Cactus Flower Soap Project

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Skill Level: Advanced
Time: 1 hour
Yield: About 6 Pounds of Soap

Project Description

Nature is full of inspiration. This project is inspired by the colors and textures of a blooming cactus.

Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil is a green take on a floral scent, with notes of violet petals, lemon, and white musk. It behaves wonderfully in soap and gives these bars the perfect fresh scent.

This beautiful photograph led us in designing the colors, layers, and textures of this soap. The first layer is created using Stormy Blue Mica and poppy seeds to mimic the texture of a cactus. An activated charcoal line separates the white and blue layers. Finally, green melt and pour embeds and soap flowers add color and interest.

The melt and pour embeds do need to be created several hours in advance to allow them to cool and harden. We recommend using LCP White Melt and Pour Soap Base because it has a higher melting point and less glycerin, which helps prevent morphing and sweating.

This recipe should be kept cool to prevent the embeds from melting. A slightly lower soaping temperature and a 10% water discount will also prevent glycerin rivers from forming in the white layer. If you live in a very hot climate, you’ll probably want to place this soap in the fridge for several hours.

Additional Information

  • Supplies
  • Instructions
  • Reviews
  • Q&A

Supplies

12 Ingredients
2 Tools
For All 14 Items
If an item is out of stock, it will not be added to your cart.
All 14 Items :
SFIC LCP White Melt And Pour Soap Base - 1 lb
SFIC LCP White Melt And Pour Soap Base - 1 lb Item#: IB002886
$5.99

$5.99
Green Chrome Color Block for Soap Making
Green Chrome Color Block - 1 Block Item#: M900065
$1.99
Get 4 or More and Save 10%

$1.99
Lots of Lather Quick Mix in a bowl
Lots of Lather Quick Mix - 33 oz Item#: M900009
$16.99
Get 3 or More and Save 10%
2x points!

$33.98
Sodium Hydroxide Lye
Sodium Hydroxide Lye Item#: IB002149
$14.99

$14.99
Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil - 3.5 oz
Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil - 3.5 oz Item#: IB001776
$8.09

$8.09
Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz
Titanium Dioxide Pigment - 1 oz Item#: IB002531
$2.99

$2.99
Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant - 1 oz
Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant - 1 oz Item#: IB002602
$4.99

$4.99
Fizzy Lemonade Colorant - 1 oz
Fizzy Lemonade Colorant - 1 oz Item#: IB002596
$12.99

$12.99
Activated Charcoal - 1 oz
Activated Charcoal - 1 oz Item#: IB002023
$3.99

$3.99
Poppy Seeds - 3 oz
Poppy Seeds - 3 oz Item#: IB002578
$4.99

$4.99
Stormy Blue Mica - 1 oz
Stormy Blue Mica - 1 oz Item#: IB002242
$3.99

$3.99
Green Chrome Oxide Pigment - 1 oz
Green Chrome Oxide Pigment - 1 oz Item#: IB002537
$5.99

$5.99
5 lb Mold With Sliding Bottom
5 lb Mold With Sliding Bottom Item#: IB002134
$65.99

$65.99
Silicone Liner for 5 lb Wood Mold Soap Making
Silicone Liner for 5 lb Wood Mold - 1 mold Item#: IB002820
$25.99
Get 5 or More and Save 10%!

$25.99

Instructions

Cactus Flower Soap Project

  • Skill Level: Advanced
  • Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: About 6 Pounds of Soap

Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil is a green take on a floral scent, with notes of violet petals, lemon, and white musk. It behaves wonderfully in soap and gives these bars the perfect fresh scent.

This beautiful photograph led us in designing the colors, layers, and textures of this soap. The first layer is created using Stormy Blue Mica and poppy seeds to mimic the texture of a cactus. An activated charcoal line separates the white and blue layers. Finally, green melt and pour embeds and soap flowers add color and interest.

The melt and pour embeds do need to be created several hours in advance to allow them to cool and harden. We recommend using LCP White Melt and Pour Soap Base because it has a higher melting point and less glycerin, which helps prevent morphing and sweating.

This recipe should be kept cool to prevent the embeds from melting. A slightly lower soaping temperature and a 10% water discount will also prevent glycerin rivers from forming in the white layer. If you live in a very hot climate, you’ll probably want to place this soap in the fridge for several hours.

