Flower Cupcake Soap

17. If the soap seems to be a little stiff or is forming a skin on the surface, add a little extra water to keep it moist. Water evaporates as the soap is sitting open and hot, so you may wish to keep a spray bottle handy to mist it to keep it moist.

19. Once you have the cupcake papers filled, tap the pan against the table or floor a few times to help the soap settle fully into the shape of the cupcake papers. If it has cooled too much while you are scooping it won't fill the papers well, so if you are having trouble moving quickly enough, you can do a few at a time and then tamp.

20. If the surface of the cupcakes is not the ideal shape, reshape the surface with the back of a clean plastic spoon.

21. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.

22. Once they are completely cool, remove cupcakes from the pan.

24. For lavender and mint "sprinkled" soaps–put some lavender buds in a dish. Moisten the top of the soap using a paintbrush and a little water. Then press the top of the soap into the lavender (figure D), being careful not to crush the top edges of the cupcake paper. This works best if the soap is slightly mounded on top. Use your finger to press the buds in a little more securely, and then place a rosebud or other individual bloom in the middle of the soap (figure E).

25. For yarrow and jasmine soaps–cut the yarrow bloom into small sections (figure F). Using a needle or other pointed object make a pilot hole in the soap (figure G) for each bloom section, and then insert them (figure H).

26. The soap is useable right away, but will lather best if given a week or so to cure.

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