Looking for new fragrances for your fall projects? Tomorrow, Bramble Berry’s new Autumn Frost Fragrance Collection is launching! We tested hundreds of fragrance oils this year and found four of the very best smelling and performing fragrances for fall and winter. Want to learn more about the new scents? I’m introducing them live on the Bramble Berry Facebook page at 2 p.m. PST tomorrow! Click here to “attend” the event on Facebook, and be reminded to tune in. 

Cold process soap created now will cure by the middle of October. That’s the perfect time for pumpkins, warm colors and spooky projects. Pumpkin spice products are always a hit, and we have plenty of inspiration. The Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process embraces the trend of tall bars and the drop swirl technique. The Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Soap features soap frosting for a foam-like appearance. If soap frosting is intimidating, dollops of frosting are created by allowing the soap to thicken in the Pumpkin Pie Cold Process Soap Tutorial.

Far left, clockwise: Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Soap, Pumpkin Pie Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Melt and pour soap does not require cure time and is ready to use when fully cooled. It’s a great soapmaking method for last-minute projects. The Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial uses two 3D molds (the Spooky Pumpkin Mold and Spooked Pumpkin 3D Mold) that are great for rope soap. The Pumpkin Pie Melt & Pour Soap contains ground pumpkin seeds for a bit of exfoliation.

Left: Pumpkin Soap on a Rope Tutorial, Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Soap

Walnut shells are combined with sugar for a gentle feel in the Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub Tutorial on Soap Queen TV. Foaming Bath Whip and coffee butter feel light and fluffy when whipped together. The coffee butter also adds a light scent, which smells amazing with the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil. Learn how to make it in the video below.

Fall projects aren’t just about pumpkin spice. Fall can be expressed in a number of ways, from a comforting scent to deep, rich colors. The Neptune Column Pour Soap is a great example. It’s made with Tobacco and Bay Leaf Fragrance Oil, which features notes of fir needle, cedarwood and bergamot. The slightly smoky scent is complemented by deep burgundy, yellow and blue. It’s a great “fall-ish” project!

The Neptune Column Pour Soap is a non-traditional fall tutorial.

For many, fall means the return of the NFL. If you’re ready to cheer on your team, the Mini Melt & Pour Football Soaps are a great way to do so. They are scented with Leather Fragrance Oil and Grass Stain Fragrance Oil for a combination that’s fresh yet earthy. I plan on bringing them to a football party as a host/hostess gift.

Fall means the return of football! How cute are these Mini Melt & Pour Football Soaps?

Autumn and winter also bring darker, moodier cosmetic products. In particular, it’s time to bust out bold lipstick colors! Red is a classic choice and is great for holiday parties. In the Radiant Red Lipstick Tutorial on Soap Queen TV, there are three color combinations to choose from. The formula is creamy, shiny and leaves lips feeling moisturized. Check out the video below. If you prefer something a little less dramatic, the Creamy Marsala Lip Tints give lips a sheer color. It’s inspired by the Pantone color of the year for 2015, “Marsala.” It’s also easy to make with only one colorant: Merlot Sparkle Mica.

When the weather gets colder, I tend to take more baths. If you need a hot bath to fight the cold, the Pumpkin Spice Bath Bombs fill your tub with bubbles, moisturizing coffee butter and a milky quality thanks to powdered goat milk. They also smell amazing with a combination of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Espresso Fragrance Oil. If you prefer hot showers, the Aromatherapy Shower Fizzies fill the shower with scent. Depending on what fragrance or essential oil you use, they are the perfect way to relax before bed or to start the day.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bombs are inspired by the popular fall beverage.

How do you celebrate fall with handmade projects? If you get photos, I would love to see them! Tag #Soapshare on Instagram. =)

The post Fall Into Autumn Projects & Inspiration appeared first on Soap Queen.

Are you in the “yea” pumpkin spice camp, or the “nay” pumpkin spice camp? While I understand the desire to hang onto summer, I’m in the “YAY!” pumpkin spice category. I just love the change of seasons and crafting with fall-inspired scents. If you’re ready to celebrate fall, these Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bombs are the perfect way to do so. Why just drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte when you can bathe in one? Or better yet, maybe drink one while taking a bath!

