I love to add fresh ingredients to my soaps. It’s a fun way to try something new on a whim since most fruits and veggies are easy enough to come by. I also find that they can bring interest and label appeal to your soaps. In this recipe I’m trying something a little more exotic: papaya paired with turmeric. The result is a wonderfully creamy and nourishing turmeric papaya soap.
Turmeric is a spice who’s key ingredient curcuma has long been praised for it’s anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties. In skincare products it is said to have the ability to brighten and renew the skin. Turmeric happens to also be a great natural colorant for soap. It can give you shades that range from light yellow to deep orange depending on how and how much you use.
The second special ingredient in this soap is fresh papaya. Papaya contains the enzyme papein which is used as a natural exfoliant in skincare products. It gently removes dead skin cells and reveals a brighter, softer and glowier skin. Like most produce, papaya contains sugar which is great for giving soap lather a really nice boost.
So, you’re ready to make some turmeric papaya soap? Me, too. Let’s go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you will I earn a commission if you decide to click through and make a purchase.
If you’ve never made cold process soap before I urge you to read through my lye safety tips, recommended gear and beginner’s tutorial first.
What you’ll need:
- digital scale
- stick blender
- 2 medium heat resistant containers (one for the lye solution, one for the base oils)
- spatula
- blender or food processor
- sifter
- freezer paper
- empty Pringles can
- tape
Recipe (makes 5-6 average sized turmeric papaya soap bars):
This recipe uses a lye concentration of 40% and is superfatted at 5%.
- distilled water: 3.7 oz / 105 g
- lye: 2.5 oz / 70 g
- coconut oil: 5.5 oz / 155 g (31% of the oils)
- pomace (olive oil): 5.5 oz / 155 g (31% of the oils)
- shea butter: 4.6 oz / 130 g (26% of the oils)
- sesame oil: 1.1 oz / 30g (6% of the oils)
- castor oil: 1.1 oz / 30 g (6% of the oils)
- papaya puree: 2 oz
- turmeric powder: 1 1/2 tsp
- lemongrass essential oil: 20 g
Instructions:
Preparing the Mold:
- Cut out a piece of freezer paper about 7 x 9 Inches
- Cut the bottom of the Pringles can off, so that the remainder measures about 7 Inches tall
- Firmly tape the cap on (you don’t want any soap batter seeping out at the bottom)
- Line the can with freezer paper – the coated side facing inward
Making the Papaya Puree:
- Scoop and weigh out about 3 ounces of papaya pulp from a fresh papaya fruit
- Place it in a food processor or blender
- Blend until puree looks smooth and liquidy
- Strain the puree through a sifter, discard stringy and chunky pieces
- Measure the remaining pulp to make sure you have the right amount left
Making the Soap:
- Gear up for safety: goggles, gloves, long sleeves!
- Prepare the lye solution in a small container and set aside
- In a medium sized container measure and melt the coconut oil and shea butter over low heat
- Add pomace (olive oil), castor and sesame oil and essential oil
- Add papaya puree and turmeric powder to the melted oils, mix both in very well using your stick blender (you want a smooth mixture without clumps)
- Wait until lye solution and oils have cooled down to at least 100 degrees F
- Combine lye solution and melted oils and butters by stick blending until medium trace
- Pour the batter into the mold (lined Pringles can) and tap it down to release any air bubbles
- Insulate the mold with a heavy towel
- After 18 – 24 hours remove from mold by gently pushing the soap out from one end
- Cut turmeric papaya soap into bars and cure for 3-4 weeks
Want more awesome natural soap recipes? Why don’t you give these a try:
Hi
I want to ask that u have used real papaya
pulp so the soap will lasts for how many
months?means expiry of soap?
Hi Zankhana, good question. The process of making soap with lye will turn the papaya pulp into soap as well. Meaning all microbes are killed off and your soap should have at least a shelf life of one year. The shelf life also depends on your climate (keep soap away from humidity) and the freshness of your oils. You can recognize soap that has gone bad when you see orange spots that feel sticky and have a bad odor. Using fresh ingredients in soap does NOT work with melt and pour soap. I hope this helps.
Lye is it still the same as caustic soda NAOH
Yes, Sodium Hydroxide NaOH
If I use melt and pour recipe then also can fresh puree added
Unfortunately you can’t use fresh purée in melt and pour soap. Melt and pour soap doesn’t go through the saponification process and you will have problems with mold developing in your soap.
