I was recently made aware (thanks to Megan and Mimi) that I don't mention my soapmaking activities very often on my blog.I'm not quite sure why this is, since my soap has quite a few fans, and I am proud of it; perhaps one aspect is the privacy barrier (or should I say secrecy) that seems to surround and permeate the actual soapmaking process when it comes to the makers.
There is plenty of generous and helpful advice about the generalities and sometimes some of the specifics of formulating a soap, but when it comes to recipes and safety assessments, people stay stumm. This is perfectly understandable, of course, when they have spent barrowloads of time, money and sweat working out their own version of soapy perfection; but it can be wearisome when one is pretty sure one is re-inventing the wheel.
And here is some of the batch I made today - amongst other (secret) ingredients it contains sesame oil, and is scented with YlangYlang and Patchouli. I really dislike the smell of patchouli, but I use it because my DH likes it, and I know of some few others .... The color derives from alkanet, and will not only lighten but turn more purple than blue after curing:
I'll probably call it 'Malayan Midnight'.
Very nice! My Hubs likes independent soap and we buy it everywhere. He doesn't like patchouli either, thinks it smells like dirt - I don't mind it...
ReplyDeleteI love how that soap looks!
Beautiful soap! I wish I could smell it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I know very little about soapmaking but I'm sure it's quite a process. Do you sell yours or just use it all?
ReplyDeleteSo - Deep Cleaning?....my ASS!!!
ReplyDeleteWill I be able to purchase a bar of this, perchance?
Ali x
OOH! I used to make soap. just one of those craft store kits but i loved it. Do you sell yours?? can't wait to see an end result!
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten to mention, this is cold process soap :-)
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals for this year is to have my recipe safety assessed so I can sell my soap legally - if/when I can find the cash to pay for it. Until then, I am open to swaps, barters and donations ;-) in about 4 weeks time when it's all cured :-)
Don't worry about the cash - things have a way of turning up :-)
ReplyDeleteAli xxxxxx
Ooh, that looks gorgeous! And the soaps I smelt at the Conference were delicious, too. Good luck getting the safety assessment - I'm sure you'd do marvelously selling them. I'd certainly be up for some ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a pretty color. I am planning on making some peppermint soap and also some lavendar/loofah soaps to go along with knitted spa cloths for some Christmas gifts this year.
ReplyDeleteI love patchouli! I made my last batch with ylang ylang and patchouli as well, I loved it. I'm aiming to get mine safety assessed too, I agree there's quite a lack of information on safety assessment online. I even rang trading standards (they were not helpful. In fact they told me I only needed to label my soap. Shocked face.) Have you tried Fresholi? They have info and there is more if you register & post.
ReplyDelete