Holiday Spice Soap

November 10, 2011

Clove and orange are two of my favorite ingredients in a holiday-inspired soap. Late fall and early winter just feel and smell like citrus and spice

Three years ago I made Orange Clove Pomander soap for Christmas gifts and ever since that time I've been hooked on the combination of orange, clove and rosemary essential oils. If you try this recipe I think you'll see why.

Clove adds spice, like warm cookies out of the oven. Orange is that refreshing citrus zing. And rosemary hints at evergreens (with a somewhat pine-y essence), reminiscent of a Christmas tree or a walk in the winter woods.

The poetry of soapmaking. 

The recipe I'm sharing reflects that I now live north of the 49th parallel. And up here we use metric measures. This has been an adjustment to me, mostly in my supply ordering. Having been used to ounces and pounds for so many years I'm having to do a lot of math these days to figure out quantities and costs.

Below is the recipe in metric (except tbsps, we use those). But don't worry because I have both metric and imperial recipes available as downloads.

• Holiday Spice Metric recipe download
• Holiday Spice Imperial recipe download

Carrier Oils

• 675 gm olive oil
• 675 gm coconut oil
• 405 gm shea butter
• 325 gm canola oil
• 270 gm cocoa butter
• 195 gm soybean oil
• 155 gm castor oil

Lye & Water

• 370 gm lye
• 1075 gm water

Botanicals

• 2 tbsp. ground cloves
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder

Essential Oils

• 30 gm rosemary essential oil
• 60 gm clove essential oil
• 60 gm orange essential oil

Just so you know, both orange and clove oil can be irritating to sensitive skin. This hasn't caused a problem in our household (and my husband has sensitive skin). I'm just giving a heads up.

The method is explained in the download. See the below posts for exact "how to make soap" instructions.

• How To Make Simple Soap ~ A Video Tutorial
• 4 Steps to Making Homemade Soap

To get that lovely swirl read the instructions in this post (scroll down to the Holiday Spice header).

I hope you enjoy making this. Your house will smell like the holidays when you make it, while curing, and when you use it.