Specimen Jar Candle for Halloween

Need a creepy candle to add to your Halloween decor? Why not create this Specimen Jar Candle from Martha Stewart?  I would think this would add an extra touch of creepiness at your Halloween party or for Halloween night trick or treaters. 

When I saw this project on Martha's website, it brought back memorie of my high school biology class.  And it looks like it would be somewhat easy to create.  But give yourself plenty of time to make it for your next Halloween event.

What is Myrrh?

You may have heard Frankinese and Myrrh alot, but do not know what Myrrh is? According to Wisegeek.com,

"According to the Bible, the wise men who visited Jesus shortly after his birth brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. While gold and frankincense are fairly well known to most people who hear the Christmas story, myrrh is another story. Myrrh refers to the resinous dried sap of a number of trees of various Commiphora and Balsamodendron species. The Commiphora myrrha, the most common source of myrrh, grows natively in Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. The word myrrh comes from the Hebrew murr or maror, which means "bitter."

Myrrh was a symbolically appropriate gift for the baby Jesus because it was used in embalming at the time. Therefore, while gold and frankincense symbolize the infant's royalty and divinity, respectively, myrrh makes reference to His future death. Myrrh was extremely valuable in the time of the Roman Empire, when Jesus was born, and it was used as an incense burned during funerals until the 15th century. The Roman Emperor Nero reportedly burned a year's supply of myrrh at the funeral of his wife, Poppea Sabina, in the year 65 CE.

Myrrh has also been used in mixtures of incense and perfumes since ancient times, a practice which continues to the present day. It has an earthy, bitter odor when burned. Quality myrrh can be identified by its dark color and sticky texture, which indicates a large amount of the fragrant oil that produces a scent when burned. Myrrh can also be found in salves for skin irritations, perfumes, toothpaste, and other toiletries.

Another use of myrrh that dates from ancient times is as an additive to wine. The resin is also an ingredient in the Italian spirit Fernet Branca, created in 1845 by Maria Scala as a medicine. The drink is very popular in Argentina and San Francisco, and it is commonly mixed with cola."

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-myrrh.htm

How to Wrap Soap

So you just completed a batch of soap and you are out of ideas to package them.  Well, take a look at these wonderful ideas from Ponte Verde Soap Shop.  Ponte Verde gives you 20 different looks to package your soap. I do not see how you could miss with one of these beauties.  If you do not like anyone one of these, which would be hard to believe, I am sure that one of these would inspire you to create your own.

If you are interested in learning more on how to wrap your soap, check out the article.

Natural Deodorant Recipe

In all the years that I have taken classes in making bath and body products, not one of them taught how to make your own deodorant. When searching the internet for a recipe I never found one that suited my fancy - until now. 

I have been following a blog DeShawn Marie's Handcraft Soap and on July 28, 2010 she had a post on How to Make your Deodorant at Home. In her recipe, she uses a combontion of white beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil and essential oils to create this bar of deodorant. 

She does not indicate whether or not she uses refined cocoa butter (the chocolate scent is removed) or not, I assuming (I know is not good to assume) she does because of the 3 different types of essential oils she uses.  They definately would not smell that good with chocolate.

So this recipe sounds interesting to try.  The only things I would have to purchase would be the essential oils. I use regular beeswax pastilles for my lip balm recipe so I am going to use that first because I have that on hand.  I will see how that works, if it does not then I will have get the recommended white beeswax.

What Are Aroma Beads?

Have you ever heard of aroma beads and are wondering what they are?  Then you may want to read this article by Kathryn Hatter, eHow Contributor titled What Are Aroma Beads?

If you are looking for a recipe on how to make them, I found this aroma bead recipe by Maryelser Kinmore, eHow Contributor.  I am really interested in making a batch of aroma beads because would be something different to fragrance a room.  Plus it would be something different to make as a gift for the holidays.

At the Nova Studio 7th Anniversary Party there was a make and take table on making a similiar product.  The only thing that was different was the beads were smaller.  Right now I have my organza bag filled with my citrus scented aroma beads hanging off of my window washer lever in my car. There is a slight aroma in the car.  Wish it was a bit stronger.  Maybe it will be more pronounced when I refresh the scent.

