Tutorial: Layered Modified Mantra Rainbow Soap (ISC)

It's time for the first Inspiration Soap Challenge tutorial! Hurray!

Kellyann from Tranquility Bay Bath was one of the lucky receivers of the fifteen ISC kits, and made this stunning tiger stripe soap to wrap her challenge. In return, Kellyann sent me her challenge request:

I would love to see a rainbow mantra swirl. Your rainbow soaps make me feel so good, and a lovely citrusy blend would be my very favorite!

Y'all know me, I'm a rule breaker. I just can't color in the lines! So, I decided to take her challenge and run with it. Are you ready?

Layered Rainbow Mantra Soap Recipe

This formula is sized for the Brambleberry 10" silicone mold, like most of my formulas here on Modern Soapmaking.

Soap Recipe Used

This recipe is courtesy of Majestic Mountain Sage, they have a fabulous blog where they share all kinds of soap recipes and tutorials!

• 12 ounces Coconut Oil (MMS)
• 14 ounces Hydrogenated Soybean Oil (MMS)
• 9 ounces Olive Oil (MMS)
• 2 ounces Macadamia Nut Oil (MMS)
• 5.15 ounces Sodium Hydroxide
• 10.3 ounces Distilled Water

Fragrance Oil Used

• 40 grams Pluot Fragrance Oil (MMS)

The Pluot FO has sweet notes of plum and apricot, with a twist of citrus, rich vanilla, and sensual sandalwood. Pretty delish!

Colorants Used

• 1 teaspoon Pink Lemonade Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Tangerine Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Lemon Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Green Apple Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Blue Kamikaze Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Cosmo Martini Mica (TC)
• 1 teaspoon Water Soluble Titanium Dioxide (MMS)

A note on water soluble TD: I typically use oil soluble TD as I find I have less issues with glycerin rivers and streaking. There are some light areas of glycerin rivers in this formula from the TD. If you are having issues with glycerin rivers and use water soluble TD, try oil soluble TD!

Extra Soap Tools Used

• 6 wide mouth squeeze bottles

PREP WORK: Weigh out your soaping oils. I like to add my fragrance to my main soap pot so I can't possibly forget it later! Make up your lye solution, too! Add the micas to their own respective squeeze bottles with 1 tsp of oils from your soap pot, and swirl it around to mix the mica in with the oil (instead of trying to mess with colorants when the soap is ready to go!)

Prep your squeeze bottles with your micas so they're ready to go!

GET STARTED: Add your lye solution to your soaping oils. Stick blend until emulsified.

Once you have reached an emulsified state, split your batch in half. Color one half with titanium dioxide. Split the other half of your batch into the ready and waiting squeeze bottles. Pop the lids on your squeeze bottles. With a gloved hand, cover the tip of the squeeze bottle and shake to mix in the micas. Lift your finger off the end of the nozzle AWAY from you, as a little bit of soap will likely bubble out. ;)

Pour half of your titanium dioxide colored soap in the bottom of your soap mold.

Split half the batch into your squeeze bottles.

Pour half of the white soap into the bottom of your soap mold.

READY FOR RAINBOWS: Starting in the middle with your yellow soap squeeze bottle, squirt a line of soap down the length of your mold. Next, place a line of orange soap next to it, and continue until you have your first layer of rainbow stripes. Continue switching colors and layering lines on top of lines until you have used most of your colored soap. This was about four passes for me.

Use a hanger swirling tool to swirl the rainbow stripes into a fake mantra. My hanger swirling tool is simply a piece of steel rod from the home improvement store, bent to fit my mold. I love Brambleberry's silicone molds because you can see inside well enough to know where the hanger is going!

Start in the middle with the yellow stripe...

Continue to layer your stripes until you have used almost all of your colored soap.

Slide your hanger tool down one side of the mold to the bottom of the rainbow section. Pull it towards you, bring it up 1/4" inch, push it away from you, etc. When you are done, gently pull it out of the soap against the side of your mold.

FINISH IT UP: Pour the remainder of the white soap out on top of the rainbow-y goodness in the middle.

Use the remainder of the colored soap in the squeeze bottles to place lines of each color across the top. Using a skewer, barely inserted into the top of soap, swirl from side to side down the length of the mold in a squished 'S' pattern. Spritz the top with rubbing alcohol to help keep the ash monsters away.

After 24 hours, remove from the mold, slice it up, and give it a good cure. Enjoy!

Layer the white soap on top of the rainbow soap middle.

Use the remainder of the colored soap to squeeze individual lines of each color on top of the rainbow mantra soap.

Use a skewer to create the beautiful rainbow swirls on top of the soap.

This layered rainbow modified mantra soap recipe featured in this tutorial is courtesy of Majestic Mountain Sage. It is palm-free and vegan friendly formula. It uses a 7% superfat and a 33% lye solution strength. Feel free to adjust as necessary!

Have you ever made rainbow soap? You know they're my favorite soaps to make!

If you fancy giving a different rainbow soap a try, check out these other tutorials: Rainbow Peacock Swirl Soap, Rainbow Drop Swirl Soap, Rainbow Tiger Stripe Soap, and Rainbow Elemental Swirl Soap.

Let me know if you give this soap recipe a try in the comments below!