Native Australian soap recipe for a special Christmas gift
November 24, 2016
Native Australian soap recipe for a special Christmas gift
Handmade Lemon Myrtle Soap
Lemon Myrtle is a tree native to Australia’s Sunshine Coast and Proserpine areas. It has a fresh lemon citrus fragrance and flavour and is becoming increasingly popular as a native cooking ingredient. I tried it in this soap recipe as it has a long lingering fragrance that can be achieved with less of the plant material than you would need the equivalent amount of essential oils to achieve. I have found that when I make soap you need a significant amount of essential oils to be added for the fragrance to be adequate and they are expensive to use in large quantities. When making natural skin care products and soap I seek high quality ingredients that I know will be safe and gentle to use on my skin and the skin of my children. I have talked a little about sourcing ingredients in this article (add link)
I like the rustic, earthy look of this soap, it is a great match for the fresh fragrance. I have made a couple of batches as Christmas gifts.
If it is to be your first time making soap please read my beginner guide here and then return to this recipe. There are very important safety notes included.
This is my recipe for making Lemon Myrtle Soap. Please note, soap cures and hardens as it ages. The harder the soap is, the longer it will last. Make this recipe as soon as possible to allow it time to cure prior to Christmas.
Native Australian soap recipe for a special Christmas gift
Handmade soap fragranced with native Australian lemon myrtle
Ingredients
- 430 grams cocoa butter
- 100 grams coconut oil
- 70 grams shea butter
- 400 grams almond oil
- 360 grams chilled water
- 130 grams lye
- 1 tablespoon dried lemon myrtle
- 2 tablespoons white clay
Instructions
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Place a saucepan filled 1/4 full of water to heat to a simmer
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Measure out and place the cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter, and almond oil into a bowl that can be placed on top of the saucepan without the bottom of it touching the water in the saucepan. Set it aside for now and wait until the water in the saucepan comes to a simmer
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Place a saucepan filled 1/4 full of water to heat to a simmer
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Line a plastic container/Tupperware with baking paper. This will be the soap mold
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Line your work area with a plastic sheet or newspaper to protect the surface from any spills. Put on your gloves and mask
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Measure the chilled water into a high edged tub or bucket
(I complete this step outside on the deck) Pour the lye into the water (DO NOT pour the water into the lye) Keep your face away from the mixture and avoid breathing in the fumes that will immediately start to be released. The mixture will immediately begin to heat up. Give the mixture a stir to allow the lye to dissolve and leave the container to sit outside
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The water in the saucepan should be coming to a low boil, place the bowl with the other ingredients on top and stir once in while until the solid ingredients melt. *DO NOT do this step over high heat, it is a gentle heating process.
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Once the ingredients are almost melted remove the bowl from the top of the saucepan and continue to stir until they are fully dissolved
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Allow the ingredients temperature to drop to 40 or 45 degrees
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Check the temperature of the chilled water and lye, at this stage it should also be around 40-45 degrees C
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Slowly pour the caustic and water mixture into the melted oils. Use a stick blender to combine. Continue to use the blender until the mixture has thickened and when raised slightly above the mixture can make a line across the mixture that stays sitting on top. If the drizzle of the mixture sinks quickly into the bowl you need to keep going with the blender
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Once the mixture is at the correct thickness add the clay and the lemon myrtle then mix again with the stick blender for a minute and pour the soap mixture into the lined plastic container
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Set the container aside in a location that will not be disturbed and cover with cling wrap and then with a towel. After a day a two the soap can turned out and sliced into bars of the desired size
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Allow the sliced soap to cure and dry on a rack for approximately 4 weeks. A cake rack is perfect for this.The longer the soap dries the harder it will be and the longer it will last.
I try to avoid the shops when December comes around. I find the increased traffic and the longer wait times make me feel stressed so I attempt to the gifts sorted prior to this. If you feel similar give this gorgeous soap recipe a try and you may also like these Christmas food gift ideas I have created and gifted previously.
How is your gift planning going?
Have a great weekend.
Kyrstie
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Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
I looove lemon myrtle! They’re the only soaps I bother swiping from hotels! 😉
We have a couple of LM trees growing around the dam, might have to see if I can get my hands on the rest of the ingredients. 🙂
Hey Kyrstie.
Just wanting to find out what coconut butter is and if it is something I can find in the grocery shops? I can’t wait to give this recipe a try but finding coconut butter is proving difficult 🙂
Hi Adele, I apologise for the delayed response. I made a typo I apologise it should read Cocoa Butter. I can now find it at my local grocer but the best bet is to purchase it online at Auroma. You will find it on their website and is available for delivery. Kyrstie
Thats Ok 🙂
I have just gone back through your recipe and I think you mean “shea butter” Is this right? I was a bit confused when you said Cocoa butter because you already have it listed as an ingredient. When I read through the method I noticed you have shea butter included as one of the oils needing melting.
Oh my goodness, I have just emailed you. I do apologise. I have completely messed this one up. I will correct it now. Thanks for letting m know.