How to make Hot Process Soap

If you like the cold process method but do not like the four to six week curing time, then this process is for you. What is really great about hot process is that is has the beauty of making a bar of soap by scratch but without the wait. What makes the process go alot faster is soap is cooked through the saponification process.In this article, the author makes the soap in the oven but most commonly hot process is done in the slow cooker.

So if you are interested in learning how to make soap by the hot process method, the check out this article written by ehow member by eclat titled How to Make Hot Process Soap.

Jack O Lantern Candle

Halloween is just around the corner.  And you are frantically looking for a creative way to make your house more festive for the trick or treaters. It is not too late to create your own decorations. So why not create these cute Jack O Lantern Candles from David Fisher of About.com?

Tips for Handmilling Your Cold Process Soap

Handmilling is a fun way to vamp up your soap. Handmilling involves grating and melting down some week-old handmade lye soap in a microwave, doubleboiler, crockpot, or in a double-bagged ziploc dropped directly in gently boiling water. Whichever method you choose, the goal is to melt down your soap until it is runny or mushy. Be sure that after you grate your soap (use a cheese grater) that you add a little liquid to help it melt and avoid drying out. You can add water, milk, oil, an herbal infusion, fruit juice, or anything of that nature. Handmilling is far less "precise" practice than cold processing. As with cooking, in handmilling you just add a punch of this or that until the mixture looks about right. For one pound of shredded soap, I usually add about one cup of liquid. If you aren't sure, just add a little liquid as you go until it has the consistency that seems right to you.

Microwaving, while convenient, is probably the worst way to melt down your cold process soap because it doesn't thoroughly and uniformly heat the soap. For example, some parts of the soap can get dry and crusty while other parts are just starting to melt. However, some soapmakers swear by the microwave method. Be sure to microwave your soap in short bursts to avoid overcooking it. It doesn't take much for the soap to expand and spill out of the container.

Melting down your soap shreds in a crockpot slowly over the course of a few hours is supposed to produce the finest quality handmilled soap. The double boiler method involves boiling water in a large stock pot with your soap shreds sitting in a bowl on top of the pot. The steam heats and melts the soap in about 30-60 minutes. Don't let the pot boil dry. Probably the most popular and relatively simple way to handmill your soap is with double-bagged ziplocs in boiling water. With this method, place your soap shreds and liquid in a ziploc and place that into another ziploc. Place this in a pot of gently boiling water for about 30 minutes until it is soft or liquidy. The ziplocs will feel like they're getting thin in the hot water, but they will survive the extreme temperature just fine. The bags may also fill with steam as they boil—this is normal.

After you've melted your soap, mix in your additives (colorants, scents, dried herbs, etc) and mix well. How much scent or colorant should you add? Whatever looks right to you. Be sure to sniff the soap and make sure it smells a bit on the strong side as the scent will fade when the soap cures. If you are using the popular ziploc bag method, put your additives directly into the bag, seal it, and knead the bag. After mixing in your additives, cut a bottom corner off the ziploc and squeeze the handmilled soap out of the cut into the mold. Tap the mold several times on your countertop to help pack it down and remove air bubbles. Cover your molds with saran wrap and cure as usual.

Source: http://how2makesoap.net/Articles.html#Colorants

Pumpkin Sugar Scrub

The leaves are changing so that means that Autumn is upon us.  So maybe you want to change your facial and body scrub to suit the season?  Why not try this recipe for a Pumpkin Sugar Scrub for the Face and Body from Beauty Secrets Revealed?

Pumpkin is rich in Beta Caratene and other great nutrients.  And sugar is a great Alpha Hydroxy Acid.  So the combonation of the combination of the two makes a great exfoliator for your skin.

What is Cocoa Butter?

Cocoa butter is the natural fat extracted from the cacao bean. Also known as oil of theobroma, cocoa butter is slightly yellowish in color, and while it is extracted from chocolate, it has a bland taste and only a faint chocolate smell. It is edible and is used in making white chocolate and certain confections, but has many uses beyond the kitchen.

The most desirable quality of cocoa butter is its stability as a fat containing natural antioxidants that also preserve it well. Cocoa butter has a melting point just below average body temperature, which is what causes chocolate to remain solid at room temperature, but melt in the mouth. It gives a smooth texture to many confections containing chocolate and is often used by culinary experts in a baking capacity.

