Turmeric Secret Swirl Soap Project
- Skill Level: Advanced
- Time: 1 hour
- Yield: About 5 Pounds of Soap
Project Description
In this project, dispersed turmeric powder and an oil infusion are both used. The turmeric-infused oil creates a soft orange color, while the dispersed color creates a darker shade. The swirl in this soap is a bold version of the Secret Feather Swirl. Made famous by Zahida of Handmade in Florida, the Secret Feather Swirl is an advanced technique. It involves layering various colors in the center and then using a Hanger Swirl Tool to create the shape. See the process in this video by Handmade in Florida.
This soap is scented with ginger essential oil. The turmeric powder does not scent the soap at all, so the ginger essential oil is the perfect oil to mimic zesty turmeric powder. Keep in mind that ginger essential oil does slightly accelerate the soap - use the stick blender sparingly for this recipe.
This recipe has a 2% superfat. This is to account for the 6 tablespoons of turmeric-infused oil added to soap at trace. We used sweet almond oil for the infusion, but you can use a different lightweight liquid oil if you prefer.
You will need:
- 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
- 54 oz. Swirl Recipe Quick Mix
- 7.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye (2% Superfat)
- 17.8 oz. Distilled Water
- 1.8 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
- Turmeric Powder
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Large Sealable Tea Bag
- 2 Sturdy Cardboard Sheets
COLOR PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). We used a slightly more concentrated oil dispersion to avoid adding too much oil to the soap. In a separate container, measure out 5 tablespoons of the turmeric-infused oil. Set aside.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1.8 ounces of ginger essential oil into a glass container. Set aside.
TOOL PREP: Bend your Hanger Tool so it fits the mold by length. Cut the cardboard sheets to fit into the mold lengthwise and place into the mold to divide it into three even sections. Set aside.
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.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 7.7 ounces of lye to 17.8 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 3 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Swirl Recipe Quick Mix until it's completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 54 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.
3
Pour off 16 ounces of soap into a separate container. To aid in pouring later on, a container with a pour spout is recommended. To the large container of soap, add all the turmeric infused oil and stir with a whisk. The soap will turn a bright orange color.
4
To the small container, add all the dispersed turmeric powder. Use a whisk to fully mix. The soap will turn a darker orange than the large container.
5
Add the ginger essential oil to each container proportionally—it’s okay to eyeball it. Use a whisk to fully mix.
6
At this point, the soap should be a thin to thin-medium trace. The key to the Hidden Feather Swirl technique is that the soap needs to be thin enough to swirl but thick enough to layer. If the soap is still extremely thin, give each container of soap a few bursts with the stick blender to thicken. Be careful to not over stick blend!
7
Pour a small amount of the turmeric-infused soap (the large container) into all 3 sections of the mold evenly. This first layer should be small but large enough to support the first layer in the feather.
8
Very carefully, pour a thin layer of the turmeric-powder soap (the small container) into the middle section of the mold. You'll be creating 3 layers of turmeric-powder soap in the center of the mold, and using some of it on top for the swirl. Keep this in mind when pouring each layer. Be careful to not break through the first layer of soap. Pouring very thin lines of soap until the first layer is covered is a good way to prevent breakthrough.
9
Pour more of the turmeric-infused soap into the 2 outside sections of the mold. Then very carefully, pour a layer of the turmeric-infused soap into the middle section of the mold. Be careful to not break into the layers below.
10
Carefully pour a second layer of the turmeric powder soap into the middle section. As the soap becomes thicker, layering the soap will get easier. But be careful to not break through to the layers below. Pour slowly and gently.
11
Gently cover the turmeric-powder soap in the middle section of the mold with a layer of turmeric-infused soap. Pour more turmeric-infused soap into the outside sections to keep all the sections filled evenly.
12
Cover the middle section with a third (and last) layer of turmeric powder soap. Keep in mind that you need a small amount of the turmeric-powder soap left over to create the swirl on top at the very end. Fill the outside sections of the mold with turmeric-infused soap if necessary to keep the sections even. If the sections are filled unevenly, one section of soap may cover the other sections when the dividers are pulled out. Keep in mind you need more of the lighter, turmeric-infused soap to cover the top.
