Today, I am sharing my top recipe for a soap scrub that has become very popular due to its high coffee content and gentle scrubbing effect.
I used a silicone mold for 2 kg, so I’m giving you the recipe for 2,1 kg of soap.
Your List of Ingredients
Almond oil (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis) 245 g
Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) 327 g
Avocado oil (Persea gratissima) 82 g
Apricot kernel oil (Prunus armeniaca) 54 g
Sunflower oil (Helianthus annuus) 81 g
Shea butter unrefined (Butyrospermum parkii) 300 g
Cocoa butter unrefined (Theobroma cacao) 299 g
Grounded coffee (powder) (Coffea Arabica) 90 g
Essential oils/Absolutes 30 g
Distilled water 416 g
Lye - Sodium Hydroxide 193 g
If you're working with a lye solution for the first time, remember to wear protective gear, which includes gloves, a face mask (my preference is a professional one), goggles, and clothing that covers you completely. I know there are people who make soap while dancing around half-naked, but THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNSAFE! You should never expose your skin when dissolving lye in water, as toxic fumes can occur. It’s also a good idea to ensure proper ventilation or work in an area where you can open a window or door.
Look at the pictures below; here are some examples of things you might need before you start creating your perfect soap: I used professional face mask, gloves, infrared thermometer, hand blender, whisk, soap mold, and don’t forget to cover your body with a long-sleeve T-shirt and long pants.
Step 1: Let’s Get Started
The key to a perfect coffee scrub is powdered coffee beans. Do not buy ground coffee, as it still has very large particles, and ground coffee loses its aroma quickly. A Vitamix is perfect for grinding—it turns coffee beans into a fine powder, which is exactly what we need for a gentle yet effective scrub (I actually use a Vitamix for all of my recipes when I need to grind something).
When your brewed coffee is ready, there’s no need to sift it through a strainer. You should use it as is, with the coffee grounds still inside. This is how we get a rich, brownish lye solution, as the coffee powder is included.
When your lye solution is ready, it must cool down to 35-40°C. Remember, the temperature of your oils should match the temperature of the lye solution, within 35-40°C. There can be a small difference of up to 5 degrees, but the lye solution temperature must be higher than the oils. For example, if the oils are at 30°C, the lye solution should be at 35°C. I use Celsius, not Fahrenheit, for the measurements.
Step 2: The most exciting moments
When your lye solution and oils are at the same temperature, you can mix them together. Add the lye solution to the oils and use a whisk to combine them.
Next, add the ground coffee and whisk again.
Add the essential oils and whisk once more. Once all ingredients are incorporated, start using the blender and blend until a so-called "trace" appears in the soap. This means the mixture has thickened.
When the mixture is ready, pour it into the mold. When pouring the soap into the mold, it’s important to tap it to release any air and bubbles. We do this to ensure the soap is free of holes. Close the mold with the lid, hold it by the edges, lift it slightly, and tap it on the table. Repeat this 3-4 times. You can place a towel underneath to avoid damaging the mold.
Leave the soap for 24 hours in a place where it won’t be disturbed. After 24 hours, you can remove the soap from the mold and cut it. Allow the soap pieces to dry. You can use the fresh soap 48 hours after cutting, but typically, we let it air dry for 4-6 weeks. This period allows the soap to lose excess water and harden properly.
Important information about water: My strong recommendation is to use DISTILLED WATER. This water doesn’t contain any microelements or microorganisms. I highly advise against using tap water due to the high levels of chemicals used for water treatment, which we don’t know how will react in the soap. Please, always use distilled water when making soap!
Step 3: Let's check out the results!
The list of extracts & absolutes that I used in this soap:
Step 4: If you still think it’s very complicated...
You can always get your bar here :)
Love the recipe. I'll try to make :) 😀