Let’s Make a Pumpkin Bar!

Sara WagnerTips, Tricks & TutorialsLeave a Comment

Fall is here, and you know what that means-pumpkin everything! Get in on that craze and add a little pumpkin to your soap.

Oh, Pumpkin 

Let’s talk about how you’ll be incorporating pumpkin into your soap.  We realize that pumpkin is all the rage this time of year, but please: put down your neighbor’s Jack-O-Lantern and grab a can of good ole’ fashioned pumpkin puree instead. We’re talking the pie filling stuff of pumpkin pie dreams here, so grab a can opener and let’s get started!

What You’ll Need 

Today, we’ll be using a standard recipe that we’ve used previously for our Coffee Bar (an equally delicious soap, check out how to make it here).

Equipment 

Gloves & goggles

Mixing bowls and measuring cups

 Stick blender

2 lb mold

Spoons for mixing 

As always, make sure to follow proper safety procedures when making soap. Lye is a caustic substance that can cause injury if improperly handled. For more information about safety guidelines, check out the video Handcrafted Soapmaking Safety in the HSCG How-To Library. 

Ingredients 

6.4 oz Coconut Oil

6.4 oz Palm Oil

15.36 oz Olive Oil

3.2 oz Shea Butter

.64 oz Stearic Acid (optional)

12.16 oz Water

4.43 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

2 oz Canned Pumpkin Puree

1 oz Fragrance (optional)

Colorant, if desired 

Step 1: Safety First 

The first step in making any product is to make sure you are wearing your goggles and gloves! Also, make sure that you’re working in a well-ventilated area-lye can make quite a stink.

Step 2: Carefully combine your lye and water. Remember: pour your lye into your water, NOT your water into your lye. 

Combine slowly by sprinkling the lye a little at a time into your water and mixing gently to avoid splatters.

Step 3: Melt and Combine Your Oils 

Whether you are using the cold or hot process methods of soapmaking, you’ll need to melt any solid oils so they can be easily combined; this is something you can do while your lye water is cooling. Once you’ve melted the oils, you can add your liquid oils and mix them well, careful to avoid splashing.

Step 4: Check Your Temperature, and Combine 

Allow your oils and lye to each reach temperatures around 115-150°F and then slowly combine them by placing the shaft of your stick blender into your oils, tilted slightly. Then, pour the lye water slowly down it. This will help you to avoid any splashing. Once you’ve poured all of your lye water into your oils, stir with your stick blender slowly before beginning to blend; you’ll want to bring your batter to trace before reaching the next step.

Step 5: It’s Pumpkin Time! 

Add your pumpkin puree to your soap batter now; gently mix it in with the batter until the puree is evenly combined. If you are using the CP method of soapmaking, you can add your fragrance and colorants to your batter during this step too, just before molding. If you’re using the HP method of soapmaking, you will cook your soap through until it reaches the “petroleum jelly” phase, at which point you can add your fragrances, colorants, and mold the batter.

Final Thoughts 

Making soap with pumpkin puree is a great way to work an everyday seasonal favorite into your product offerings. With a slight variation in your recipe, you can make a beautiful soap that fits right in with the fall theme!

If you’re new to soapmaking and need some clarification on terms, check out our Glossary of Soap-Related Terms.

Ready to order the supplies you’ll need to make your pumpkin soap dreams come true? Check out our Where to Buy Supplies page for a listing of HSCG Vendors!

 

 

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