These bath bombs have a lot of amazing things going on. They contain a small amount of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate – SLSA in addition to the typical baking soda and citric acid mixture. The SLSA creates some bubbles in the bath in addition to fizz. If you prefer just fizz, leave out the SLSA and replace with more baking soda. Coffee butter adds a hint of coffee scent and skin-nurturing properties to the water. But wait, there’s more! Powdered Goat Milk is also in the recipe to give bath water milky properties. To help the coffee butter and the powdered colorants incorporate better in the water, I added Polysorbate 80 which can be omitted if you prefer.

What You’ll Need:
About 10-12 Bath Bomb Mold & Package
3 1/2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
1/2 cup Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate – SLSA
2 cups Citric Acid
3 Tbs. Powdered Goat Milk
2 oz. Coffee Butter
6 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
5 mL Espresso Fragrance Oil
11 mL Polysorbate 80
Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
Sunset Orange Mica
Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
3 Droppers

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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ONE: In a large bowl, mix together 3 1/2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups of citric acid, 1/2 cup SLSA and 3 tablespoons of powdered goat milk. If there are any clumps in the mixture, you can push the powder through a sifter or break up the clumps with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. SLSA is extremely powdery, so make sure you are in a well-ventilated room when adding it into the mixture. You may choose to wear a dust mask to prevent sneezing!

TWO: In a small heat safe container, add the 2 ounces of coffee butter. Place in the microwave and heat using 15-20 second bursts. Once completely melted, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Espresso Fragrance Oil and Polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to thoroughly combine.

THREE: Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula or your hands to thoroughly combine. I find it’s much easier to use your hands! =)

FOUR: Once all the ingredients are completely mixed, split them into three even-ish containers – it’s okay to eyeball it! I did find that I needed a little bit more of the white bath bomb mixture. If you use the same color pattern shown here, you may want to make one container slightly larger for the uncolored mixture. Just an extra handful or two of bath bomb mixture should do the trick!

FIVE: To one of the smaller containers, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and use your hands or a spoon to completely mix in. To another container, add 1/4 teaspoon of Sunset Orange Mica and use a spoon or your hands to fully mix in. Leave the other (slightly larger) container uncolored.

SIX: Begin spritzing each container with witch hazel, while mixing with your hands or a spatula. Continue spritzing until the mixture is a texture that holds its shape when squeezed. I recommend spritzing each container from lightest to darkest (white, orange, brown) so you don’t mix the colors together. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.

SEVEN: Place several coffee beans into the center of one of the bath bomb molds. Then, place a small amount of white bath bomb mixture on top until the mold is about half full, and gently press with your fingers. Feel free to use any color order you’d like; I just liked this one best. =)

EIGHT: Cover the white mixture with brown bath bomb mixture, and firmly press to condense. Set aside.

NINE: Place a small amount of the orange bath bomb mixture into the opposite half of the bath bomb mold, until it’s about half full. Then, place more white bath bomb mixture on top and firmly press the mixture into the mold.

TEN: Add a little extra bath bomb mixture into each half, but don’t press it down. Slightly overfilling with “loose” bath bomb mixture helps the two sides to stick together better. Match up the eyelets of each mold, and press together. To avoid any imperfections on your bath bomb, make sure to direct pressure to the edges of the mold rather than the center. Allow the bath fizzies to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Remove from the mold once you’re ready to use, place in the tub and enjoy!

Note: Because these bath bombs contain powdered goat milk that has a shelf life of about 2 months, these bath bombs also have a shelf life of about 2 months and should be used within that time frame. 

Here is an example of how these bath bombs react once introduced to water- check out the fizz and bubbles!

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bomb

These bath bombs were inspired by the popular fall beverage. Powdered goat milk and coffee butter add extra luxury!

