Marigold Soap Recipe with Honey and Oatmeal

By garciamoss

Ingredients

• 18 oz melt-and-mold white soap
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 5 tablespoons dried marigold petals (Calendula officinalis)
• 4 tablespoons coarse oatmeal
• 10 drops bergamot, neroli or mandarin essential oil
• 1 tablespoon sweet almond or peanut oil
• Soap molds, muffin pans, or small tart pans

Details

Adapted from motherearthliving.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Grate the soap with the coarse side of a box grater and place it in a heatproof bowl large enough to fit over one of your pans. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler. Add the honey to the soap. Place the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water—the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl—and melt the soap with the honey, stirring from time to time, until it’s liquid and well blended.

2. Remove the bowl from the heat. Stir in the marigold petals, oatmeal, and essential oils and mix thoroughly. Lightly but thoroughly grease the molds with a little of the sweet almond or peanut oil. Pour the liquid soap into a measuring cup and then pour it into the molds. Rap the molds gently on the work surface to eliminate air bubbles (this isn’t necessary if you are using silicone molds) and leave to set for at least 4 hours.

3. If you’re using silicone molds, simply press the soaps out. If using metal molds, use a small, sharp knife to help ease them out. Leave in a cool, dry place for 3 to 4 weeks to “cure” or harden. Makes 10 x 2-ounce soaps.
Packaging

New or vintage muffin and tart pans in interesting shapes make great soap molds. You can simply unmold the soaps and pack them in a pretty box or give them in the pans, as an extra little gift for the lucky recipient.