Apple Cider Soap

By David Fisher, About.com Guide

In these days in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I was thinking about some soap projects that would be festive and appropriate. I was recently inspired by a Melt and Pour Jelly Roll soap project that Anne-Marie Faiola of Brambleberry posted where she used a rolled soap embed to create a whimsical, fun soap.

I took that same principle and applied it to one of my favorite holiday drinks - hot apple cider. I imagined a honey-cider colored base soap garnished with a lemon peel twist and a cinnamon stick.

For this project you'll need:

• clear melt and pour soap
• white melt and pour soap
• liquid glycerin
• yellow mica
• brown mica
• yellow, red and/or orange liquid soap colorant
• fragrance or essential oil of your choice
• two small shallow baking pans
• a log or loaf style soap mold
• basic understanding of melt and pour soap making
• small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol
• thermometer
• scale, pyrex measuring cups/pitcher, whisks, measuring spoons

Note: While you're putting this soap project together, may I suggest you make one of these real hot apple cider recipes to sip while you're making soap!