Sweet Honeybee: Honey & Beeswax Soap
Nothing lets you know that spring is moving in quite like a fuzzy little honeybee searching around the garden for the first floral blooms. What better way to usher in the return of warmer weather and vibrant plant life than an ode to the small but mighty pollinator and sign of changing seasons, the sweet honeybee.
This soap starts with a classic cold process recipe and adds both honey and beeswax, complemented by a garden fresh scent. Beeswax adds hardness to the finished bars, making them longer lasting. Honey is believed to have humectant and the antibacterial properties may help keep skin moisturized while reducing irritation. Evening Jasmine Fragrance Oil and Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil combine to create a juicy and sweet fruity floral aroma that is reminiscent of sitting in a blooming garden, watching the honeybees at work. Using bubble wrap to create a honeycomb pattern on the soap brings a visual element to these buzzing bee-themed bars.
Ingredients
- 33.5 oz of Olive Oil
- 33.5 oz of Coconut Oil
- 33.5 oz of Palm Oil
- 11.5 oz of Shea Butter
- 1.5 oz of Beeswax Pearls
- 32 oz of Distilled Water
- 12 oz of Sodium Hydroxide Lye
- 4 oz of Local Honey
- 2 oz of Evening Jasmine Fragrance Oil
- 1.5 oz of Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil
Instructions
- Cut two strips of bubble wrap per mold that are the same length and width as your loaf molds. Place one in the bottom of each mold, bubble side up, and set the other pieces aside.
- Weigh and combine your essential or fragrance oils, then set them aside.
- Weigh each base oil and beeswax and combine them in a large bowl. Place the bowl on top of a large pot about ⅓ full of water. Bring the water to a boil. Heat the oils until fully melted and blended, stirring occasionally.
- While your oils are melting, weigh out the lye and water in two separate bowls. Slowly add the lye to the water while gently stirring until the lye is fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Let your oils and lye mixture both cool to 120 degrees or below, ensuring that they are within 10 degrees of each other.
- Place your immersion blender into the oils, tapping it on the bottom of the bowl to release any air bubbles.
- Slowly and gently pour your lye water into your oil mixture. You can pour down the side of your bowl or down the shaft of your immersion blender to reduce the chance of splashing.
- Pulse your blender a few times, watching as the oils and lye start to combine. Switch between short pulses and stirring with the blender until the mixture comes together to a light trace.
- Add honey and pulse the blender a few times to incorporate. Working quickly, stir (do not blend) in the essential oil or fragrance oil blend.
- Once your soap reaches about a medium trace, pour it into your mold, scraping the bowl to ensure no soap is left behind. Tap the molds on your table or counter to release any trapped air bubbles. Top each mold with a second piece of bubble wrap, bubble side down, and gently press into the surface of the soap.
- Cover the mold and allow the soap to sit in the mold for 48-72 hours at room temperature. Unmold soap, cut into bars, and allow to cure for 4-6 weeks.
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