Course Bath Bombs

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• About 12 Bath Bomb Mold & Package
• 3 1/2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate – SLSA
• 2 cups Citric Acid
• 3 Tbs. Powdered Goat Milk
• 2 oz. Coffee Butter
• 6 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
• 5 mL Espresso Fragrance Oil
• 11 mL Polysorbate 80
• Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
• Sunset Orange Mica
• Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
• 3 Droppers

Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix together 3 1/2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups of citric acid, 1/2 cup SLSA and 3 tablespoons of powdered goat milk. If there are any clumps in the mixture, you can push the powder through a sifter or break up the clumps with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. SLSA is extremely powdery, so make sure you are in a well-ventilated room when adding it into the mixture. You may choose to wear a surgical mask to prevent sneezing!
• In a small heat safe container, add the 2 ounces of coffee butter. Place in the microwave and heat using 15-20 second bursts. Once completely melted, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Espresso Fragrance Oil and Polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to thoroughly combine.
• Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula or your hands to thoroughly combine. I find it’s much easier to use your hands! =)
• Once all the ingredients are completely mixed, split them into three even-ish containers. I did find that I needed a little bit more of the white bath bomb mixture. If you use the same color pattern shown here, you may want to make one container slightly larger for the uncolored mixture. Just an extra handful or two of bath bomb mixture should do the trick!
• To one of the smaller containers, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and use your hands or a spoon to completely mix in. To another container, add 1/4 teaspoon of Sunset Orange Mica and use a spoon or your hands to fully mix in. Leave the other slightly larger container uncolored.
• Begin spritzing each container with witch hazel, while mixing with your hands or a spatula. Continue spritzing until the mixture is a texture that holds its shape when squeezed. I recommend spritzing each container from lightest to darkest (white, orange, brown) so you don’t mix the colors together. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.
• Place several coffee beans into the center of one of the bath bomb molds. Then, place a small amount of white bath bomb mixture on top until the mold is about half full, and gently press with your fingers. Feel free to use any color order you’d like; I just liked this one best. =)
• Cover the white mixture with brown bath bomb mixture, and firmly press to condense. Set aside.
• Place a small amount of the orange bath bomb mixture into the opposite half of the bath bomb mold, until it’s about half full. Then, place more white bath bomb mixture on top and firmly press the mixture into the mold.
• Add a little extra bath bomb mixture into each half, but don’t press it down. Slightly overfilling with “loose” bath bomb mixture helps the two sides to stick together better. Match the eyelets of each side up, and press together. To avoid any imperfections on your bath bomb, make sure to direct pressure to the edges of the mold rather than the center. Allow the bath fizzies to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Remove from the mold once you're ready to use, place in the tub and enjoy!

The post Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bomb DIY appeared first on Soap Queen.

When considering fall scents, you can’t ignore the current fall favorite: pumpkin spice. Inspired by the classic spice combination, pumpkin spice is warm, comforting and sweet. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular! Bramble Berry has several pumpkin scents, including the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Pumpkin Souffle Fragrance Oil and the Pumpkin Pie Candle & Soap Fragrance Oil.

Thanks to Starbucks, pumpkin and coffee have become an incredibly popular combo. I’ve even been getting in on the #PSL action with Bulletproof Pumpkin Spice Lattes (they’re delicious!).  If you can’t get enough of pumpkin spice lattes, the Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub on Soap Queen TV uses Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil to create a mouthwatering scent. You can see the original tutorial here. Looking for soap projects? Check out the Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process tutorial to learn how to create these adorable bars. Made with soap frosting and melt and pour embed, they imbue fall into every slice.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process was inspired by the popular fall drink.

If you prefer the classic pumpkin scent, the Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Bars are easy to make and smell just like the fall dessert. Made with ground pumpkin seeds, these bars give the soap gentle exfoliation. The Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process also smells like pumpkin pie, and has real pumpkin puree! The Pumpkin Puree Cold Process soap also uses real pumpkin. Want to learn how to make your own pumpkin puree? Click here.

