Swirls can be created with any recipe, but I’ll use the couple that I like to make with the Castile soap recipe as an example of how to create it- I have 2-3 variations of the 100% olive oil soap recipe (Base Recipe #1) that I like to create with a swirl design. I figure these are slightly more complicated, so I separated these into their own post. These as just a couple of my personal recipes, but once again, there are so many variations you can create for yourself. Any variety of colors and clays, etc- there are a million different possibilities! -Creating designs is where you can get super artistic and fun, if you want.
For notes and instructions, see my Basic Supplies and Resources: https://truelovesoap.com/basic-supplies-and-resources/ and Basic Soap Making Instruction pages: https://truelovesoap.com/basic-soap-making-instructions
The basic process with creating a swirl design in a soap is this: Blend your lye & oils to a thin trace, then add the essential oils. In another container, separate out about 1/3 or a little less of your soap batter. In the small container of soap batter mix in the clay, colorant, powder, etc- whatever it is that is creating the contrasting swirl pattern. Hand stir in gently. Do the same with your larger container if using a color. Pour the larger container of soap until mold is around 2/3 full. Then slowly & gently pour the contrasting color in along one side of the batter in the mold. Sometimes, if all the batter is still super thin, it’s easier to pour off on an object, like a spatula into the mold, so that it is doesn’t splatter all through the soap batter that’s already in the mold instead of being able to create a swirl. Then take a swirl tool, or a chopstick, spoon, or a clean wire hanger bent in half to dip through to the bottom of the soap mold starting on the side the swirl batter was poured on, move horizontally across the mold to the other side. Repeat until the length of the mold has been covered with the tool. Go through each section once, without repeating unless you know you missed a section, otherwise you might mix the 2 soap batters together instead of swirling. Sometimes “mistakes” create really pretty results- so don’t worry about it and have fun! It’ll get much easier the second time around :).
Below is an informative video on the spoon swirl technique that is very beginner friendly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FA1ZWm36Wo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zSxMJzB4WY
Calendula Rose: 6wks in advance, infuse the olive oil for this recipe with calendula flowers, rose petals, and rose hips (optional). Bring oils and lye to trace and hand stir in .75oz geranium, .5oz ylang ylang, and .25oz lemongrass essential oils. Separate out approx 1/3 (I eyeball this, I don’t use an exact measurement). Hand stir in 1-2 tsps of rose clay. Pour the larger batch of soap into the mold, leaving just a small amount still in the pot. Pour the rose clay soap batter gently on top, then swirl with your chosen technique. Gently pour the final amount of the original, uncolored soap batter on the top and with a chopstick or edge of spoon, swirl just the very top portion of the soap in the mold (this creates a more decorative top to the batch). OR, skip the decorative top aspect and just pour all of the uncolored soap batter in first, then the rose clay portion and swirl- either ends up looking pretty :).
Peppermint Swirl: Bring oils and lye to trace and hand stir in 1.5 oz peppermint essential oil. Separate out approx 1/3 (I eyeball this, I don’t use an exact measurement). Hand stir in 1-2 tsp of rose clay or for a true red contrast, use 1tsp red pigment/soap colorant instead or in addition to. Pour the larger batch of soap into the mold, leaving just a small amount still in the pot. Pour the pigmented soap batter gently on top, then swirl with your chosen technique. Gently pour the final amount of the original, uncolored soap batter on the top and with a chopstick or edge of spoon, swirl just the very top portion of the soap in the mold (this creates a more decorative top to the batch). OR, skip the decorative top aspect and just pour all of the uncolored soap batter in first, then the pigmented portion and swirl- either ends up looking pretty. Sprinkle or swirl in snowflake mica on the top for a festive holiday look.
Sunshine Soap: I have a version of this soap in my other olive oil recipe post that doesn’t have a swirl, but I have make this one with a swirl simply by adding yellow oxide pigment to a portion of the soap instead of the whole batch for a more decorative bar.
Bring oils and lye to trace and hand stir in 1-2tbls of lemon peel powder, then stir in .75 oz lemon and .75oz orange essential oil. Separate out approx 1/3 (I eyeball this, I don’t use an exact measurement). Hand stir in 1tsp of yellow oxide pigment. Pour the larger batch of soap into the mold. Pour the pigmented soap batter gently on top, then swirl with your chosen technique. Decorated the top of the bar as desired- I often sprinkle calendula flowers along one side of the batch.
True Love Soap Company 