October 2011 Soaps (part 1)

Orange & Frankincense Soap

I wanted to create a 'Marmalade' type soap, sweet, citrusy and bright.

This is a cocoa butter based soap with sweet orange, Mandarin, petuli and frankincense essential oils. I added 1 tsp carrot powder for colour but i think next time i would definitely add a lot more for a more vibrant colour.  I have also added a little orange peel for exfoliation and dried orange slices purely for decorative effect.  

I had an intention of adding brown sugar to the recipe which would probably give a caramelyness to the colour but i forgot to prepare the syrup and when i realised i had already poured (gutted!!!!)

Goats Milk, Lemongrass & Calendula

Goats milk soaps really are super for skin and  i love using them especially for my face in the winter months. During winter i find it somewhat more difficult to wake up at 5.30am so i thought i would scent it with lemongrass and litsea cuba, a real zingy fragrance which will hopefully help me wake up.  I have added calendula petals throughout the mixture and also topped the soap with it.

Soap Crazy

Making cold process soap is an addiction, i am making approximately 4 batches of soap each week.  

My kitchen has been taken over by soap making equipment and my rooms are smelling of LUSH.

All the scents which i was never a fan of like lavender, i seem to have fallen in love with.  Here are some soaps i made a few weeks ago and are in the process of curing

left to right: vanilla & peppermint soap, green tea & lemongrass soap, french clay & tea tree soap, lavender soap, gardeners soap

these are my new wooden moulds that i am using, they were made by my friend jose.