Left to right: Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Bars, Pumpkin Spice Swirl Cold Process

Feeling a little pumpkin’d out? There are plenty of other great fall scents and ideas! The Fall Sherbet Cold Process Soap is a fun take on pastel shades. Looking to celebrate Oktoberfest? The Bramble Beer Soap uses blonde ale instead of water to create a beautifully layered bar. Speaking of layers, the Fall Sweater Stripes Tutorial is inspired by the comfort of warm fall sweaters.

Top, clockwise: Fall Sweater Stripes Tutorial, Fall Sherbet Cold Process Soap, Bramble Beer Soap

Cooler temperatures can mean dry, flaky skin. Now is the perfect time to use heavier body butters and lotions to keep the skin feeling comfortable. The Moisturizing Heel Butter has a thick, Vaseline-like texture that is hydrating and spreadable. It’s also suitable for the rest of the body. If you like a lighter, whipped texture, the Whipped Champagne Shea Butter is creamy and bubbly smelling. Missing your summer glow? Fake it with the Whipped Amber Bronzing Butter. With a mousse-like texture, warm scent and slight tint, it’s sure to be a favorite.

Fall is the perfect time to cozy up at home, and nothing creates a comfy atmosphere quite like a warm scent. One of my favorite fall candle projects is the Chai Tea Latte Candle Tutorial. It fills the room with the warm and spicy notes of Chia Tea Cybilla Fragrance Oil. It also looks just like a warm chai tea latte. I gave these candles to some of my friends last year, and they still rave about them. If you prefer a no-flame option, you might like the Spicy Holiday Potpourri or the Winter Gardenia Room Diffuser.

The Chai Tea Latte Candle features whipped candle wax for a realistic layered look. 

I have loved seeing all your gorgeous fall projects popping up on social media. In particular, I love scrolling through the #SoapShare hashtag on Instagram. Below are a few of my favorites…keep them coming!

Top left, clockwise: Pumpkin Spice Cream Soap by lssc0000, Leaf Guest Soap by tandjsoap, Pumpkin Spice Pie Soaps by woolinandco, Pumpkin Spice Soap by orchardhilltradingco

Top left, clockwise: Candy Corn Soap by singlebarrelsoaps, Peek-a-Boo Ghost Bath Bombs by indulge_bath_bombs, Pumpkin Spice Bubble Bars by shellyswicked, Harvest Moon Soap by riverbendsoap

What are you making this fall? I’m trying to get a head start on holiday projects this year =)

The post Fall Project Ideas & Inspiration appeared first on Soap Queen.

What You’ll Need:
16 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
2 oz. Coffee Butter
4 oz. Sugar
.4 oz Walnut Shells
6 ml Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
2 ml Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil
Two 8 oz. Tall Plastic Bail Jar

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub on Soap Queen TV

This Pumpkin Spice Latte Scrub smells just like the classic fall beverage. Made with coffee butter and Foaming Bath Butter, it makes skin feel super smooth!

Course Scrub

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

• 16 oz. Foaming Bath Butter
• 2 oz. Coffee Butter
• 4 oz. Sugar
• 0.4 oz. Walnut Shells
• 6 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
• 2 mL Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil
• Two 8 oz. Tall Plastic Bail Jar

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, add 16 ounces of Foaming Bath Butter and 2 ounces of coffee butter. Use a hand mixer to beat together.
• Once thoroughly combined, add 4 ounces of granulated sugar and 0.4 ounces of walnut shells. Turn on the mixer and blend until the exfoliants are thoroughly incorporated.
• Add 6 mL of Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and 2 mL of Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil. Turn the beater on low and mix until combined.
• Spoon the mixture into the glass bail jar, and enjoy!

The post Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub on Soap Queen TV appeared first on Soap Queen.

Donovan uses food to inspire his creative soaps. Drinks can also be an inspiration, as seen in this Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Tutorial. Made with a delectable combination of Espresso and Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oils, this project is a great way to welcome fall.

Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil is also great in scrubs! This Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub has walnut shells and sugar to gently exfoliate, and a combination of coffee butter and Foaming Bath Whip that will leave your skin soft and moisturized.

