Chocolate Mint Soap Bars

One of my guilty pleasures -- Junior Mints candies.  I can eat a whole boxful myself.  

So, it only makes sense that I use my favorite combination, chocolate and mint, in a rich and decadent soap.  There's nothing like bathing with real chocolate and spearmint!  

I think the green and brown combo makes for a pretty bar, but you could omit the green colorant and leave the mint layer white for another cool alternative.
 
Chocolate Mint Soap Bars
2 lbs. block of melt and pour soap base, white
4 tablespoons cocoa powder (the 100% pure kind, not the mix used to make chocolate milk)
Green soap colorant or food coloring
Peppermint essential oil (spearmint may be substituted)
Chocolate fragrance oil (optional)
Water
Rectangular mold able to hold 2 lbs. soap
Spritz bottle filled with rubbing alcohol

Measure out 2/3 of a pound (approximately 10-11 ounces) soap base.  Melt over low heat in a small pan, double boiler, or microwave.  Melt remaining soap base in a separate pan.
When completely melted, add 8-10 drops of green colorant to the smaller of the two pans of soap.  Mix well.  Add 30 drops peppermint essential oil.

In a small bowl, mix chocolate powder with just enough water to make a smooth paste.  Mix this into  the larger of the two pans of soap.  If using chocolate fragrance oil, add this now.

Pour half of the chocolate mixture into the mold.  Spritz with rubbing alcohol.  Let set until the soap develops a thick skin.  Carefully pore entire mint layer over the top.  Follow the same steps for the last layer of chocolate soap base.  Finish with a spritz of rubbing alcohol. 

Let set 12-24 hours.  Unmold and slice into bars.

Yield:  Approximately 8 4-oz. soap bars