How to Make Cinnamon Bark Soap

Cinnamon smells delicious---its fragrance can bring back memories of childhood Christmases. It's also anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. In this article, you will learn how to make soap with homemade cinnamon oil. You will probably be able to find many of the ingredients for this recipe in your cupboard, and it requires no special equipment other than a soap mold. Wrapped in cellophane and tied with a bow, it can make a holiday gift that lasts longer than---and smells just as good as---Christmas cookies.

Things You'll Need

• 10-lb block of melt-and-pour soap base 5 to 10 cinnamon sticks (also called "cinnamon bark") 2 cups olive oil Food coloring (yellow and brown) Double boiler Heat-proof spoon Heat-proof liquid measuring cup with pour spout Soap molds

Instructions

Make the Cinnamon Oil

1. Place the cinnamon sticks and olive oil in a pot on the stove. Heat on medium-high for 3 to 5 minutes.

2. 

   Cool the oil completely.

3. Pour the oil through a fine strainer such as layered cheesecloth or a coffee filter and discard the leftover cinnamon sticks.

Make the Soap

1. Place the block of soap base in the top of the double boiler and place water in the bottom. Turn the heat to "high" and wait for the water to boil. Cover the double boiler and turn to "low."

2. While the soap is melting, add the food coloring. Use 4 parts yellow to 1 part brown to get gold. Add the coloring slowly, drop by drop, until it is the shade that you want.

3. Once the soap base is fully melted and the food coloring is thoroughly mixed in, add 5 tablespoons of the cinnamon oil. Smell a spoonful of the soap, and slowly add more oil if you wish.

4. Pour or spoon the melted soap into the measuring cup. Then pour into the molds.

5. Allow the soap to cool for several hours until it is hard. Store the leftover cinnamon oil in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place for up to 4 weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• There are several options available for melt-and-pour soap bases including olive oil, glycerin, and goat's milk. Any of these will work for this project. Just make sure to choose a soap base described as "melt-and-pour." Other types of soap base are more complicated to use. Most "cinnamon" is actually cassia (also called "Chinese cinnamon"). Cassia is fine, but true cinnamon is sweeter and more fragrant. It is also harder to find and more expensive. For a quicker version of this recipe, buy cinnamon oil instead of making it yourself.

• This project is fun for children, but an adult must supervise the child due to the heat involved. Make sure to keep cinnamon oil away from your eyes. It can sting.

References

• Basic Melt and Pour Soap Tutorial
• Soap Making Methods
• Health Benefits of Cinnamon Oil

Resources

• TeachSoap.com