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Earlier this year, I got my hands on some organic orange peel… well, ok: a lot of organic orange peel and apart from all the other things I made out of it, I tried my hand at making my first ever hydrolate. It turned out pretty well and I immediately thought about using it in a soap recipe. To enhance the “orange factor”, I added some of the dried and shredded orange peel and essential orange oil and I got a soap that smells and looks as good as it feels. This orange peeling soap appeals to (almost) all senses!

Even better, it’s an easy recipe, suitable for beginners. If you’re not familiar with the process of soapmaking yet, hop over and read this article first. Also, make sure you wear your protective gear throughout the whole soapmaking process. Better safe than sorry.

Orange peeling soap

Superfat: 7 %

Ingredients

350 g olive oil
75 g coconut oil
50 g sunflower seed oil
25 g castor oil
165 g orange hydrolate
64,5 g NaOH
5 g essential oil sweet orange
5 g essential oil bergamot
10 g dried and shredded organic orange peel

Instructions

1. Prepare your soap mould and put on an apron, gloves, breathing mask and safety goggles.

2. Weigh the oils. Slowly melt the coconut oil, then add the olive, sunflower and castor oil. Put a thermometer into the oil mixture and measure the temperature.

3. Weigh the hydrolate in a large enough, heat-proof container.

4. Weigh the essential oils and the shredded orange peel and put them aside for later use.

5. Weigh the sodium hydroxide. Put the water container into a sink and slowly pour the sodium hydroxide into the water (never the reverse!). Stir carefully and slowly with a spoon or rubber spatula until the NaOH crystals have dissolved. Put a thermometer into the lye-water and measure the temperature.

6. When the temperatures of the lye-water and the oils have fallen to 40 – 45 °C, carefully pour the lye into the oils (never the reverse!). Fully immerse a blender and mix both liquids until they are well combined. Make sure that the blender stays in the batter to prevent air bubbles. Mix the batter until a trace forms.

7. Add the dried and shredded orange peel and the essential oils to the soap batter.

8. Pour the soap batter into the mould and either cover it with cling film or spray it with isopropyl alcohol. Cover the mould with towels to keep it warm. Leave the soap in the mould for 48 hours.

9. After 48 hours, carefully remove the soap from the mould and cut it into bars.

10. Let the soap bars cure at a cool and well-ventilated place for 4 – 6 weeks before use.

Characteristics of orange peeling soap

This recipe makes for a great soap with a light peeling effect. It’s got a smooth lather (thanks to the castor oil) and is suitable even for sensitive skin. The orange and bergamot fragrance has a refreshing and awakening effect and the orange peeling particles shine out like little rays of sunlight.

All in all, it’s a perfect soap to use for your morning shower to awaken your body and mind and start the day fresh and energized.