Basil & Grapefruit Soap

1. Before you start making soap have all utensils and equipment ready on the workbench, within easy reach. Make the necessary ingredient measurements from the recipe.

2. Mix the green clay and red clay in two separate bowls with 2 tablespoons of distilled water. 

3. Weigh the amount of caustic soda and water separately.
In a heatproof bowl add the distilled water, over which, little by little, add the Sodium hydroxide and stir slowly, carefully, until it is completely dissolved and the solution becomes transparent. Allow the solution to cool to about 40°C.

4. In a container with a volume greater than 1 litre, preferably 1.5-2 litres, transfer the oils and heat until completely melted. When the soda water and oils have reached a temperature of about 40°C, slowly pour the sodium hydroxide solution over the oils. Both should be of a similar temperature.
Insert the blender into the bowl and blend until the mixture becomes the consistency of a more liquid pudding. At this point pour about half of the soap mass into another container of about 1 litre. In one half add the green clay and basil essential oil and in the other half add the red clay and grapefruit essential oil. Using a blender, blend the two together one after the other.

5. With quick movements, pour a layer of green soap into the form, then a layer of red soap. If we want the soap to have a wave pattern, we will use a wire bent into a U-shape, which we insert into the soap mass and with zig-zag movements from bottom to top and top to bottom a few times, we will get a more distinctive pattern. Shape the surface of the soap with a teaspoon and then sprinkle with dried basil. 

6. Cover with foil and leave to stand for 2 days in a cool place. Once the soap has hardened, remove from the mould and cut to the desired size.
The soap is then left to mature in a well-ventilated space, on shelves or in covered boxes (but not closed to allow air circulation). Maturation takes a minimum of 4 weeks from the date of production, during which time the soap is not used as it is still reactive.

Tools required: 2 bowls, 3 heat-resistant pots (300 ml, 1 l and 1.5 l); block soap mould; wooden soap cutter box; straight soap cutter; spatula; kitchen blender.