Orange Watermelon Soap

[Blufuz]

Hi all!

Summer is here in Switzerland, and I could not resist buying a watermelon
Needless to say, it was a bit too much to eat all on my own, and so I decided to try and make soap with the leftovers.
To my surprise, watermelon juice creates an absolutely amazing shade of orange!

This I unmolded this morning, so usually it gets even darker with time!
Here’s how I did it:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ingredients:
Watermelon juice (65 g)
Watermelon purée (30 g)
Salt 1/4 tsp
Sodium hydroxide (35.5 g) 5% SF
Coconut oil (60 g) 24%
Olive oil (180 g) 70%
Castor oil (15 g) 6%
Procedure:

1. remove watermelon seeds. Blend into a pulp (use maybe 3x watermelon weight needed)
2. With a sieve, strain apart juice from pulp. Aggressively squeeze pulp so it’s as dry as possible.
3. Let juice sit in fridge overnight (keep pulp there as well).
4. The watermelon juice will start to separate into water on top and more watermelon particles on the bottom; as delicately as possible, pour out the top layer of water so that you only use the darkest juice
5. Weigh out required juice, add salt. Add sodium hydroxide. Should turn a dark red/orange.
6. Add hot lye to still-solid coconut oil, so that it melts. Add olive and castor oil.
7. At whatever point, add pulp.

I couldn’t say for sure what steps are critical to obtain that shade of orange, it’s my first attempt, but I am so happy with the color
I based the soap recipe off of: Baby Carrot Soap
When I actually used carrots though, it was barely darker than normal soap color.
I think it should be good as a face soap

 

[Chaiat5]

That is SO pretty!!!! And love how you photographed it on the grey rock

 

[Blufuz]

That is SO pretty!!!! And love how you photographed it on the grey rock

Thanks My phone’s camera tries to be clever and adjusts the colors so my soaps never look right. I found the only way it works is on stone and asphalt

 

[Savage Daughter]

Hi all!

Summer is here in Switzerland, and I could not resist buying a watermelon
Needless to say, it was a bit too much to eat all on my own, and so I decided to try and make soap with the leftovers.
To my surprise, watermelon juice creates an absolutely amazing shade of orange!

View attachment 72951
This I unmolded this morning, so usually it gets even darker with time!
Here’s how I did it:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ingredients:
Watermelon juice (65 g)
Watermelon purée (30 g)
Salt 1/4 tsp
Sodium hydroxide (35.5 g) 5% SF
Coconut oil (60 g) 24%
Olive oil (180 g) 70%
Castor oil (15 g) 6%
Procedure:

1. remove watermelon seeds. Blend into a pulp (use maybe 3x watermelon weight needed)
2. With a sieve, strain apart juice from pulp. Aggressively squeeze pulp so it’s as dry as possible.
3. Let juice sit in fridge overnight (keep pulp there as well).
4. The watermelon juice will start to separate into water on top and more watermelon particles on the bottom; as delicately as possible, pour out the top layer of water so that you only use the darkest juice
5. Weigh out required juice, add salt. Add sodium hydroxide. Should turn a dark red/orange.
6. Add hot lye to still-solid coconut oil, so that it melts. Add olive and castor oil.
7. At whatever point, add pulp.

I couldn’t say for sure what steps are critical to obtain that shade of orange, it’s my first attempt, but I am so happy with the color
I based the soap recipe off of: Baby Carrot Soap
When I actually used carrots though, it was barely darker than normal soap color.
I think it should be good as a face soap

Wow, I LOVE that! Beautiful shade of creamy orange!

I wonder what the longevity of this as a natural colorant will be?

Please post again in a month, as well as a couple of months & several months down the road so we can see what happens with this soap

 

[Blufuz]

Wow, I LOVE that! Beautiful shade of creamy orange!

I wonder what the longevity of this as a natural colorant will be?

Please post again in a month, as well as a couple of months & several months down the road so we can see what happens with this soap

I actually got an identical shade of orange with some “tangerine” mica, but definitely the watermelon juice is more fun!

 

[Savage Daughter]

I actually got an identical shade of orange with some “tangerine” mica, but definitely the watermelon juice is more fun!

As I don't use any mica's, only plants, spices, herbal infused oils & similar things for my products, watermelon is an excellent option for me

Thanks for sharing the soap, it looks amazing

 

[Blufuz]

Update! I couldn’t resist making more!

Here’s a 100% babassu with 20% SF:

I think it can now officially be marketed as “Melon Soap” without specifying which one

Then I made salt bars:

The soap curing in the cellar is maybe not as vibrant as when it first came out, but it’s still a melon colored orange

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Update! I couldn’t resist making more!

Here’s a 100% babassu with 20% SF:
View attachment 73519

I think it can now officially be marketed as “Melon Soap” without specifying which one

Then I made salt bars:
View attachment 73520

The soap curing in the cellar is maybe not as vibrant as when it first came out, but it’s still a melon colored orange

Gorgeous soap! Just want to add how much I love the way you’ve used River rocks as the background in your pictures.

 

[Blufuz]

Gorgeous soap! Just want to add how much I love the way you’ve used River rocks as the background in your pictures.

Thanks

 

[Savage Daughter]

Update! I couldn’t resist making more!

Here’s a 100% babassu with 20% SF:
View attachment 73519

I think it can now officially be marketed as “Melon Soap” without specifying which one

Then I made salt bars:
View attachment 73520

The soap curing in the cellar is maybe not as vibrant as when it first came out, but it’s still a melon colored orange

Wow, what an absolutely gorgeous color! And where did you get the mold for the top soap?? I LOVE THAT!

 

[Blufuz]

And here are the melon soaps done in the log mold. It’s the same base oils as the first oval ones, but these turned out darker. The orange on top and bottom are just with the watermelon juice, the cream is wmelon with TD, and the red is wmelon with madder root powder. I think if the orange melon base is a little lighter, and you add a little more madder root, it should actually look more like watermelon color.

 

[Blufuz]

Wow, what an absolutely gorgeous color! And where did you get the mold for the top soap?? I LOVE THAT!

It was a gift from my mom, so I don’t know, but likely some kitchen supply store

 

[Blufuz]

Here’s the first soap after a month; it’s a little less vibrant and a little less uniform but still a nice melon color

 

[Savage Daughter]

View attachment 73596
Here’s the first soap after a month; it’s a little less vibrant and a little less uniform but still a nice melon color

Still absolutely beautiful....it's a creamy cantaloupe color, which I absolutely LOVE

 

[Blufuz]

Hey all, quick update!

I accidentally (i.e. I was lazy) left one of the first watermelon soaps in the dining room for a month; exposed to a lot of indirect sunlight. Turns out, this dramatically faded the orange color:

So watermelon soap should be kept in the dark as much as possible apparently.

 

[paradisi]

As is the case with almost all plant colorants. Fun while they last though.

 

[MegaSoap]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing the updates too!