I have a new obsession these days which is distracting me away from my sewing machines.
So here is a quiz for you…
What looks like chocolate, smells like chocolate, but doesn’t taste like chocolate?
That’s right, I made chocolate scented soap. I’m so sorry you can’t smell it through your computer screen. It has the most delicious scent like chocolate cake batter. I mean really, I don’t think you can understand the yum factor here.
This was the 2nd batch of soap we made. It’s already been cut into bars, but it needs to cure for a month for best use. We’re already using it to wash our hands. Cold process soapmaking is kinda like cooking and kinda like kitchen chemistry – complete with safety goggles and gloves. I’m really fascinated by it.
After cold process soapmaking, I plan to try hot process soap in a crock pot (thrifted crockpot, $12) and also liquid soaps which add some extra steps and complications. I’ve been reading like crazy, trying to learn all the details.
There is also melt and pour soap which is easy enough for kids to make, but I’m cheap frugal so I prefer making soap from scratch which means oils, lye and fragrance.
My first batch was a castile soap from 100% olive oil. It’s very soft and will take a loooong time to harden if it ever does. But I’ve been using it and it works well, it just melts too quickly in the water. I’m hoping it will firm up but castile can take months to cure.
In the meantime, I’ll be making more soap and shampoo and lip balm and sugar scrub and bath fizzies. I told you I was obsessed. My daughter and I made chocolate orange lip balm using this super easy chocolate lip balm recipe. We altered the recipe a little and just used 5 ingredients: almond oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, chocolate chips and orange essential oil. She gave away a few tins at school and now all her friends want to buy lip balm. So I guess we’ll be getting some tubes and making more flavors since girls in junior high can never have enough lip balm. If you want to try making some, I recommend Brambleberry as a good place to get started with supplies. The website explains their ingredients and they have great recipes and tutorials as well.
I’ve been skeptical and critical of beauty products for many years because they make false claims and put crazy stuff in their formulas. So I like the idea of making everything myself, that way I know what goes in and I can control the fragrance as well as lower the cost.
I know most of you are here for sewing, so I’ll try not to bore you with too much soap and beauty product talk. If I can hold myself back. It might be hard.
June 6th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I’d LOVE to hear more about your soap (and other goodies) learning journey! I’ve only done the melt & pour lame soap thing but have always wanted to do real soaps. You might inspire me to make some time and do it.
June 6th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Good for you! I love safe homemade products. How about a shampoo bar? I rarely use shampoos and I make my own hair gel and curl products. {yeah, I have curly hair} Most shampoos are full of detergents, not soaps.
June 6th, 2010 at 11:41 am
In response to your question did I join the potholder swap no I didn’t I just have been on a potholder kick lately:)
Love the whole soap topic. What goes into your shampoo making process?
June 6th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Robyn, most shampoos are made with detergent instead of soap because it is so much easier to rinse out. Soap leaves a film in your hair that must then be dealt with by using another product on your hair (this is why rinses made with lemon juice or vinegar used to be so popular). Detergent comes out with plain water.
June 7th, 2010 at 11:30 am
That soap is lovely! I have a book called Natural Beauty At Home that has some great recipes. I made the olive oil cold cream for my former MIL who had very sensitive skin and she loved it.
I’ve always liked the idea of making soap but bar soap, no matter what kind, always seems to dry my skin right out. It’s very pretty though.
June 7th, 2010 at 11:47 am
The soap versus detergent shampoo is hotly debated by many. Some people swear by washing hair with soap and others hate it. Some people don’t like soap because it feels dry and squeaky, but others love that feeling.
It really boils down to personal preference, different recipes and formulations, and oddly – the mineral content of your water can make a big difference on what you like and don’t like.
I could write pages and pages on this stuff. But I’m really trying NOT to turn my blog into a bath and body forum. (jumping off my soapbox now)
June 7th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I once licked a bar of strawberry Crabtree and Evelyn soap (confession: I was old enough to know better)…smelled so real, just couldn’t help myself. : )
Post away about your soapmaking! It’s great to find a new creative outlet that excites you. The mix of creating and chemistry does seem right down your alley. And I would love to sample your chocolate-orange lip balm. Jealous of your daughter’s friends!
June 8th, 2010 at 9:06 am
This isn’t as much of a detour as it seems. Playing with all those scent combinations will soon set corresponding color combinations dancing in your head and the next thing you know you’ll be pulling fabrics and sewing again! 8:-)
June 30th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
squeak!!