This is an ITP swirl using Bramble Berry Lavender & Herb Fragrance and Grape Pop Mica. What is ITP? This is a Soaper's abbreviation for "In the Pot". This means you don't actually swirl the colour through the soap, the colour is simply poured into the main pot and the colours mix themselves as you pour the batch from the main soap pot into the mould. A slab or log Mould are best for this kind of soap, though vertical moulds can look really nice too.
The most important thing with ITP style colouring is to avoid overtracing the soap. If it is too thick, it won't swirl well and will clump instead of flowing. Also important is to use a Fragrance or Essential Oil that doesn't accelerate trace. (Just check the notes on each of our Fragrances so you know what to expect).
Ingredients:
- 100g Cocoa Butter
- 400g Coconut Oil
- 150g Macadamia Oil
- 500g Olive Oil
- 167g Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda/Lye)
- 290 - 430 mls/g of Distilled Water (Use the higher quantity if you are a beginner)
- We used 30ml (approx 6 teaspoons) of Lavender & Herb Fragrance to give this batch its fresh Fragrance!
As this log is scented with Lavender & Herb Fragrance, we coloured our batch with a combination of Grape Pop Mica (3/4 - 1 teaspoon moistened in a little oil and mixed into 1 1/2 cups of the traced soap for the swirl colour ) and Brites for CP Green for the fresh green background colour.
Method:
For how to make soap from Scratch, please see our Cold Process Soapmaking Instructions Page
If you are a beginner, we recommend you make a few batches before attempting this soap as it can be a little overwhelming trying so many new things when just starting out. If you are more experienced, you can follow the instructions below.
- Prepare all ingredients and line the mould as usual
- Prepare the Pop Mica in some Oil (or Water but it take a little longer to mix)
- Set aside a spare washed, 750ml Chinese Food container (or similar container up to 1 Litre) for the Grape Pop Mica swirl colour
- Prepare your workspace and set out the Colours and Fragrance ready to go
- Bring soap to thin trace, and then pour approximately 1 - 2 cups of soap into the container
- Colour this with the Mica paste you are using and briefly give it a blast with the stick blender - careful not to overtrace - until you reach a colour depth you are happy with - go darker with purple unless you prefer a pale mauve
- Now add the fragrance into the main pot and stir through thoroughly, but don't increase the thickness of the trace
- Now work quite quickly - pour the purple portion into the main pot
- DO NOT MIX THIS THROUGH AT ALL
- Still working quickly, pour the soap into the log mould, moving along its length as you pour – the colours will mix as you do this
- By slightly moving the soap pot as you pour you can alter the pattern a little if desired
- See full instructions for In the Pot Swirling Technique here).
- If you want a textured top, you'll need to work with a thicker trace, or if don't wish to cover the top to avoid ashing, spritz liberally with Isopropyl Alcohol, then insulate for gel, or you can cover with acetate once firm enough to lie this over the top without it sticking
- Unmould and slice as usual
Note: If you would like a textured top, you need to balance the thickness of trace with its ability to sit nicely on top in that textured look.