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Rosemary Tea Tree Charcoal Soap

A natural herbal soap with activated charcoal
Prep Time1 hour
Insulation Time1 day
Superfat %: 10%
Keyword: cold process soap, hot process soap, organic soap
Makes: 2 pounds
Author: Kelly

Equipment

  • 1 large stainless steel pot
  • 1 large glass bowl
  • 1 small glass bowl
  • 1 scale
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 1 large spoon
  • 1 stick blender
  • 1 slow cooker , optional
  • 1 2lb mold

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces olive oil
  • 6 ounces coconut oil
  • 4 ounces castor oil
  • 2 ounces apricot kernel oil
  • 2 ounces cocoa butter
  • 2 ounces avocado oil
  • 7 ounces water
  • 2.9 ounces lye
  • 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon activated charcoal powder
  • 0.40 ounce rosemary essential oil
  • 0.30 ounce tea tree essential oil

Instructions

Cold Process Instructions:

  • Weigh all oils and butter and combine in a large stainless steel pot and melt. Cool to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Put on protective clothing such as gloves, goggles, and a charcoal mask (surgical masks are worthless). Weigh lye into a zip close bag. Weigh water in a bowl. Take lye and water outside to a location inaccessible to children and pets and pour lye into the water, stirring until fully dissolved. Let cool to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Bring lye water in and when both oils and lye water are at the correct temperature, pour lye water into the oils and blend with an immersion blender on and off until light trace (it begins to thicken like pancake batter).
  • Add essential oils, herbs, and charcoal and blend well.
  • Scrape soap into the prepared mold and cover. Keep in a warm location (around 75-80 degrees) for 24 hours.
  • Remove from the mold and cut if necessary. If it's still too soft to remove, then wait another 24 hours. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks to harden.

Hot Process Instructions:

  • Melt oils and cocoa butter in a slow cooker.
  • Put on protective clothing such as gloves, goggles, and a charcoal mask (surgical masks are worthless). Weigh lye into a zip close bag. Weigh water in a bowl. Take lye and water outside to a location inaccessible to children and pets and pour lye into the water, stirring until fully dissolved. Allow to cool.
  • Bring lye water in and carefully pout it into the slow cooker and blend with a stick blender until it begins to thicken.
  • Cover and wait 15-20 minutes, depending on your slow cooker. Do not uncover, but check it to make sure it's not scorching on the sides, but slowly bubbling into a mashed potatoes looking consistency.
  • When the entire batch has changed in texture, remove the lid and add essential oils, herbs, and charcoal and blend.
  • Scoop the soap into a prepared mold. Carefully knock the mold on the countertop to get out any bubbles. It's ready to use as soon as it is cool and hard enough.