lye
- 10 ounces water
- 11 ounces olive oil
- 12 ounces coconut oil
- 3 ounces avocado oil
- 2 ounces shea butter
- 2 ounces castor oil
- 1 ounce vanilla fragrance oil or up to 1.5 ounces for a stronger scent
- Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder for a speckled look
Instructions
- Make lye water. Measure the lye and water separately using a digital scale. Slowly add the lye to the water (never the reverse) and stir until dissolved. The mixture will heat up significantly. Set it aside in a safe, well-ventilated area to cool.
- Melt oils. Measure and combine the olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, and castor oil in a pot. Heat over medium-low until all oils, especially the shea butter, fully melt. Remove from heat once the oils reach around 110°F. Let the oils cool to between 90°F and 110°F.
- Check temperatures. Once both the lye solution and the melted oils are within 90°F to 110°F, you’re ready to proceed. Make sure your mold, fragrance oil, and optional vanilla bean powder are on hand and ready to go.
- Blend to trace. Pour the cooled lye solution into the melted oils. Use a stick blender to mix until you reach trace (a smooth, pudding-like consistency). At trace, add the vanilla fragrance oil and vanilla bean powder if using. Stir by hand to incorporate evenly.
- Pour into mold. Immediately pour the soap batter into the prepared mold. Tap the mold gently on the counter to release any air bubbles.
- Cure. Allow the soap to sit in the mold for 24-48 hours until firm. Once firm, unmold the soap and slice it into bars. Place the bars in a well-ventilated area and cure for 3-4 weeks.
Notes
- Use the right fragrance oil: Make sure your vanilla fragrance oil is soap-safe and skin-safe. Some fragrance oils aren’t designed for cold-process soap.
- Trace timing: Vanilla fragrance oil can sometimes accelerate trace, so be prepared to move quickly after adding it.
- Vanilla discoloration: Vanilla fragrance oils will naturally darken soap over time due to the vanillin content. You can leave it as is for a rustic look or incorporate a vanilla-stable colorant if desired.
- Other fragrance options: You can mix vanilla fragrance oil with complementary scents like sandalwood or lavender for a custom fragrance blend.
- Add exfoliants: Ground oats or poppy seeds can be added for exfoliating properties.
- Custom colors: Use natural colorants like cocoa powder or French green clay for visual variety.