All that soap and scrub making can get messy, which is why having 99% isopropyl alcohol on hand is so helpful. This Sunday Night Spotlight: 99% Isopropyl Alcohol explains how it is also great for preventing soda ash in cold process soaping and adhering layers in melt and pour soaping.

After a soapy session and clean up, it is nice to take a break and enjoy a game of baseball! Every year, Bramble Berry employees get together to enjoy local food and cheer on the local collegiate-level baseball team, the Bellingham Bells. They didn’t win the game, but they did win the West Coast League Championship!

As the weather cools down and summer baseball games end, staying inside by a cozy fire sounds like the perfect night. This week’s Facebook Photo of the Week by Donna with Cherry Tree Lane Soap Company gives you that cozy feeling.

Orange flame accents top a rich black soap with an orange and blue hanger swirl. It’s as mesmerizing as a crackling fire. If you’re in the mood for more soap with rich black color and bright accents, check out this Black, White and Gold All Over Cold Process Tutorial. Black also pops in this Charcoal and Rose Clay Spa Bar Tutorial.

Above (clockwise, left) are Donna’s Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious soap, Cotton Candy Gourmet Lip Scrub, Black-Eyed Susan Shaving/Body Soap and Shampoo and Shave Bar. If you’d like a lip scrub with luscious Buttercreme Flavor Oil, check out this Exfoliating Kisser Scrub. Follow it up with this ultra-moisturizing Chocolate Lip Balm with Cocoa Powder for smooth, silky lips.

Find Cherry Tree Lane Soap Company
On Etsy
On Facebook

Post pictures of your crafty creations on the Facebook page each week for a chance to be featured on the Soap Queen blog and receive a sweet soapy package from Bramble Berry. Photos are chosen based on consensus from the Bramble Berry staff, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is to show us lots of photos!

The post Facebook Photo of the Week (Aug. 30th ~ Sept. 5th) appeared first on Soap Queen.

If you are looking for more ways to use coffee butter, the Whipped Coffee Butter Tutorial creates a fluffy and intensely moisturizing body butter. If you prefer a lighter moisturizer, the Coffee Butter Foot Creme features a delicious blend of Dark Rich Chocolate Fragrance Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil.

What You’ll Need:
8 oz. Foaming Bath Whip
1 oz. Coffee Butter
2 oz. Sugar
.2 oz Walnut Shells
3 ml Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
1 ml Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil
8 oz. Glass Bail Jar

TWO: Once thoroughly combined, add the granulated sugar and walnut shells. Turn on the mixer, and blend until the exfoliants are thoroughly incorporated. Walnut shells are finely ground, and give gentle exfoliation. The combination of granulated sugar and walnut shells create a medium exfoliator perfect for removing dead skin from the body, hands, legs and feet. Removing dead skin cells is crucial for moisturizer absorption!
THREE: Add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, and the Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil. Turn the beater on low, and mix until combined.
FOUR: Spoon the mixture into the glass bail jar, and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite fall treat? I’m looking forward to pairing my pumpkin spice latte with a pumpkin muffin or scone =)

The post Pumpkin Spice Latte Sugar Scrub appeared first on Soap Queen.

The first signs of fall have begun. The morning air is crisper, the sun is setting earlier and leaves are changing color. This Pumpkin Spice Latte Soap celebrates the arrival of fall and the debut of a delicious fall beverage, the Pumpkin Spice Latte! Made with a delectable combination of Espresso and Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oils, this project is a great way to spend a fall afternoon.

This cold process recipe combines several soaping techniques, including melt and pour embeds and soap frosting. If you’ve never made soap frosting before, check out the new Soap Queen Tv Video, How to Make Soap Frosting, which covers the process. It’s easier than you think!