You will need:

  • 7 oz. LCP White Melt and Pour Base
  • Chrome Green Color Block
  • 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
  • Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
  • 65 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
  • 9.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 19.3 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
  • 4 oz. Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil
  • 4 tsp. Titanium Dioxide
  • 1 tsp. Stormy Blue Mica
  • 1/2 tsp. Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Green Chrome Oxide
  • 2 tsp. Activated Charcoal
  • 2 tsp. Poppy Seeds
  • 1M Frosting Tip
  • Disposable Frosting Bag
  • Powder Duster

Follow these steps:

MAKE THE EMBEDS

1

Chop and melt 7 ounces LCP White Melt and Pour Soap in the microwave using 15 second bursts. Add shavings of the Chrome Green Color Block until you get a soft green shade. Pour the soap into the mold of your choice. The exact shape is not super important because the soap will be chopped into small pieces. We used the 12 Cavity Rectangle Silicone Mold and filled up 2 cavities. Wait 2-4 hours for bars to cool and harden.

2

Remove from the mold. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to chop the soap into long rectangle pieces. The exact size of each embed is up to you. Set aside.

MAKE THE BASE

1

Slowly and carefully add 9.3 ounces of lye to 19.3 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 4 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.

2

Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it's completely clear with no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 65 ounces into a large heat-safe container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 4 teaspoons of titanium dioxide into 4 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Then in separate containers, disperse 1/2 teaspoon Fizzy Lemonade Colorant, Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant, and Chrome Green Oxide into 1/2 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. The disperse 1 teaspoon Stormy Blue Mica into 1 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Note: This project was originally made with Bright Blue Jean Colorant, which was discontinued. Stormy Blue Mica creates a similar shade but it will look different from the photos below.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 4 ounces of Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil into a glass container. Set aside.

MOLD & TOOL PREP: Insert the silicone liner into the wood mold.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

3

Add all the Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil to the soap. Use your stick blender to stir in the fragrance and then use short bursts to further incorporate.

4

Pour 200 mL of soap into 2 separate containers. To one container, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fizzy Lemonade Colorant. To the other, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant. Use a whisk or spoon to fully incorporate the colors. Set the soap aside.

5

Pour 30 ounces of uncolored soap into a separate container. To this container, add 1 tablespoon of the dispersed Bright Blue Jean Colorant and 1/8 teaspoon dispersed Chrome Green Oxide. Use the stick blender to mix in the colorants. If the soap is still at thin trace, stick blend until you reach medium trace.

6

Whisk 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds into the blue soap.

7

Pour all of the blue soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to release air bubbles. Once the soap is thick enough to hold its shape, slide a spoon down the length of the mold several times to create a wavy texture in the soap. 

8

Put a few teaspoons of activated charcoal into the powder duster. Lightly dust onto the blue soap. Apply a small amount or the layers may separate once cut. Set the mold aside.

9

To the remaining soap, add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide. Adding the extra oil will cause the trace to thin. The soap needs to be a thick texture to support the embeds, so use the stick blender to thicken it and then pour it into the mold. Save a small amount of white soap for the next step. Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help disperse any bubbles. Use the back of a small spoon to spread the soap evenly into the mold.

10

Begin placing the melt and pour embeds into the soap. We placed ours randomly, but you can concentrate the pieces on the side of the soap flowers if you’d like. Continue inserting pieces until the entire soap is filled. Use the small amount of your leftover white soap to cover the green pieces. Use a spoon to smooth the top.

11

Transfer the yellow soap into the pink soap, and use a spoon to very gently stir them together. Don’t mix the colors together completely.

12

Cut off the tip of the disposable frosting bag and insert the frosting tip. Test the consistency of the pink and yellow soap. It should be a thick trace and hold its shape. If it’s not thick enough, let the soap sit in the container for 5-10 minutes and check the consistency again. We waited about 15 minutes for the soap to thicken before piping the flowers.

13

Transfer the soap into the frosting bag. Pipe little flowers down the length of the mold, concentrating them on one side. Pipe the leftover soap onto a silicone mold or onto any nonstick surface.

14

Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to prevent soda ash. Because you don’t want the flowers or melt and pour embeds to melt, keep this soap in a cool area. Don’t cover and insulate. If you live in a hot climate, you can place the mold into the fridge for about 3-4 hours. Then remove the soap to sit and harden overnight. After about 2-3 days, unmold the soap and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

Tutorial credits

Photographer: Amanda Kerzman

Cactus Flower Soap Project

  • Skill Level: Advanced
  • Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: About 6 Pounds of Soap

Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil is a green take on a floral scent, with notes of violet petals, lemon, and white musk. It behaves wonderfully in soap and gives these bars the perfect fresh scent.

This beautiful photograph led us in designing the colors, layers, and textures of this soap. The first layer is created using Stormy Blue Mica and poppy seeds to mimic the texture of a cactus. An activated charcoal line separates the white and blue layers. Finally, green melt and pour embeds and soap flowers add color and interest.

The melt and pour embeds do need to be created several hours in advance to allow them to cool and harden. We recommend using LCP White Melt and Pour Soap Base because it has a higher melting point and less glycerin, which helps prevent morphing and sweating.

