Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

Ok here are some of mine.
Celtic Shore: Lavender, Rosemary and Cinnamon Eo's with Sea Kelp powder.

Green Goddess

Yuzu Grapefruit with Calendula petals

Rosemary Mint with Tea leaves

Bluebonnet

Black Raspberry Cream with alkanet root and french red clay

Sunny Honey: Lavender, Rosemary, Maychang and Spearmint eo's with honey.

Gypsy Rose: Rose Geranium, patchouli, and cedar eo's

And one un-named soap. Lavender, May chang and anise eo's with yellow and black mica.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Ooooooohhh. So very pretty!

 

[Sooner]

Rocky you have an awsome set up!!! When I grow up I want to be just like you

Morgaine you have some really cool names! Both of your soaps look good enough to eat!

thank you both for posting pic's!! I am really interested in using spices & herbs in my soap but haven't decided if I have learned enough yet. I love the swirls but haven't got my timing down for that yet.

I think I want to try a coffee bar next but not sure how to go about it. Everyone seems to do it in a different way, I would also like to use the grounds in it. I also need to see if I can find a more moisturizing bar or play with the oils that I use to make it better.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I do use the grounds in my coffee bars. They definately aren't for bathing with. They're all about scrubbing dirty stinky hands or feet.

The moisturizing recipe I use is from MaryJane Toth's book "Goats produce too".Her recipes are not in weights, but volume measure. I can give you the recipe if you'd like, but I haven't had time to switch it to weights. I will when I do my next batch of it. Everyone loves that bar.

As far as herbs, I'm starting with the very basics that I find growing in my yard. Although I did visit a Mustard Seed Store and bought calendula petals and chai tea.

I only started this in June....so I'm definately in the learning stages.

 

[Sooner]

I would love to have your recipe, I think I can convert it. AT this point I have to find more storage room for my soap before I can make anymore. Silly I know but I started this without a plan! LOL. Not that it will stop me.

I don't think I have anything growing in my yard but weeds & dirt! I think I will use cucumber, pumkin & coffee first. Speaking of Coffee (again) does the soap retain any of the actual coffee smell? Does it make any kind of a reaction when added? Do you add you coffee as your water to the lye or at trace? Everyone seems to do it different, sometimes too much information doesn't work for me.

 

[savingdogs]

Rocky Togg Ranch, I'm interested in how you use your herbs and natural plants in your soaps.

I live in rain forest type area in SW WA state, I'm not sure exactly what all I have growing here but I have looked into nettles a little. Wondering if you have some suggestions for me about any forest plants you know of that might be added to soap for fragrance or other qualities.

I'd love to figure out a way of using things growing on my land when I make soap instead of ordering from the supply companies....I'm working on a budget. Or is there something I can plant? I do have lavender and many other common garden flowers and plants here.

 

[cybercat]

Do not think its a good idea to use nettles in soap. There sting might survive.

I have one recipe that makes a good soap using Calendula.

3 pounds coconut oil
3 pounds calendula oil
13 oz lye
5.5 cups water
5 cups calendula flowers


To make the calendula oil
use blender and olive, almond or grape seed. Put flower and oil in blender blend up then pour in mason jar and cover and shake once a day for two weeks. Make as much or more as you need for oil. After 2 to 3 weeks filter drain then let sit 24 hours and pour again to leave behind residue in bottom of jar.

To make soap
boil the 5.5cups water turn water off add 5 cups of calendula flowers cover pot let sit till room temp. Srain and strain calendulawater/tea. Add lye to calendula water/tea. Mix you oils add lye water and stir. You know the rest. This might have to sit for more than 24 hours to set for cutting, it will depend on your conditions. You can save some of the flowers to add on top but they may brown on you.

 

[Morgaine]

I have made soap and balm with nettle infused oil and there was no sting still in it.

I do a lot of infusing. It's really very very simple. I put my herb into the crock pot. Pour enough Olive oil to cover and cook on low for 3-5 hours. Make sure you don't burn it, yuk. Then I pour into mason jars and let sit in the windows until I am ready to use. I always infuse the OO so that I don't have to adjust my recipe, I just pour however much infused OO I am going to use and make up the rest with un infused oo if need be.

Here is a list of what all I have infused and used in soap. I do have some pictures but not all of my experiments.
Calendula-love this, The oil will give soap a soft butter yellow color and if you keep the petals in there fleck of darker yellow.
Arnica-used in balm only.
Comfrey- used in balm and soap. Pretty earthy green in soap that faded to very lightly green colored soap over time
Nettle-Same as comfrey
Parsley-like this one just wish it didn't fade as much as it does
Dragon's Blood Resin- This is me a pale-ish pink brown no scent transfer
Annatto- lovely yellow at 5% infused oil in my total batch
yellow dock root- lovely dark mauve/marron color. Used at 10-25% infused oil in my total batch
Lavender-
Rosemary
Sandalwood chips- gave me a light tan brown in soap. used at 10%
Chamomile
Rose hips-turned tan

For got Alkanet root powder.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I've made herbal teas (very strong ones) I used the strained tea as my liquid and also added dried herbs to the soap at trace. I'm finding more and more on my property that can be used If you know anyone with common herbs like mint, lemon balm, bee balm, echinacea....they spread quickly and folks are usually thrilled when someone wants some. I know I am.

I'm just getting started and I'm not afraid to try something new. That's what makes it fun.

As far as the coffee scrub bar, I used strong coffee as the liquid. I also added the grounds at trace. Yes there was a strong odor when it mixed with the lye, but it subsided. My 1st batch was raspberry vanilla coffee and the 2nd a ginger coffee. There's not a strong coffee smell in the bar, but it's there.

 

[Sooner]

thanks for the information, I'm sure I will drive you crazy with questions! I have my DH mounting a shelf for me to put my soaps on so I can make more!

I really want a coffee bar next but want to try either cucumber or pumkin too! I might have to make all three!