13
Slowly and carefully, pull the 2 cardboard dividers straight out of the soap. Set them aside. Tap the mold gently on the counter to help settle the soap. This action is what creates the upward design on the outside of the “feather.”
14
Cover the top of the soap with the lighter, turmeric-infused soap. Use a small spoon to evenly distribute the top layer if necessary.
15
Insert the Hanger Swirl Tool into the center of the soap so that it goes through the layers in the middle section of the mold. This motion is what creates the downward design in the center of the feather. Once the Hanger Tool reaches the bottom of the mold, drag it along the bottom to one edge of the mold. Keep the Hanger Swirl Tool along the side of the mold while you pull it up and out.
16
Pour a line of the turmeric powder soap down the center of the mold. Then, use a chopstick or dowel to create loop-de-loops down the length of the mold. Do not insert the chopstick or dowel all the way into the soap - only swirl the very top so you don’t disrupt the swirl inside.
17
Wood molds insulate very well, causing the soap to become quite warm. Our soap went through gel phase, which makes the color more vibrant. If you live in a very hot area, you may want to keep an eye on the soap for the first hour to make sure the top does not crack. If a crack forms, place the soap in the fridge to prevent more. If you don’t live in an extremely hot area, leave the soap at room temperature (do not insulate). Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days, remove, and cut into bars. Allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks before use. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
Turmeric Secret Swirl Soap Project
- Skill Level: Advanced
- Time: 1 hour
- Yield: About 5 Pounds of Soap
Project Description
In this project, dispersed turmeric powder and an oil infusion are both used. The turmeric-infused oil creates a soft orange color, while the dispersed color creates a darker shade. The swirl in this soap is a bold version of the Secret Feather Swirl. Made famous by Zahida of Handmade in Florida, the Secret Feather Swirl is an advanced technique. It involves layering various colors in the center and then using a Hanger Swirl Tool to create the shape. See the process in this video by Handmade in Florida.
This soap is scented with ginger essential oil. The turmeric powder does not scent the soap at all, so the ginger essential oil is the perfect oil to mimic zesty turmeric powder. Keep in mind that ginger essential oil does slightly accelerate the soap - use the stick blender sparingly for this recipe.
This recipe has a 2% superfat. This is to account for the 6 tablespoons of turmeric-infused oil added to soap at trace. We used sweet almond oil for the infusion, but you can use a different lightweight liquid oil if you prefer.
You will need:
- 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
- 54 oz. Swirl Recipe Quick Mix
- 7.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye (2% Superfat)
- 17.8 oz. Distilled Water
- 1.8 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
- Turmeric Powder
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Large Sealable Tea Bag
- 2 Sturdy Cardboard Sheets
COLOR PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). We used a slightly more concentrated oil dispersion to avoid adding too much oil to the soap. In a separate container, measure out 5 tablespoons of the turmeric-infused oil. Set aside.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1.8 ounces of ginger essential oil into a glass container. Set aside.
TOOL PREP: Bend your Hanger Tool so it fits the mold by length. Cut the cardboard sheets to fit into the mold lengthwise and place into the mold to divide it into three even sections. Set aside.
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.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 7.7 ounces of lye to 17.8 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 3 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Swirl Recipe Quick Mix until it's completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 54 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.
3
Pour off 16 ounces of soap into a separate container. To aid in pouring later on, a container with a pour spout is recommended. To the large container of soap, add all the turmeric infused oil and stir with a whisk. The soap will turn a bright orange color.
4
To the small container, add all the dispersed turmeric powder. Use a whisk to fully mix. The soap will turn a darker orange than the large container.
5
Add the ginger essential oil to each container proportionally—it’s okay to eyeball it. Use a whisk to fully mix.
6
At this point, the soap should be a thin to thin-medium trace. The key to the Hidden Feather Swirl technique is that the soap needs to be thin enough to swirl but thick enough to layer. If the soap is still extremely thin, give each container of soap a few bursts with the stick blender to thicken. Be careful to not over stick blend!