This recipe should be kept cool to prevent the embeds from melting. A slightly lower soaping temperature and a 10% water discount will also prevent glycerin rivers from forming in the white layer. If you live in a very hot climate, you’ll probably want to place this soap in the fridge for several hours.

You will need:

  • 7 oz. LCP White Melt and Pour Base
  • Chrome Green Color Block
  • 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
  • Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
  • 65 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
  • 9.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 19.3 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
  • 4 oz. Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil
  • 4 tsp. Titanium Dioxide
  • 1 tsp. Stormy Blue Mica
  • 1/2 tsp. Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Green Chrome Oxide
  • 2 tsp. Activated Charcoal
  • 2 tsp. Poppy Seeds
  • 1M Frosting Tip
  • Disposable Frosting Bag
  • Powder Duster

Follow these steps:

MAKE THE EMBEDS

1

Chop and melt 7 ounces LCP White Melt and Pour Soap in the microwave using 15 second bursts. Add shavings of the Chrome Green Color Block until you get a soft green shade. Pour the soap into the mold of your choice. The exact shape is not super important because the soap will be chopped into small pieces. We used the 12 Cavity Rectangle Silicone Mold and filled up 2 cavities. Wait 2-4 hours for bars to cool and harden.

2

Remove from the mold. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to chop the soap into long rectangle pieces. The exact size of each embed is up to you. Set aside.

MAKE THE BASE

1

Slowly and carefully add 9.3 ounces of lye to 19.3 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 4 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.

2

Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it's completely clear with no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 65 ounces into a large heat-safe container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 4 teaspoons of titanium dioxide into 4 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Then in separate containers, disperse 1/2 teaspoon Fizzy Lemonade Colorant, Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant, and Chrome Green Oxide into 1/2 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. The disperse 1 teaspoon Stormy Blue Mica into 1 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Note: This project was originally made with Bright Blue Jean Colorant, which was discontinued. Stormy Blue Mica creates a similar shade but it will look different from the photos below.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 4 ounces of Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil into a glass container. Set aside.

MOLD & TOOL PREP: Insert the silicone liner into the wood mold.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

3

Add all the Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil to the soap. Use your stick blender to stir in the fragrance and then use short bursts to further incorporate.

4

Pour 200 mL of soap into 2 separate containers. To one container, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fizzy Lemonade Colorant. To the other, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant. Use a whisk or spoon to fully incorporate the colors. Set the soap aside.

5

Pour 30 ounces of uncolored soap into a separate container. To this container, add 1 tablespoon of the dispersed Bright Blue Jean Colorant and 1/8 teaspoon dispersed Chrome Green Oxide. Use the stick blender to mix in the colorants. If the soap is still at thin trace, stick blend until you reach medium trace.

6

Whisk 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds into the blue soap.

7

Pour all of the blue soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to release air bubbles. Once the soap is thick enough to hold its shape, slide a spoon down the length of the mold several times to create a wavy texture in the soap. 

8

Put a few teaspoons of activated charcoal into the powder duster. Lightly dust onto the blue soap. Apply a small amount or the layers may separate once cut. Set the mold aside.

9

To the remaining soap, add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide. Adding the extra oil will cause the trace to thin. The soap needs to be a thick texture to support the embeds, so use the stick blender to thicken it and then pour it into the mold. Save a small amount of white soap for the next step. Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help disperse any bubbles. Use the back of a small spoon to spread the soap evenly into the mold.

10

Begin placing the melt and pour embeds into the soap. We placed ours randomly, but you can concentrate the pieces on the side of the soap flowers if you’d like. Continue inserting pieces until the entire soap is filled. Use the small amount of your leftover white soap to cover the green pieces. Use a spoon to smooth the top.

11

Transfer the yellow soap into the pink soap, and use a spoon to very gently stir them together. Don’t mix the colors together completely.

12

Cut off the tip of the disposable frosting bag and insert the frosting tip. Test the consistency of the pink and yellow soap. It should be a thick trace and hold its shape. If it’s not thick enough, let the soap sit in the container for 5-10 minutes and check the consistency again. We waited about 15 minutes for the soap to thicken before piping the flowers.

13

Transfer the soap into the frosting bag. Pipe little flowers down the length of the mold, concentrating them on one side. Pipe the leftover soap onto a silicone mold or onto any nonstick surface.

