How to Make
Vanilla Latte Soap
by Lindsay Ponta
Now that school’s back in session at your
kitchen table, are you finding that your
morning cup of wake-me-up isn’t cutting it
anymore? Get a extra dose of java with this
yummy-smelling vanilla latte soap.

A generous scoop of real coffee gives
this self-care concoction its pretty café au
lait color and the oomph to lightly exfoli-
ate tired skin.

Since this recipe uses microwavable soap
as its base, you don’t need a bunch of spe-
cialized soap-making ingredients or tools. In
fact, if you’re not a fan of added fragrance,
you can skip the oils and make the soap with
two simple ingredients.

Pro tip: Get a head start on holiday gifts or put
together a teacher pick-me-up care package by making
a few extra bars and packaging them up with a pretty
coffee mug!
Instructions 1. Chop your soap base into small cubes using
a sharp knife or soap-cutting blade. For even
melting, make sure the pieces aren’t larger
than an inch. Most melt and pour soap bases
will have sections already scored like a choco- 6. Carefully pour the mixture into your soap
late bar for easy cutting. Feel free to use those mold. If you’re using a flexible silicone soap
lines as guides for cutting.

mold, it’s helpful to place the mold onto a bak-
ing sheet or dish before pouring. Once filled,
tap the mold or baking sheet firmly against
your countertop a few times to bring any bub-
bles to the surface of the soap.

7. Pop bubbles by spritzing the surface of the
soap lightly with rubbing alcohol. You can
skip this step if you don’t have a spray bot-
2. Dump the soap cubes into a micro- tle or rubbing alcohol; it just yields a more
wave-safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds polished finished product.

on high. Stir and continue melting in 20-
second intervals, stirring between, until soap 8. Set aside any melted but unused soap. You
cubes are completely melted. Then you’ll need can melt it again in the microwave once your
Supplies You can find these supplies at your local craft to work fairly quickly; the soap base thickens mold is empty again.

store, on Amazon or on any other soap-mak- as it cools.

9. Let the soap set at room temperature for at
ing website, such as Bramble Berry or Bulk
least two hours. You can pop the whole mold
Apothecary. into the refrigerator for faster cooling if you’re
• 1 pound melt and pour suspension shea
in a hurry or want to free up your mold for the
butter soap base*
next batch.

• Coffee fragrance oil
• Vanilla fragrance oil
10. Gently pull the mold away from the soap to
• 7 tablespoons ground coffee
pop the bars out.

• Silicone soap boar mold
• Small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
(optional) 3. Add five drops of each fragrance oil and stir.

*I don’t recommend a clear soap base for Give the mixture a sniff test to see if you’re
this recipe, but you can use any creamy melt happy with how it smells. If it’s not strong
and pour soap base. Keep in mind that if you enough, stir in more fragrance oil a few drops
don’t use suspension formulation, the ground at a time. Keep in mind that the smell will be a
coffee will sink to the bottom of the soap little bit weaker when the soap has cooled and
instead of floating throughout it. However, hardened.

11. Store your homemade soap in a cool, dry
that can yield a neat layered effect, so it’s cer-
place—preferably in an airtight container. n
tainly worth a try if you already have some 4. If the mixture is getting thick and diffi-
regular melt and pour base on hand.

cult to stir, microwave again in 20-second
Lindsay Ponta created the DIY and lifestyle
intervals. website Shrimp Salad Circus in 2009 to inspire
5. Sprinkle the ground coffee over the
surface of the soap, and quickly mix it in.

busy women to live perfectly-imperfect creative
lives. She lives in Silver Spring, MD. Find easy
DIYs and recipes at shrimpsaladcircus.com.

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