Details
This is an ITP swirl using Bramble Berry Cucumber and Kiwi Fragrance and Chrome Green Oxide blended with Brites for CP Yellow and poured into the super-easy to use-and-unmould Silicone Column Mould.
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, column (vertical) or log mould are best for this kind of soap.
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).
As this log is scented with Cucumber & Kiwi Fragrance, we coloured our batch with a combination of Chrome Green Oxide and Brites NG Canary Yellow to liven up the earthy chrome green oxide. In the base portion 3/4 teaspoon White Pearl Mica lightens up the base nicely.
If you are comfortable pouring traced cold process soap into the vertical mould, the technique is relatively easy to achieve. We do recommend you make a few batches before trying an ITP swirl with the vertical mould
Ingredients:
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 your workspace and set out the colours and fragrance ready to go
- Ensure you have locked the tongue and groove's of the mould together securely, if in doubt you can use bulldog clips for extra security
- Prepare the Chrome Green Oxide - 1/2 teaspoon with 2 teaspoons of water
- Also prepare the White Pearl Mica, mixed 3/4 teaspoon with 2 teaspoons of distilled water
- Set aside a spare mould, and a jug ready for the green portion (a container up to 1 Litre) for the green swirl colour
- Bring soap to thin trace, and then pour approximately 1 - 2 cups of soap into a container
- Colour this portion with the the green oxide and about 20 drops of Brites for CP Yellow and briefly give it a blast with the stick blender - careful not to overtrace
- Add the Pearl White Mica to the main soap pot and give it a blast with the stick blender to mix thoroughly - don't over trace
- Now add the fragrance into the main pot and stir through thoroughly manually, os you don't increase the thickness of the trace
- Now work quite quickly - pour the green portion into the main pot in 3 or 4 places towards the edge of the pot
- DO NOT MIX THIS THROUGH AT ALL
- Still working quickly, pour the soap into the loaf mould, beginning cautiously unless you have someone holding it steady for you. Continue pouring until you fill to 1 cm below the rim
- By slightly twisting the soap pot as you pour you can alter the pattern a little if desired
- Pour the rest of the traced soap into the spare mould
- Column moulds hold their heat through gel, so only insulate if you are making this on a really cold day
- See full instructions for In the Pot Swirling Technique here).
- Allow to sit in the moulds for a day or two longer than usual and then unmould and slice
We made a second batch using infused Indigo Powder and Spring Meadow fragrance.
Note: You will also need to purchase Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) and Distilled water from the supermarket.