 What You’ll Need:
Cold Process Soap (the “base” of the multi-layered soap creation)
9 oz. Coconut Oil
1.5 oz. Coffee Butter
9 oz. Olive Oil
9 oz. Palm Oil
1.5 oz. Pumpkin Seed Oil
4.2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
9.9 oz. Distilled Water
9 Bar Unfinished Birchwood Mold
Silicone Liner for 9 Bar Mold
Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
Titanium Dioxide
Copper Sparkle Mica
Racing Stripe Orange Mica
1 oz. Espresso Fragrance Oil
.4 oz. Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil

Melt and Pour Pumpkin Embeds
Pumpkin Wax Tart Mold
2.5 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
2.5 mL Vanilla Color Stabilizer
Perfect Orange Color Block
Chrome Green Color Block
1 oz. White Melt and Pour Base
2 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base Injector Tool

Cold Process Frosting
2.8 oz. Avocado Oil
5.6 Coconut Oil
5.6 oz. Palm Oil
2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
4.6 Distilled Water
Disposable Frosting Bag
1 M Frosting Tip
Copper Sparkle Mica (to dust on top)

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

Make Melt and Pour Pumpkin Embeds: *Note: The Pumpkin Wax Tart Mold makes eight pumpkins, while the 9 Bar Birchwood Mold creates nine bars of soap. If you’d like each bar to have a pumpkin embed, make one extra pumpkin embed. Be sure to make these first, at least 4 hours before you make your Cold Process Soap, to allow them time to harden.

ONE: Cut and melt 1 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base on 5 second bursts. Add shavings of the Perfect Orange Color Block and stir to combine. Using the Injector Tool, fill the pumpkin shape and spray with isopropyl alcohol to get rid of any bubbles. Allow to fully harden. Tip: Keep a glass of very super duper hot water too wash the injector tool out in between colors. Pushing out hardened soap is no fun. TWO: Cut and melt 2 oz. of White Melt and Pour, and add Chrome Green Color Block until desired color is achieved. Add Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer and stir to fully combine. THREE: Spray orange pumpkins with isopropyl alcohol and pour the greens soap into each cavity, filling only about halfway. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles, and allow to fully harden. TIP: Once you are ready to unmold the embeds, place them into the freezer for about 15-30 minutes. This makes them much easier to unmold!

Make the Cold Process Base:

If you’ve never made Cold Process soap before, stop here! I highly recommend checking out our FREE four part SoapQueen.tv series on Cold Process Soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. And if you’d rather do some reading, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, including my newest book, Soap Crafting. You can also checkout the digital downloads for that instant gratification factor.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and 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.

COLOR PREP: To ensure that the Titanium Dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap =) To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to blend the colorant to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable, stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. Then, disperse 1 teaspoons of the Titanium Dioxide into 1 tablespoons of Sunflower or Sweet Almond Oil (or any other liquid oil). Finally, disperse 1 teaspoon of each colorant (including the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder) into 1 tablespoon of light liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get the clumps of color worked out smoothly.

ONE: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.

TWO: Fully melt and combine the coconut, olive oil, pumpkin seed, coffee butter and palm oils (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add about 2 tsp. sodium lactate.

THREE: Once you have reached a light trace, split the batch in half into a separate container. Each container should contain about 3 cups. FOUR: To one container, add all of the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. To the other, add 1 tsp. (dispersed) Sparkle Copper Mica, 2 tsp. (dispersed) Racing Stripe Orange Mica and 1 tbs. (dispersed) Titanium Dioxide. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the colorants.  FIVE: Add Espresso Fragrance Oil to the container with the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. To the orange container, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the fragrance. SIX: Pour the brown container of soap into the mold. Tap the mold firmly on your counter to release any air bubbles. SEVEN: Drizzle the orange soap into the brown soap. No need to be exact with your pattern! Just make sure the orange soap is poured into all areas of the mold. Insert a dowel or chopstick all the way through the soap, and create small circles down the length of the mold. Once you’ve gone from one end of the soap to the other, make small loops back down the length of the mold. EIGHT: Insert the dividers into the mold and set aside. Time to make your soap frosting!