Hi. Great recipe. Do you subtract 2oz from the water to be replaced by the puree.
Hi Onika, yes the amount of the puree has already been subtracted from the amount of water. you can just go ahead and follow the recipe. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Hi, I just followed the same recipe with exact measurements but the batter turned very thick and became kinda dry after adding lye water to the oils. Why is that so?
I’m not sure. Have you made soap before? Usually something like this is due to measuring errors.
Hi, instead of using the pringles can, can a regular soap mold be used?
Absolutely. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Hello I just wanna ask about the lye. Is that lye water or lye soap? Where I can buy of that?. U think have in super market?
Thanks and hoping u will response.
Hi Jhan, it is solid lye (sodium hydroxide) which you dissolve in water. Working with lye requires safety precautions like goggles and gloves since it’s a chemical. You might be able to find it at a supermarket used as drain cleaner.
Hi I love the recipe but could I replace it with carrot instead of papaya?
Hi Akeiva, yes absolutely you can 🙂
Hi, what natural remedy works for skin tags
Hi Abbey, I’m not sure.
“Papaya contains the enzyme papein which is used as a natural exfoliant in skincare products.”
This is true, but heat destroys enzymes very quickly. This is why, for example, fresh fruits which contain these types of enzymes (papaya, pineapple, kiwi) have to be lightly cooked before adding to jello. If you put them in raw, the enzymes will “eat” (break down) the gelatin’s protein, and prevent it from ‘gelling’. Likewise, the heat from the saponification process does destroy the papein. You’d have to put the soap in the freezer to prevent any heat build-up to keep the papein from being destroyed, and hope that’s enough to do it!
Is there any alternate organic form of lye instead of the chrmical one pls
Hi Thangboi, No, lye is required to turn oils into soap.
Hi i use goat milk (9oz) instead of water. How much ppya puree should I use?
The amount stays the same with goat milk.
Please is it right to use part of water and the puree as lye solution? I mean to freeze the puree, water and when you weigh it you add your lye to it. Will it still be effective like when you pour puree directly to soap batter or melted oil? Then is there any particular fruits or veggies we use for cold process soap? Thank you.
Yes you can freeze the water and purée before adding the lye. I have many recipes on the blog that use fruit and veggie purées. Take a look!
Won’t the sugars of the papaya cause the soap to overheat when insulating?
Mine didn’t overheat but I kept checking for any signs of cracking. if you prefer you don’t have to use the towel. If you really wanted to prevent gell you could put the mold in the freezer as well.
I haven’t produce soap with lye before ,but the company that hired me want me to produce papaya soap , I need to ask you this question to avoid mistakes ,how will I know my measurements is accurate , although I used soap calculator I will just pick the material I need to use to make it 100% then I generate the result ,2 if you are add papaya puree,or lemon juice all this thing’s are not on soap calculator,if I’m to add it to my ingredient will I subtract it from the amount of the water of lyes used ,pls kind help me out , I need to be perfect , I will be glad if there is any way you you can help me.to communicate with you different either through email or WhatsApp pls kindly help me thanks (dyclassic2020@gmail.com) .
Hi! The easiest way especially as a beginner is to find a recipe and follow it precisely. Lemon juice however won’t work lye soap it’s too acidic.
Can I remove the puree all together. I love the idea of turmeric soap but not so much with papaya.
Yes you can!
I’m new to soaping and I just love your website and recipes! Question regarding natural powders: when I read “turmeric powder” is that the same as “turmeric spice” that I’d get in the spice aisle? At my local health food store I’ve noticed that some natural spices also come as powders and are labeled “powders” and can be found in a different section, not the spice aisle. So I’m wondering if the “spice” is the same thing as the “powder” and are they used interchangeably? I hope that makes sense.
Hi Lisa, the turmeric in this recipe was from the spice aisles at the grocery store. If a spice or powder is safe to eat it’s safe to use in skincare products. Sometimes the color you get might vary though. Sometimes spirulina powder varies in how strong the color comes out.
Hi Celine
Is it ok for me to boil the paw paw and seave the water and use that for mixing the lye?
Hi Eva, I’ve personally never tried that, but I don’t see why you couldn’t try. You will have to freeze or at least chill the water before mixing in the lye. Simply to prevent scorching the liquid.