Cocoa butter is also used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. In the pharmaceutical industry, cocoa butter is used in the making of suppositories and oral medications in capsule form. It has the ability to retain a molded shape while containing commonly used medicinal chemicals without unstable reactions. The use of cocoa butter as an inactive ingredient in capsules and suppositories is equally desirable because it is safe.
Cocoa butter is often found as an additive to cosmetics, shampoos and soaps, but it is also a natural emollient making it ideal for lotions and lip balms. The moisturizing abilities of cocoa butter are frequently recommended for prevention of stretch marks in pregnant women, treatment of chapped skin and lips, and as a daily moisturizer to prevent dry, itchy skin. The fact that is a natural preservative and has a faintly pleasant aroma further lends benefits to its cosmetic uses.

Though many believe that cocoa butter has the ability to reduce or diminish the appearance of scars, this is a theory that is yet unproven. It does however, promote elasticity in the skin and will aid in the healing of chapped skin if it is used regularly. Cocoa butter is often mistakenly used by people to expedite a suntan and while it will enhance a natural tan, it does not have a sun protection factor (SPF). To prevent the harmful effects of the sun, use a suntan lotion with an SPF of at least 15 that contains cocoa butter.

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cocoa-butter.htm

Peace Cologne Recipe

Here is a really neat cologne recipe by Pioneer Thinking calle Peace Cologne. According to Pioneer Thinking, this recipe coombats fatigue due to stress, tension and anxiety.  Now I am not going to make any claims on that matter, but if you try it and it does make a difference I would definately would like to know.  The author of the recipe suggests that you give your perfume a name.  The name should really reflect your own personality.

Ingredients:

3 drops Bergamot essential/fragrance oil
2 drops Frankincense essential/fragrance oil
3 drops cedarwood essential/fragrance oil
1/2 pt (300ml) 70 percent alcohol or vodka

Directions:

Pour the alcohol into a bottle or jar. Add the oils and shake well. Leave for 1 week. Don't forget to try and make your own scents as well, after all you're unique.. shouldn't your cologne be too?

Spooky Halloween Soaps

Instead of giving out candy this year at Halloween, why not create these spooky halloween soaps from HGTV?  These soaps would be great to give out if your child is having a halloween party at their school.  I think this would be a really ghoulish idea.  How about you?

HGTV has some other spooky Halloween soaps that you may want to consider making your friends and family.  So check those projects out too!

Ghost Candles

Halloween is just around the corner and your are ooking for a unique halloween decoration. Then why not create these spooky (or adorable) ghost candles from David Fisher at About.com.

These are really cute Ghost Candles are really easy to make and would be great addition to your Halloween decor.  So are you ready to get started?  Ready, set, go for it!

How to Make Soap Labels

Do you make your own soaps by are dumbfound on how to label it? If you are wanting to sell your soap to make a little extra cash then check out this article titled "How to Make Soap Labels" by Ryn Gargulinski, eHow Contributing Writer. Ryn will help you make labels for your soaps that will make them stand out from all the others.

As Spongebob would ask, "Are you ready?" I say, let's get started today!

How to Make Rock Crystal Potpourri

Have you ever heard of Rock Crystal Potpourri?    I have heard of potpourri with herbs and read diffuser. This is the first I have heard of it.

According to Sameerah Blue, eHow Contributing Writer, says that rock crystal potpourri is a great way to keep your home smelling great while adding a bit a decorative flair to the room. She says that rock crystal potpourri is easy to make with ingredients that can be found at home or in your local crafts store.

Would you like to create this alternative way of scenting a room? Then check out Sameerah's article on
How to Make Rock Crystal Potpourri which appears on ehow.

What are the Benefits of Bath Salts?

Never heard of bath salts and you are wondering what the benefits are?  Then read the following information from Wisegeek that answers all of your questions.

"After a long day, a nice long soak in a hot bath is just the ticket. Adding bath salts can enhance the experience greatly. Whether you have sore, tired feet from standing all day, or a stiff back from working at your desk, bath salts can help improve the way you feel and ease away the tension. Not only do bath salts come in a variety of soothing fragrances, they also offer many other benefits including certain healing properties.

