How to Add Flowers in Cold Process Soap Making
The only commonly available flower that retains their original color in cold process soaps is dried calendula blooms, also known as pot marigolds. To add flowers to cold process soap: They retain their color beautifully and add a lovely texture to the soap.
How to Add Flowers to Melt and Pour Soap Making
If you are determined to make soap with dried flowers, you’ll have better luck with the melt and pour soap making method. When you work with a clear base, you can see the flowers embedded in the soap. The selection of usable flowers is much greater with melt and pour soap than with cold process soap. In addition to calendula, try dried rose petals, lavender buds, bachelor button or cornflower petals. To add flowers to melt and pour soap: You can also use a layering technique. Add a small amount of the liquid soap base and some flowers to the mold every 20 minutes. Repeat this as many times as the mold allows for an even distribution of flowers throughout the soap. This method is best used with flowers that tend to sink to the bottom of the liquid (unless that’s the effect you are after). You also use the layering technique when you are adding pressed flowers, rather than shredded dried flowers. Although the flowers add a beautiful touch to the soaps you make, they don’t replace the necessity for essential oils. The dried flowers are too small in quantity to add any fragrance to the soap.
How to Dry Flowers for Soap Making
If you are using flowers from your garden in your soaps, you’ll need to dry them first. Choose blooms that are not fully open, because the flower will continue to open after you cut it. Flowers that are fully open when you dry them tend to drop their petals. If you are not in a hurry, you can air-dry the flowers. If you are in a hurry, adding silica gel and a microwave can speed the process.