7
Pour a small amount of the turmeric-infused soap (the large container) into all 3 sections of the mold evenly. This first layer should be small but large enough to support the first layer in the feather.
8
Very carefully, pour a thin layer of the turmeric-powder soap (the small container) into the middle section of the mold. You'll be creating 3 layers of turmeric-powder soap in the center of the mold, and using some of it on top for the swirl. Keep this in mind when pouring each layer. Be careful to not break through the first layer of soap. Pouring very thin lines of soap until the first layer is covered is a good way to prevent breakthrough.
9
Pour more of the turmeric-infused soap into the 2 outside sections of the mold. Then very carefully, pour a layer of the turmeric-infused soap into the middle section of the mold. Be careful to not break into the layers below.
10
Carefully pour a second layer of the turmeric powder soap into the middle section. As the soap becomes thicker, layering the soap will get easier. But be careful to not break through to the layers below. Pour slowly and gently.
11
Gently cover the turmeric-powder soap in the middle section of the mold with a layer of turmeric-infused soap. Pour more turmeric-infused soap into the outside sections to keep all the sections filled evenly.
12
Cover the middle section with a third (and last) layer of turmeric powder soap. Keep in mind that you need a small amount of the turmeric-powder soap left over to create the swirl on top at the very end. Fill the outside sections of the mold with turmeric-infused soap if necessary to keep the sections even. If the sections are filled unevenly, one section of soap may cover the other sections when the dividers are pulled out. Keep in mind you need more of the lighter, turmeric-infused soap to cover the top.
13
Slowly and carefully, pull the 2 cardboard dividers straight out of the soap. Set them aside. Tap the mold gently on the counter to help settle the soap. This action is what creates the upward design on the outside of the “feather.”
14
Cover the top of the soap with the lighter, turmeric-infused soap. Use a small spoon to evenly distribute the top layer if necessary.
15
Insert the Hanger Swirl Tool into the center of the soap so that it goes through the layers in the middle section of the mold. This motion is what creates the downward design in the center of the feather. Once the Hanger Tool reaches the bottom of the mold, drag it along the bottom to one edge of the mold. Keep the Hanger Swirl Tool along the side of the mold while you pull it up and out.
16
Pour a line of the turmeric powder soap down the center of the mold. Then, use a chopstick or dowel to create loop-de-loops down the length of the mold. Do not insert the chopstick or dowel all the way into the soap - only swirl the very top so you don’t disrupt the swirl inside.
17
Wood molds insulate very well, causing the soap to become quite warm. Our soap went through gel phase, which makes the color more vibrant. If you live in a very hot area, you may want to keep an eye on the soap for the first hour to make sure the top does not crack. If a crack forms, place the soap in the fridge to prevent more. If you don’t live in an extremely hot area, leave the soap at room temperature (do not insulate). Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days, remove, and cut into bars. Allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks before use. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
You will need:
- 5 lb. Mold with Sliding Bottom
- Silicone Liner for 5 lb. Wood Mold
- Hanger Swirl Tool
- 54 oz. Swirl Recipe Quick Mix
- 7.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye (2% Superfat)
- 17.8 oz. Distilled Water
- 1.8 oz. Ginger Essential Oil
- Turmeric Powder
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Large Sealable Tea Bag
- 2 Sturdy Cardboard Sheets
COLOR PREP: Disperse 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder into 1 tablespoon of sunflower or sweet almond oil (or any other liquid oil). We used a slightly more concentrated oil dispersion to avoid adding too much oil to the soap. In a separate container, measure out 5 tablespoons of the turmeric-infused oil. Set aside.
FRAGRANCE PREP: Measure 1.8 ounces of ginger essential oil into a glass container. Set aside.
TOOL PREP: Bend your Hanger Tool so it fits the mold by length. Cut the cardboard sheets to fit into the mold lengthwise and place into the mold to divide it into three even sections. Set aside.
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.