Make Soap Frosting:

LYE & OIL PREP: In order to get soapy frosting to actually look like frosting, the lye and oils must be very cold. We recommend making the lye water a full day ahead of time, clearly labeling it (*poison* *danger* *do not drink!*) and keeping it in a refrigerator not used for food. Alternately, you can use frozen water (eh hem: ice) to add your lye flakes to but the lye will still need to cool down. The lye should be around 60 degrees F before adding it to the oils. Additionally, you want your oils to be around 70 degrees F. You can even refrigerate them for several hours too! They should be semi-solid at this temperature. If your oils become completely solid, don’t worry! Soap frosting can be created with solid oils as well.

ONE: With a hand mixer (or a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer), whip the oils for 1 – 2 minutes. Occasionally take a break to scrape the bowl and sides of the container to incorporate all the oils. You want the oils to be nice and fluffy before adding the lye.

TWO: Slowly pour the lye into the whipped oils, and use a spoon to incorporate. Be super careful not to splash any lye at this point before the lye water is fully incorporated into the hardened, slushy, cool oils. Turn the hand mixer or Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer on low, and continue to whip oils until a fluffy, frosting texture is achieved. Scrape any batter that has splattered on the side of the container and then turn the mixer to a medium setting. Continue to whip for another 3 – 7 minutes.  THREE: Once a frosting texture has been achieved, cut off about a half inch from the tip of the frosting bag and push the tip through. Scoop the frosting into the bag, and begin piping the frosting onto each bar. Optional Step: If you prefer a smoother, “foamier” looking top on your frosting, use a spoon to smooth the frosting and create peaks. FOUR: Once each bar has been piped with frosting, lightly dust Copper Sparkle Mica onto the top of the soap. Because mica is so fine, this part can get messy. Be sure to have paper towels and isopropyl alcohol on hand to clean up any mica that sticks to the mold or your work surface. Place the pumpkin embeds into the corner of each soap. Allow the soap to harden for 3-4 days before unmolding. Allow it to cure for 4 – 6 weeks and enjoy!

Are you ready for fall? What kind of fall projects are you looking forward to?

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Pumpkin Spice Latte Cold Process Soap

This soap was inspired by the popular fall beverages and includes melt and pour embeds and soap frosting!

Course Cold process soap

Author Soap Queen

Ingredients

Cold Process Soap (the “base” of the multi-layered soap creation)

• 9 oz. Coconut Oil
• 1.5 oz. Coffee Butter
• 9 oz. Olive Oil
• 9 oz. Palm Oil
• 1.5 oz. Pumpkin Seed Oil
• 4.2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
• 9.9 oz. Distilled Water
• 9 Bar Unfinished Birchwood Mold
• Silicone Liner for 9 Bar Mold
• Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
• Titanium Dioxide
• Copper Sparkle Mica
• Racing Stripe Orange Mica
• 1 oz. Espresso Fragrance Oil
• .4 oz. Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil

Melt and Pour Pumpkin Embeds

• Pumpkin Wax Tart Mold
• 2.5 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
• 2.5 mL Vanilla Color Stabilizer
• Perfect Orange Color Block
• Chrome Green Color Block
• 1 oz. White Melt and Pour Base
• 2 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base Injector Tool

Cold Process Frosting

• 2.8 oz. Avocado Oil
• 5.6 Coconut Oil
• 5.6 oz. Palm Oil
• 2 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
• 4.6 Distilled Water
• Disposable Frosting Bag
• 1 M Frosting Tip
• Copper Sparkle Mica to dust on top

Instructions

Embeds

• Cut and melt 1 oz. Clear Melt and Pour Base on 5 second bursts. Add shavings of the Perfect Orange Color Block and stir to combine. Using the Injector Tool, fill the pumpkin shape and spray with isopropyl alcohol to get rid of any bubbles. Allow to fully harden. Tip: Keep a glass of very super duper hot water too wash the injector tool out in between colors. Pushing out hardened soap is no fun.
• Cut and melt 2 oz. of White Melt and Pour, and add Chrome Green Color Block until desired color is achieved. Add Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil and Vanilla Color Stabilizer and stir to fully combine.
• Spray orange pumpkins with isopropyl alcohol and pour the greens soap into each cavity, filling only about halfway. Spray with isopropyl alcohol to disperse any bubbles, and allow to fully harden.