14

Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to prevent soda ash. Because you don’t want the flowers or melt and pour embeds to melt, keep this soap in a cool area. Don’t cover and insulate. If you live in a hot climate, you can place the mold into the fridge for about 3-4 hours. Then remove the soap to sit and harden overnight. After about 2-3 days, unmold the soap and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

Tutorial credits

Photographer: Amanda Kerzman

You will need:

  • 7 oz. LCP White Melt and Pour Base
  • Chrome Green Color Block
  • 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
  • Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
  • 65 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
  • 9.3 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
  • 19.3 oz. Distilled Water (10% water discount)
  • 4 oz. Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil
  • 4 tsp. Titanium Dioxide
  • 1 tsp. Stormy Blue Mica
  • 1/2 tsp. Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
  • 1/2 tsp. Green Chrome Oxide
  • 2 tsp. Activated Charcoal
  • 2 tsp. Poppy Seeds
  • 1M Frosting Tip
  • Disposable Frosting Bag
  • Powder Duster

Follow these steps:

MAKE THE EMBEDS

1

Chop and melt 7 ounces LCP White Melt and Pour Soap in the microwave using 15 second bursts. Add shavings of the Chrome Green Color Block until you get a soft green shade. Pour the soap into the mold of your choice. The exact shape is not super important because the soap will be chopped into small pieces. We used the 12 Cavity Rectangle Silicone Mold and filled up 2 cavities. Wait 2-4 hours for bars to cool and harden.

2

Remove from the mold. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to chop the soap into long rectangle pieces. The exact size of each embed is up to you. Set aside.

MAKE THE BASE

1

Slowly and carefully add 9.3 ounces of lye to 19.3 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 4 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.

2

Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix until it's completely clear with no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 65 ounces into a large heat-safe container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130° F or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 4 teaspoons of titanium dioxide into 4 tablespoons of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). Then in separate containers, disperse 1/2 teaspoon Fizzy Lemonade Colorant, Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant, and Chrome Green Oxide into 1/2 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. The disperse 1 teaspoon Stormy Blue Mica into 1 tablespoon lightweight liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to help get rid of any clumps. Note: This project was originally made with Bright Blue Jean Colorant, which was discontinued. Stormy Blue Mica creates a similar shade but it will look different from the photos below.

FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 4 ounces of Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil into a glass container. Set aside.

MOLD & TOOL PREP: Insert the silicone liner into the wood mold.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices. That means goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, other distractions, and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

3

Add all the Cactus Flower Fragrance Oil to the soap. Use your stick blender to stir in the fragrance and then use short bursts to further incorporate.

4

Pour 200 mL of soap into 2 separate containers. To one container, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fizzy Lemonade Colorant. To the other, add 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant. Use a whisk or spoon to fully incorporate the colors. Set the soap aside.

5

Pour 30 ounces of uncolored soap into a separate container. To this container, add 1 tablespoon of the dispersed Bright Blue Jean Colorant and 1/8 teaspoon dispersed Chrome Green Oxide. Use the stick blender to mix in the colorants. If the soap is still at thin trace, stick blend until you reach medium trace.

6

Whisk 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds into the blue soap.

7

Pour all of the blue soap into the mold. Tap the mold on the counter firmly to release air bubbles. Once the soap is thick enough to hold its shape, slide a spoon down the length of the mold several times to create a wavy texture in the soap. 

8

Put a few teaspoons of activated charcoal into the powder duster. Lightly dust onto the blue soap. Apply a small amount or the layers may separate once cut. Set the mold aside.

9

To the remaining soap, add all of the dispersed titanium dioxide. Adding the extra oil will cause the trace to thin. The soap needs to be a thick texture to support the embeds, so use the stick blender to thicken it and then pour it into the mold. Save a small amount of white soap for the next step. Tap the mold firmly on the counter to help disperse any bubbles. Use the back of a small spoon to spread the soap evenly into the mold.

10

Begin placing the melt and pour embeds into the soap. We placed ours randomly, but you can concentrate the pieces on the side of the soap flowers if you’d like. Continue inserting pieces until the entire soap is filled. Use the small amount of your leftover white soap to cover the green pieces. Use a spoon to smooth the top.

11

Transfer the yellow soap into the pink soap, and use a spoon to very gently stir them together. Don’t mix the colors together completely.

12

Cut off the tip of the disposable frosting bag and insert the frosting tip. Test the consistency of the pink and yellow soap. It should be a thick trace and hold its shape. If it’s not thick enough, let the soap sit in the container for 5-10 minutes and check the consistency again. We waited about 15 minutes for the soap to thicken before piping the flowers.

13

Transfer the soap into the frosting bag. Pipe little flowers down the length of the mold, concentrating them on one side. Pipe the leftover soap onto a silicone mold or onto any nonstick surface.

14

Spritz the top of the soap with 99% isopropyl alcohol to prevent soda ash. Because you don’t want the flowers or melt and pour embeds to melt, keep this soap in a cool area. Don’t cover and insulate. If you live in a hot climate, you can place the mold into the fridge for about 3-4 hours. Then remove the soap to sit and harden overnight. After about 2-3 days, unmold the soap and cut into bars. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

Tutorial credits

Photographer: Amanda Kerzman

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