Yields 4 bars.
These unique bars, featuring Dead Sea mud clay powder, will float in your bathtub, instead of sinking like most soaps do. Dead Sea products are renowned for treating a multitude of skin ailments, making them a spa treatment staple. To use wet Dead Sea mud instead of the dry clay powder, simply omit the alcohol and blend the mud with the glycerin before making the recipe, and then be sure to strain out any stray clumps of mud before whipping. Jojoba or olive oil is added to keep the soap from being too drying, while aloe vera gel soothes skin and adds a small boost to the lather. Glycerin helps whipped melt-and-pour soap hold its form better and leads to a higher success rate, but if you don’t have any, you can leave it out. It’ll just have a slightly different texture.
- 16 ounces goat’s milk or other white soap base
- 1/2 teaspoon jojoba or olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 2 teaspoons glycerin
- 1 tablespoon Dead Sea mud clay powder, mixed with 2 to 3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
- 1 teaspoon lavender or peppermint essential oil
- 1/4 teaspoon tea tree essential oil
- 4 rectangular soap molds (4 ounces each)
- Rubbing alcohol, for spritzing
- Place soap base in a heatproof, 4-cup glass container, and place in the top of a double boiler over medium-low heat. Heat until melted, stirring often, about 20 to 30 minutes. Alternatively, melt it in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so.
- Stir in oil, aloe vera gel, glycerin, diluted mud clay powder, and essential oils, and mix well. Set aside to cool, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 125 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, get a hand-held mixer ready, and set your molds near your work surface.
- When the soap reaches 125 to 130 degrees, set a timer for 25 seconds, and then use the hand-held mixer to whip the soap on low to medium-low speed. If you have an infrared thermometer, monitor the temperature while you mix, as it will drop. Stop mixing after 25 to 30 seconds, or before the temperature drops to 115 degrees.
- Immediately pour the whipped soap into the molds. Lightly spray the tops with rubbing alcohol.
- Let the soap bars cool and set in the molds for at least 8 to 12 hours. (Removing them too soon may cause the sides to stick.)
- Unmold the bars, wrap them tightly, and store them in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.