Cold Process Base

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and 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.

COLOR PREP: To ensure that the Titanium Dioxide blends smoothly into the soap batter, we recommend micronizing it before dispersing it in oil. Please note this is an optional tip but it does help with the titanium dioxide clumping in the soap =) To micronize colorant, simply use a coffee grinder to blend the colorant to break up any clumps of color and prevent streaks of white from showing in the final soap. We like to use a coffee grinder that has a removable, stainless steel mixing area for easy cleaning. Then, disperse 1 teaspoons of the Titanium Dioxide into 1 tablespoons of Sunflower or Sweet Almond Oil (or any other liquid oil). Finally, disperse 1 teaspoon of each colorant (including the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder) into 1 tablespoon of light liquid oil. Use a mini mixer to get the clumps of color worked out smoothly.

• Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved and the liquid is clear. Set aside to cool.
• Fully melt and combine the coconut, olive oil, pumpkin seed, coffee butter and palm oils (remember to fully melt then mix your entire container of palm oil before portioning). Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that releases faster from the mold, you can add sodium lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils in the recipe. For this recipe, you’d add about 2 tsp. sodium lactate.
• Once you have reached a light trace, split the batch in half into a separate container. Each container should contain about 3 cups.
• To one container, add all of the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. To the other, add 1 tsp. (dispersed) Sparkle Copper Mica, 2 tsp. (dispersed) Racing Stripe Orange Mica and 1 tbs. (dispersed) Titanium Dioxide. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the colorants.
• Add Espresso Fragrance Oil to the container with the Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder. To the orange container, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the fragrance.
• Pour the brown container of soap into the mold. Tap the mold firmly on your counter to release any air bubbles.
• Drizzle the orange soap into the brown soap. No need to be exact with your pattern! Just make sure the orange soap is poured into all areas of the mold. Insert a dowel or chopstick all the way through the soap, and create small circles down the length of the mold. Once you’ve gone from one end of the soap to the other, make small loops back down the length of the mold.
• Insert the dividers into the mold and set aside. Time to make your soap frosting!

LYE & OIL PREP: In order to get soapy frosting to actually look like frosting, the lye and oils must be very cold. We recommend making the lye water a full day ahead of time, clearly labeling it (*poison* *danger* *do not drink!*) and keeping it in a refrigerator not used for food. Alternately, you can use frozen water (eh hem: ice) to add your lye flakes to but the lye will still need to cool down. The lye should be around 60 degrees F before adding it to the oils. Additionally, you want your oils to be around 70 degrees F. You can even refrigerate them for several hours too! They should be semi-solid at this temperature. If your oils become completely solid, don’t worry! Soap frosting can be created with solid oils as well.

• With a hand mixer (or a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer), whip the oils for 1 – 2 minutes. Occasionally take a break to scrape the bowl and sides of the container to incorporate all the oils. You want the oils to be nice and fluffy before adding the lye.
• Slowly pour the lye into the whipped oils, and use a spoon to incorporate. Be super careful not to splash any lye at this point before the lye water is fully incorporated into the hardened, slushy, cool oils. Turn the hand mixer or Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer on low, and continue to whip oils until a fluffy, frosting texture is achieved. Scrape any batter that has splattered on the side of the container and then turn the mixer to a medium setting. Continue to whip for another 3 – 7 minutes.
• Once a frosting texture has been achieved, cut off about a half inch from the tip of the frosting bag and push the tip through. Scoop the frosting into the bag, and begin piping the frosting onto each bar.
• Once each bar has been piped with frosting, lightly dust Copper Sparkle Mica onto the top of the soap. Because mica is so fine, this part can get messy. Be sure to have paper towels and isopropyl alcohol on hand to clean up any mica that sticks to the mold or your work surface. Place the pumpkin embeds into the corner of each soap.Allow the soap to harden for 3-4 days before unmolding. Allow it to cure for 4 – 6 weeks and enjoy!

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