Soapmaking
Aloe & Apricot Kernel Exfoliating Soap
It's no secret, I love making soap. And making a scrub soap is even more special!
When I first made this handmade soap in winter, I wanted to create a gentle exfoliating soap so I used aloe gel as a replacement for half the water amount and I superfatted by 7% instead of the regular 5% superfat. The result is a luxurious, creamy exfoliating soap. The scrubbiness is just enough, but I wouldn't use this on my face, it's a bit too scrubby for the sensitive facial skin.
The apricot kernel powder not only gives this soap a scrubby texture and a speckled look, but also affects the colour of the soap to this deep tan colour. I must admit I was a bit heavy-handed on the powder - but I quite like the effect.
I used our Luxury Soap mix and simply added 27g Apricot Kernel oil (you can use any cold-pressed natural oil of your choice) to bump up the superfat amount. This is over and above the 5% superfat that is already built into the Luxury Soap mix recipe.
Here is what you will need to make this soap:
You will need:
- 900g Luxury Ready Mix
- 126g Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
- 135g Distilled or De-ionised Water
- 135g Aloe Gel
- 27g Avocado Oil (optional for extra superheat - this will make your total superfat 8%)
- 1 to 2 TBS Apricot Kernel powder
- 27g Essential oil - I used peppermint, rosemary and tea tree.
Here's how to make it:
Before you dive in, make sure you have read and understand the basic soap-making instructions here.
- Firstly, you will need to weight-out the de ionised water and aloe gel into the same container and then add your weighed sodium hydroxide.
Warm/Melt the Luxury Soap Mix bottle in a bowl or pot of hot water with the cap on (if solid at room temperature). Shake well and weigh 900g into a soaping container
- Add 27g Apricot Kernel oil into the Luxury soap mix. You will now have 927g of total oils.
- Weigh your essential oil and apricot kernel seed powder and set aside.
- Once the melted Luxury soap mix and lye water are at room temperature, follow standard soap making procedure to bring them to trace. Once you have a relatively thin trace, blend in the essential oils and apricot kernel seed powder. Blend until medium trace and pour into a loaf mould.
- Leave to saponify for 24–48 hours. Remove from the mould and slice, and then leave to cure for at least four weeks before using. Enjoy!
For more detailed instructions, please read our Soap Making Instructions page.
Feel free to book a Private Soapmaking Workshop
In this article
