Baltic Amber Translucent From Scratch Soap Making

As I looked over all my past translucent and transparent soaps (I keep a sample of most of the soaps I make to see how they age) I noticed that the best was a recipe I developed a few years back. The soap has very nice qualities. It is not wet or slimy as many of the other translucent soaps are in this humid weather, and it is still very beautiful. It is a pretty long lasting soap as well. I decided that this would become my go to translucent soap recipe and that I wanted to try to make an amber soap. One of my best lifetime friend’s mother was from Latvia. So as we grew up together, on very special occasions, her mother would give her unique and beautiful amber jewelry to mark the special occasions. As I considered what would be a nice gift for my friend’s birthday, I thought that an Amber Soap might be especially meaningful to her. I added Orange and Ylang Ylang Essential oils to this soap and it is wonderful. I’ve think that this might just become my favorite guest soap recipe and soap for the kitchen. It cleanses beautifully (you can see the lather test at the end of the video) but it is not as moisturizing as my favorite shea silk soap recipe which I will continue to use for showers. It is very important to use a pitcher large enough to hold the soap as it expands. I used a 3 L Polypropylene Beaker for a 48 oz soap recipe and this recipe has never come close to expanding to the point of overflow. But to be safe, I have a large stainless steel bowl nearby while I mix it near the end, just in case. To make the soap, I began by measuring the oils and glycerin into my pitcher and heating them to 170-200 deg. F. Then, I add the lye water and mix it well. I continue to heat the soap in the microwave in 15-30 sec increments (while carefully watching it ) and mixing the soap between heating. When a little frothy head starts to form on the soap in the microwave, I take it out and mix it. When the soap looks smooth like taffy, I use pH strips to test the pH. After about a total of 30 sec to 2 minutes of the heating/mixing cycle, the pH goes from 13 or 14 to between about 10. The soap looks creamy almost like taffy at this point. When the soap had finished its saponification (pH of 10 or less), I add the sugar water and alcohol and mix it all until it is homogeneous using a spoon or my stick blender. It may look cloudy at first, but when you just put it aside, after a couple of minutes, it becomes translucent -not transparent but a lovely golden, translucent soap.
Be sure to check out Chapter 42 of my free “Creating Travel, Gift and Guests Book” for links to where I bought my supplies and for more useful information:
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Soap Ingredients:
1. 6.75 oz Organic Coconut oil (76 deg)
2. 6.6 oz Palm oil
3. 3.5 oz Organic Castor Oil
4. 2.1 oz Stearic Acid
5. 6.25 oz Filtered Water
6. 2.9 oz Food Grade NaOH
7. 3.25 oz Water for sugar
8. 4.55 oz white sugar
9. 4.2 oz kosher glycerin
10. 7.8oz 190 proof grain alcohol
Fragrance:
1. 0.5 oz Organic Orange Essential Oil
2. 0.5 oz 5 fold Orange Essential Oil
3. 0.2 oz Grade A Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Colors (generally 1 drop at a time):
1. Love and Sunshine Yellow
2. Copper Penny
3. Orange Vibrance
4. Neon Orange
5. Sahara Gold
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[@63eh74]

Wow, is that ever beautiful!

[@FromGracetoYou]

Thank you so much, Eric!💝 I hope to make more translucent soaps using this recipe. It is one of the few translucent soaps I actually like to use. It has nice properties. It isn't at all wet like most. Also, once it is hard, it doesn't "melt and pour" like some others, but it does seem to make a nice soap clay-something I have not found in any other recipes of translucent or melt and pour soaps. I hope to explore this property in the future.

[@bvfarm3]

Stunning...just beautiful!

[@FromGracetoYou]

I am thrilled that you like it! Thank you so much for your kind feedback, Vickie💝

[@СветланаГ-д9ш]

Очень соответствует названию! И очень красиво!

[@FromGracetoYou]

Спасибо за этот замечательный отзыв, Светлана Г 💝Балтийский янтарь бывает самых разных оттенков и с разными типами включений. Я хочу попробовать сделать больше сортов с разными ароматами. Я думаю, что Эмбер - один из тех объектов, которые лучше всего передать с помощью полупрозрачного мыла.

[@katherineahrens9062]

Oopsie… 🥴… forgot to ask: from where do you source 190 proof EtOH? 😮… not available here in CA, and last I checked, no longer available across my border in NV! Used up the last of my Everclear to make vanilla… 😊…. ❤❤❤, k

[@FromGracetoYou]

I know that they sell it online in many places including Amazon, but I buy mine locally since it is legal here in Texas. You know, you also might want to try the Organic Melt and pour I use. It is here: dradorable.com/products/ultra-clear-glycerin-melt-pour-soap-base-organic It is a little cheaper than my recipe and it works quite well.💝💝💝

[@walkingwater893]

It's beautiful! ❤I've never made one with glycerin.

[@FromGracetoYou]

Thank you so much, walkingwater💝 There isn't so much glycerin that it makes it a "wet" or "sweaty" soap. I really like this recipe a lot in terms of the functionality of the soap. Oh and another thing I found, this soap can actually be make into soap clay-something that is VERY difficult with all other clear type soaps I've tried. Maybe sometime I will show that property...

