My easy soap making instructions below will teach you how to make a simple zen soap. Out of the two soap making projects on this site, this one is more special and more serious.

You will need to make one bar of zen soap:

• Mould (a small Tupperware)
• Petroleum jelly
• 200g clear melt-and-pour soap base
• Kitchen knife
• Double boiler (or saucepan with heatproof bowl)
• Mixing spoon 
• Thermometer
• Mixing bowl
• 40 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• 1/2 teaspoon water soluble titanium dioxide 
• Small spritzer with alcohol
• Skewer or pointed kitchen knife
• 1/4 teaspoon powdered black oxide
• Small spoon
• Knife, vegetable peeler or damp sponge
• Cling film

And now the soap making instructions...

1. Grease the mould with petroleum jelly. Cut the soap base into pieces and melt over a gentle heat in the top half of a double boiler (or heatproof bowl in a saucepan with a few centimeters of water) Cover the pan while the soap melts to keep moisture in. Do nor stir, but occasionally lift the lid and give the soap a gentle nudge with the spoon. For a moisturizing bar, add shea butter to the soap as it melts.
   
   
2. When the soap has become liquid, remove from the hob. Pour a small bit into a mixing bowl and mix in the titanium dioxide until it is dissolved. Add back to the melted base When the color is merged, add the essential oil and stir gently.
   
   Tip: if the soap begins to set, return it to the heat.
   
   
   
   
3. Pour the soap slowly into the mould. Spritz alcohol onto the surface to help remove bubbles. Leave to set (it may take up to an hour depending on the size of the mould.) Tip: You can put the mould into the fridge to speed things up, but do not use the freezer, because the texture of the soap may spoil.
   
   
4. When the soap has set remove it from the mould.
   Tip: If it gets stuck, try flexing the mould gently or leave it upside down in a warm room for a little while.
   
   
   
   
5. With the tip of the skewer or knife, score the outline of a symbol onto the soap surface. Then carefully carve right through the bar removing the soap from the center. Keep all these pieces to one side.
   
   
   
   
6. Replace the soap in the mould, if necessary adding petroleum jelly to help the soap stick. Collect the soap you removed from the center of the bar and re-melt in the double boiler (you may need to add extra soap base.) When the soap is melted, remove from the heat and stir in a little powdered black oxide unlit the soap base has returned black. Spoon the black soap into the center of the white bar and leave to set. (If you over pour, simply slice off the excess later.) Once, set, remove from the mould. Remove any surface bubbles by slicing off a thin layer with a knife or vegetable peeler or wipe with a damp sponge. Store in cling film. 

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