Sweet Black Licorice Soap by Diane

Here is another great recipe from Diane of Indulgent Body & Bath. Here is what she had to say:

When you think of Black Licorice – what color comes to mind? Black, of course. But I didn’t want to make an all black soap; I already had an idea for that one (I used for my Leather Luxury soap that will be available soon on my website). I decided to use Black Jojoba Beads instead. In order to be able to see the Jojoba Beads and for the exfoliation benefit, the Beads must remain solid and not melt during the processing of the soap – more specifically, during the gel phase.

To accomplish just that, this recipe is a variance to the overall soap processing method that keeps everything (oils, lye and in the mold) very cool…. that’s the secret to keeping those Jojoba Beads in tact.

 

Sweet Black Licorice Soap Ingredients

• Olive 18 Oz
• Sunflower 12 oz
• Coconut 16 oz
• Palm 9 oz
• Palm Kernel 4 oz
• Castor 3 oz
• Palm Stearic 2 oz
• Distilled Water 22 oz
• Lye 9 oz
• Black Jojoba Beads 1 oz
• Titanium Dioxide (water dispersable) 1 Tablespoon
• Anise Essential Oil 2 oz

 

How to Make Sweet Black Licorice Soap Instructions

As you can see by the ingredients, this is a nice hard, great lathering and conditioning bar of soap. And, it’s moisturizing, too – about 7% superfatted. But remember to run this through your own lye calculator.

After thoroughly combining your lye and water, making sure all is well dissolved and clear, add 1 T of the Titanium Dioxide and stir well. This will produce a very nice white soap base to show off the Black Jojoba Beads. Put aside to cool to about room temperature.

Next, measure out all your oils; melt the Coconut, Plam, Palm Kernel, Palm Stearic; then add the liquid oils and combine well. Set aside and also cool to room temperature.

When both oils and lye water are about the same temperature then mix very slowly, stirring all the while. You do not want it to trace quickly. Once combined, take your stick blender to this mix, carefully watching your trace. At thin trace, add the Anise essential oil – again using your stick blender making sure you have thoroughly mixed the essential oil into the soap mixture. Bring the mix to a medium pudding state and add the Jojoba Beads. Quickly stir by hand to incorporate the beads as evenly as possible.

Pour into your log mold, smooth out the top, if neccessary. Do not put the top on the mold; do not insulate; and by all means – do not put in the oven to hasten the saponification process. This batch needs to remain cool. If you have any doubts about the temperature getting too warm, use a fan or even put this in the refrigerator for a few days (especially during hot, humid weather). Do not unmold until it is completely set. The soap will set: Soap does not require gelling to go through the saponification process and become soap.

Once the soap in the mold is firm set, slice into bars and let dry/ cure for about 6 weeks. You will feel a noticeable difference in the feel and texture of this no-gel cold process soap… very creamy and ultra smooth. And, you will also be able to see individual black beads of Jojoba.

You could let this gel, of course. But the heat of the gelling process will melt the Jojoba Beads giving you a very different look to your soap. However, my intent was to keep the integrity of the Jojoba Beads for the texture and exfoliating effect.

 

Thanks for Another Great Recipe, Diane!