[@katherineahrens9062]

Hi Grace! Long time no see (my fault 😊, not yours ❤)! You’re still as amazing as ever… your creativity still abounds… how you select your colors to include in your creations still astounds me - definitely a reflection of the painter in you! Love the link to the Bible verses 🙏🏼…. Of course, joining your group to provide a bit of support… Trusting all is well with you and yours… in His love… ❤️, k

[@FromGracetoYou]

Welcome back, Katherine!!!💝💝💝 It's great to hear from you and thank you so much for you sweet comments and for joining!!!

[@neryestevez2202]

Thank you for sharing it, it’s beautiful.

[@FromGracetoYou]

You are very welcome! Thank you for your lovely feedback, Nery 💝

[@ivonvalle2683]

New to your channel they are stunning,

[@FromGracetoYou]

Welcome Ivon!!💝 I am thrilled that you like them! I hope to be making more translucent soaps in the future.

[@sheilamennie8141]

Love it

[@FromGracetoYou]

I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Sheila💝

[@grayuk3356]

oh my word, this was fascinating to watch, and turned out beautiful. Thankyou so much Grace. xx

[@FromGracetoYou]

I am so pleased that you enjoyed watching, Gray UK💝 I plan to make more translucent soaps in the future. I really like this recipe.

[@VideoVoyager.]

Очень красиво! Всегда любуюсь вашими работами. Скажите пожалуйста, что у вас за аппарат для разогрева мыльной основы, похоже на рисоварку или хлебопечку :)?? Пробовала использовать нагреватель для воска (ваксинг) он совершенно не подходит. Если не трудно, ответьте пожалуйста, буду признательна.

[@FromGracetoYou]

Здравствуйте и спасибо за ваши добрые комментарии и ваш вопрос. 💝 Устройство называется «инста-горшок», и я использовал его только для того, чтобы сохранять мыло теплым, пока его наливаю. Если у вас нет такого устройства, вы можете просто разогреть мыло в микроволновой печи, если оно станет слишком твердым, прежде чем вы закончите. Я поставил инста-пот на режим «поддержание тепла» на «низкий уровень». Это работает хорошо. Вот устройство, чтобы вы могли узнать о нем больше. www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Duo-Mini-Programmable/dp/B06Y1YD5W7/ref=sr_1_4?crid=XPZULOCRPF20&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5s_5RS4qKJMOxc04dnxdoss-L7XfL35kgkFImE1NyQNcAF5EVwDcxau8hFO1CVmZTubF9RBN5oTp65Ra-Uocx_8PEktba_hm4NixWSBTlnnHaAJD16ZueGSge6_N_2-QnrnJO5FWlC2LSmmaJYk5cpNB4LsA4hKSoVkOdURokcJDczCUIDlgNYZy1RUBQgsTSwLrg5i4ljymKsJr-j17Ifik112oASvOff3B7TwupVY.qGUTUOkBNLkGX2MvSOBPaouyhrEJTp06YxfWjn0Q-N4&dib_tag=se&keywords=insta-pot&qid=1717832713&sprefix=insta-pot%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-4&th=1

[@VideoVoyager.]

@@FromGracetoYou Спасибо большое! Я так и думала, что именно этот аппарат вы используете) В микроволной печи разогреваю, но смесь очень быстро остывает и такой аппарат очень нужен. Спасибо еще раз!

[@FromGracetoYou]

😘

[@jackyeriddle1980]

Thank you for showing us how to make your beautiful soap. May I ask why you call it "Baltic' soap? Can you also tell me if this soap recipe will have a "glycerin dew". I live in a humid area and have found many glycerin soap - (but not all) attracts droplets of water.

[@FromGracetoYou]

Thank you for your lovely feedback, Jackye Riddle💝 I called the soap "Baltic Amber" Soap because that was the inspiration for this art soap. I think something like 90% of the amber of the world comes from this region. If you read my description, you might also see more of why I picked this name (Latvia is one of the countries in this region where amber comes from and so, it appears to be special to some of the people who grew up there). Also, the reason I love this recipe is that it does not sweat or have that glycerin dew that you are asking about. I live near Houston and the humidity routinely climbs up above 90% during part of the day. Even so, this soap remains lovely and dry-just as if it was a cold process soap.

[@jackyeriddle1980]

I so appreciate your detailed explanation. Thank You. I'm so pleased to hear this recipe does not sweat! I have it printed and am going to make it tomorrow - and I'll be super happy if it looks half as good as yours.

[@FromGracetoYou]

Awesome! I hope you'll let me know how it goes and maybe send photos if you'd like to [e-mail]

[@tanyabonnett4174]

Hi Grace, these are truly beautiful and so like Beautiful Baltic Amber blocks. If the colour was red it would be Cherry Amber. Thankyou for sharing your making video with beautiful music video with us all

[@FromGracetoYou]

I like your idea about the Cherry Amber! I also would like to try other amber soaps with different colors-they are so varied. Thank you for your wonderful feedback on the soap and video, Tanya 💝 I really appreciate it!