Follow these steps:
1
Slowly and carefully add 7.7 ounces of lye to 17.8 ounces of water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool. Optional: Add 3 teaspoons of sodium lactate to help the bars harden more quickly.
2
Fully melt the entire bag of Swirl Recipe Quick Mix until it's completely clear and there is no cloudiness. Shake the bag to mix up all the oils. Measure 54 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.
3
Pour off 16 ounces of soap into a separate container. To aid in pouring later on, a container with a pour spout is recommended. To the large container of soap, add all the turmeric infused oil and stir with a whisk. The soap will turn a bright orange color.
4
To the small container, add all the dispersed turmeric powder. Use a whisk to fully mix. The soap will turn a darker orange than the large container.
5
Add the ginger essential oil to each container proportionally—it’s okay to eyeball it. Use a whisk to fully mix.
6
At this point, the soap should be a thin to thin-medium trace. The key to the Hidden Feather Swirl technique is that the soap needs to be thin enough to swirl but thick enough to layer. If the soap is still extremely thin, give each container of soap a few bursts with the stick blender to thicken. Be careful to not over stick blend!
7
Pour a small amount of the turmeric-infused soap (the large container) into all 3 sections of the mold evenly. This first layer should be small but large enough to support the first layer in the feather.
8
Very carefully, pour a thin layer of the turmeric-powder soap (the small container) into the middle section of the mold. You'll be creating 3 layers of turmeric-powder soap in the center of the mold, and using some of it on top for the swirl. Keep this in mind when pouring each layer. Be careful to not break through the first layer of soap. Pouring very thin lines of soap until the first layer is covered is a good way to prevent breakthrough.
9
Pour more of the turmeric-infused soap into the 2 outside sections of the mold. Then very carefully, pour a layer of the turmeric-infused soap into the middle section of the mold. Be careful to not break into the layers below.
10
Carefully pour a second layer of the turmeric powder soap into the middle section. As the soap becomes thicker, layering the soap will get easier. But be careful to not break through to the layers below. Pour slowly and gently.
11
Gently cover the turmeric-powder soap in the middle section of the mold with a layer of turmeric-infused soap. Pour more turmeric-infused soap into the outside sections to keep all the sections filled evenly.
12
Cover the middle section with a third (and last) layer of turmeric powder soap. Keep in mind that you need a small amount of the turmeric-powder soap left over to create the swirl on top at the very end. Fill the outside sections of the mold with turmeric-infused soap if necessary to keep the sections even. If the sections are filled unevenly, one section of soap may cover the other sections when the dividers are pulled out. Keep in mind you need more of the lighter, turmeric-infused soap to cover the top.
13
Slowly and carefully, pull the 2 cardboard dividers straight out of the soap. Set them aside. Tap the mold gently on the counter to help settle the soap. This action is what creates the upward design on the outside of the “feather.”
14
Cover the top of the soap with the lighter, turmeric-infused soap. Use a small spoon to evenly distribute the top layer if necessary.
15
Insert the Hanger Swirl Tool into the center of the soap so that it goes through the layers in the middle section of the mold. This motion is what creates the downward design in the center of the feather. Once the Hanger Tool reaches the bottom of the mold, drag it along the bottom to one edge of the mold. Keep the Hanger Swirl Tool along the side of the mold while you pull it up and out.
16
Pour a line of the turmeric powder soap down the center of the mold. Then, use a chopstick or dowel to create loop-de-loops down the length of the mold. Do not insert the chopstick or dowel all the way into the soap - only swirl the very top so you don’t disrupt the swirl inside.
17
Wood molds insulate very well, causing the soap to become quite warm. Our soap went through gel phase, which makes the color more vibrant. If you live in a very hot area, you may want to keep an eye on the soap for the first hour to make sure the top does not crack. If a crack forms, place the soap in the fridge to prevent more. If you don’t live in an extremely hot area, leave the soap at room temperature (do not insulate). Allow the soap to stay in the mold for 2-3 days, remove, and cut into bars. Allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks before use. Enjoy!
Tutorial credits
Photographer: Amanda Kerzman
