This week is yellow week of Bramble Berry’s #SoaptheRainbow series. They asked if I wanted to participate by posting during yellow week. Of course! I actually have two yellow tutorials for you this week. Today is a natural yellow tutorial, and on Wednesday I’ll post a yellow tutorial using yellow mica!

You have to check out Amy’s tutorial she posted during red week. Her Apple Berry Faux Tall & Skinny soap is adorable. I love the design!

For more natural soap recipes, check out Lovin Soap Studio Cold Process Soap Recipe Book with 50 recipes + 64 essential oil blends.

For natural yellow in this recipe I used Yellow Brazilian Clay from Bramble Berry and Calendula petals. I’m a big fan of the Brazilian clays…I love the bold colors that they produce.

This technique also uses charcoal to create a line between the layers.

calendula soap

Let’s make soap!

Safety Warning: This recipe is for soapmakers who have a basic knowledge of the soapmaking process and know the correct safety procedures to use when handling lye. If you are new to soapmaking, visit our free soap making guide or check out our Basic Soapmaking eBook. Be sure to wear safety goggles and gloves while soaping.

This recipe fits into a 10″ silicone loaf mold from Bramble Berry.

Natural Calendula and Yellow Brazilian Clay Recipe

Coconut Oil – 10 oz. (31.25%)
Shea Butter – 4 oz. (12.5%)
Olive Oil – 12 oz. (37.5%)
Rice Bran Oil – 4 oz. (12.5%)
Avocado Oil – 2 oz. (6.25%)
Sodium Hydroxide – 4.5 oz.
Water – 9 oz.

Yellow Brazilian Clay – 1/2 teaspoon
Calendula – As shown
Charcoal – 1 teaspoon to dust

Lemongrass Essential Oil – 1 oz.
Litsea Essential Oil – 1 oz.

Step 1 – Create your lye solution. Weigh out the water and sodium hydroxide into separate containers.

Step 2 – In a well-ventilated area, sprinkle the sodium hydroxide into your water while stirring slowly. Stir until dissolved and set aside to cool.

Step 3 – Weigh out the coconut oil and Shea butter and melt, just until melted.

Step 4 – Weigh the liquid oils and add to the melted oils. Weigh the essential oils and add to the oil mixture.

oils for soapmaking

Step 6 – Pour the lye solution into oils and bring to light trace.

making_lye_soap stiring_soap handcrafted_natural_soap mixing_soap

Step 7 – Divide your mixture in half. You can just eyeball it. I ended up with more soap colored with clay. Divide however you want.

soap_mixture

Step 8 – Color one half with yellow Brazilian clay. Mix the clay with a bit of water before adding it to your soap. Here is more info on working with clay. Mix in the clay using your stick blender. Bring to a thick trace.

When layering, it is important to bring your bottom layer to thick trace so it will support the next layer.

Step 9 – Pour the bottom layer into your mold. You can bang your mold down to make it flat. I wanted peaks so I teased mine up with a spoon.

calendula_soap layering_soap

Step 10 – I used a tea infusion spoon to sprinkle my charcoal on. To see another tutorial using this technique, check out the Tallow Layered Pencil Line.

Sprinkle charcoal over this layer. Do not make it a solid dusting or the next layer will come apart. Leave plenty of soap showing.

charcoal_line_soaping charcoal_line_soap

Notice how I have plenty of bottom soap showing through.

Step 11 – Dump the calendula in the left over soap. Mix with your stick blender. This helps to break up the calendula a bit so you don’t have large pieces in your soap.

calendula_in_soap

Step 12 – Bring to a thicker trace and plop this over the charcoal layer. I used the back of a stainless steel spoon to texture the soap.

soap_texture

Beautiful!

Let the soap saponify for 24 hours. Remove the next day, cut and cure your soap for 4 weeks.

yellow_clay_soap

Happy Soaping!

-Amanda Gail