Decoction in My Soap, Oh My!

Here we go using our first Wood Ear Mushroom Decoction in a batch of soap! Yea!

Yes, I did take a moment and had some lunch, cooking the mushrooms made me hungry.

I gathered a few soap making supplies and I have my completed Wood Ear Mushroom decoction. Now, I’ll show you how easy it is to add your decoctions into your soap making process.

Supplies Needed:

Recipe:

I’m going to use the same soap recipe as I did when making the soap with infusions and powders. This will give you some ideas and suggestions when you try any of the infusions, powders, or decoctions in your soap batches.

Begin by weighing the sodium hydroxide and adding it to half the needed water. Now, weigh all of the oils into a microwave safe container. Heat gently until liquid. Add the cooled lye solution to the cooled oil mixture. Our target temperature is about 120°F because this is a small batch (1 lb). We do not want the soap to overheat and volcano out of the mold. Mix the oils and lye solution together with an immersion blender, midway through the blending time add the rest of the water amount as mushroom decoction, continue mixing until trace is achieved then pour into a mold and allow to sit for 24 hours. Cut the soap. Allow the soap to cure. Longer curing time will result in a harder bar. If you want to add more decoction do a second batch so you can compare the difference and your personal choice.

I have noticed that when adding this decoction that I am getting a muted cream color to the soap. When adding decoctions to my soap I am most interested in adding beneficial elements of the mushroom into the soap and not worrying too much about a significant color change.

I hope you are making some great soaps with me and enjoying the fun. Got questions? Just ask!