Picture Tutorial of Side Embeds in Cold Process Soap

This is a simple picture tutorial of how I make one of my favorite soap designs. The sides of the bars are created first using an "In the Pot" Swirl technique and poured into a mold that has acrylic dividers to get evenly sized embed bars. I use sodium lactate (5g per lb of oils) in this formulation because it makes it much easier to remove the acrylic dividers from the soap.

This is a 4 day process and I use the same formulation for the side embed logs that I do for the main soap.


Day 1 - Create the soap embed logs. I use a 10" long silicone loaf mold that came with acrylic dividers so that I can get evenly sized bars.

Day 2 - Unmold the embeds and separate them. I put the entire mold in the freezer for about an hour first, then remove from the mold and remove the dividers. Position them into the main log mold making sure it is a tight fit so they do not move when you pour the rest of the soap batter. Create the main soap using the same formulation and pour into the mold. Let set for 24 hours or so (depends on your formula and how long it takes to set up)

Day 3 - Unmold the soap and cut into individual bars. You can see how I poured my soap slightly above the height of the side embeds to make sure they were completely covered.

Day 4 - Clean up and finish the bars. For these I cut off the excess soap at the top, beveled the long edges and used an acrylic stamp to make an impression on one side of the soap. How you finish the soap is a personal choice and up to you.

I just love how these bars turn out.  This batch was scented with a combination of Rose, Honeysuckle, Lily of the Valley and Sandalwood.

~ Faith