Madagascar Black Pepper Soap Recipe for Men
Looking for a homemade gift idea for men? This homemade black pepper soap recipe is just your ticket! Created using both cold process soap and melt & pour glycerin soap, these homemade black pepper soaps are scented with a Madagascar black pepper fragrance oil. The top and bottom layers are made from a cold process black pepper soap recipe that contains flecks of ground black pepper while the center layer is made from a translucent soap base and contains organic whole black peppercorns.
My boyfriend says that this homemade black pepper soap bar reminds him of Southern biscuits & gravy because of both the way it looks as well as the peppery scent. You’ll find this Madagascar black pepper soap recipe below.
Madagascar Black Pepper Soap Recipe
Ingredients for Cold Process Soap Layers:
6 oz. sustainable palm oil
4 oz. 76 degree melt point (refined) coconut oil
3 oz. sesame oil
2 oz. castor oil
4 oz. sunflower oil
1 oz. cocoa butter
6 oz. distilled water
2.7 oz. lye/sodium hydroxide
1.2 oz. Madagascar Black Pepper fragrance oil
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Ingredients for Melt & Pour Soap Layer:
12 oz. Crafter’s Choice crystal clear soap base
.3 oz. Madagascar Black Pepper fragrance oil
2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
Supplies:
digital kitchen scale
measuring spoons
spatula and utensils for stirring
loaf soap mold
glass pyrex measuring cup(s) and/or pitcher
stainless steel pot
stick/immersion hand blender
office trash bag and masking tape to line mold
rubbing alcohol in spray bottle
Instructions:
This homemade black pepper soap recipe fits inside my DIY wooden loaf soap mold, although a slightly smaller sized mold can accommodate this recipe as well. If you have never made cold process soap before, I recommend starting with a basic cold process soap recipe until you are familiar with the process as the fragrance oil will cause soap to seize if the temperatures are too hot.
Start by lining the soap mold with plastic. I used an office garbage bag as shown within this tutorial as it’s quick and easy. You’ll be making the center layer of melt & pour soap first and you need to easily be able to remove the soap from the mold.
Once the mold is lined, weigh out the clear melt & pour soap base using a digital kitchen scale, cut into cubes and place in a microwave safe dish like a large Pyrex measuring cup. Melt in 30 second increments until base is melted, then weigh out .3 oz. of fragrance oil and stir into the base. Next, measure out the whole peppercorns and stir into the liquified soap, then pour the soap into the mold.
Once the glycerin soap has set up, remove from the mold and peel off the plastic. Set aside.
Now make your cold process soap for the top and bottom layers of the soap. You will use the same mold for this so that the glycerin soap fits into it. Line your mold then begin making the remainder of the soap.
Measure out the distilled water into a pitcher or large glass Pyrex measuring cup. Then weigh out the lye and mix into the water in a well ventilated area. Set aside to cool.
Next, weigh out the soapmaking oils and cocoa butter using your scale and combine in a stainless steel pot on the stove. Heat over medium heat until melted then remove from heat and allow to cool.
While the soapmaking oils and lye/water are cooling, grind a teaspoon of pepper and weigh out 1.2 oz. of the black pepper fragrance oil.
When your ingredients have cooled down start by mixing the ground pepper into the oils with a stick blender. Then slowly pour the lye/water into the oils and mix until you reach a light trace. Now add the fragrance oil and combine thoroughly. Keep in mind that this fragrance will accelerate trace.
Working quickly pour half of the soap into the mold and spritz with alcohol (optional.) Then press the pre-prepared melt and pour soap onto the layer of cold process soap. Spritz the layer of glycerin soap with alcohol, then pour the remaining cold process soap on top. Smooth out the top if desired.
Should your soap seize from the fragrance oil – mine did and it’s likely yours will too – you can save the soap. I got the first layer in before the top layer and the top layer seized into solid soap in the pot. Wearing heavy gloves I scooped out the remaining soap and mashed it onto the top layer until it started to gel, then covered and insulated as usual.
After 24 hours you can unmold your soap loaf and cut it into bars. Allow to cure for 3 – 6 weeks before use, then wrap and label if desired. I recommend wrapping this one in plastic food wrap film
because of the middle layer of glycerin soap.
For more homemade soap recipes and ideas including other handmade soap recipes for men, be sure to visit Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen as well as my DIY Bath & Body board on Pinterest. Also be sure to check out my post with 32 DIY Homemade Gift Ideas for Men That Don’t Suck.