You might be surprised to learn that adding a little salt to your water can actually help improve your circulation. Bath salts also reduce tenderness. They are recommended for people with back pain, arthritis, muscle tension or spasms, and minor work and sports injuries. They're great for easing stiff, sore, muscles and aching feet and legs.

Bath salts open the pores to purify the skin, cleansing away dirt, sweat, and toxins. They aid in the healing of dry skin, making skin softer and more supple. Salts can help improve common irritations such as insect bites, minor rashes, and calluses on feet, as well as more serious skin conditions like athlete's foot, eczema, and psoriasis. High quality salts may also help improve the appearance of scars.

Salts made with essential oils offer the added benefit of aromatherapy. Pleasant, soothing scents have been shown to induce calmness and promote relaxation. Scented bath salts combine these attributes with other healing properties. The ability to relax and unwind at the end of the day is also the best way to insure sound, restful sleep at night, and bath salts can help.

Salts, such as bath salt or Epsom salt, are also good for exfoliation. Gently rub salt over feet, knees, or elbows, with a damp washcloth. Exfoliation should be completed, and exfoliated areas should be rinsed thoroughly, before you take a bath. Fresh, newly uncovered skin will also benefit from soaking in water treated with salts.

Bath salts come in many colors, scents, and varieties from fine to coarse. You can choose several different types to try separately, or you can mix them together to create your own favorite scents and textures."

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-bath-salts.htm

Bubble Milk Bath

Do you love taking a bath in the tub rather than a shower?  Or you looking for alittle something different in your milk bath?  Then why not create this Bubble Milk Bath from Thrifty Fun. Make sure to check out some of the other fun bath and body projects from Thrifty Fun.

For this bubble Milk bath recipe there are several simple ingredients that you need to purchase from your local grocery store.  You know one idea is you could subsitute the handcrafted soap chunks with a powdered bubble bath like a Mr. Bubble. 

Ingredients:
1 cup Powdered Milk or powdered buttermilk
1/2 cup Oatmeal
1 cup Baking Soda
4 Tbsp. Corn Starch
2 Tbsp. Cream of Tartar
1/4 cup Handcrafted Soap (cut in chunks)

Optional, fragrance with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. essential or Fragrance Oil as desired Use a food processor, add chunked handcrafted soap and oatmeal until grainy. Add powdered milk, baking soda, corn starch and cream of tartar. Add fragrance and process until it's powdery. Store in glass jar.
Directions for use: Use 1/4 cup per bath, add to running hot water.

Source: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36188044.tip.html

Swirling Melt and Pour Style

The soap in this demo reminds me of crashing waves from the ocean. What do you think? If you would like to see a way cool demonstration on how to do the Swirl method for the Melt and Pour verision of soap making then here is a instructional clip from the Soap Queen TV (brought to you by Brambleberry).   Make sure to check out all of the other neat soapmaking videos from Soap Queen TV because there happens to be alot of great ideas that you may not have thought of before.


Soap Queen TV Episode 3: Swirling M&P from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

Soap Packaging Ideas

Are you looking for some really cute looking packaging ideas for your soaps?  Then check out these packaging ideas suggestions from Duffin's Soap Bakery.  All of them are really cute but my favorites are the one to the right and the very last picture in the set which is listed on the site.

Hopefully these ideas will inspire you to come up with your own ideas.  Definately it has for me!

Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Soap (Cold Process)

Want to learn how to make this beautiful Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Soap from Soap Making Essentials? If you are a cold process soap maker then this may be the perfect addition to your collection of recipes.

You may also want to check out Soap Making Essentials' website for more great cold process soap recipes.  They list alot of unique recipes that you may want to try.

Preservative: Cosmocil CQ

If you are concerned about some perservatives having parabens, I found another preservative that you can chose from.  I have never used Cosmocial CQ before so I do not know how well it works.  I have always used Germall.  Give it a try if you like and let us know what you think.

Cosmocil cq has recently received world-wide approval and is now available (from "lotioncrafter" and "snowdrift farm"). this new preservative is parabens free and does not release formaldehyde. Like phenonip, cosmocil cq can be used at higher temperatures -- up to 284°f (140°c), but unlike phenonip, it is low-odor so you won't have to deal with camouflaging the smell. Unfortunately, cosmocil cq is only water soluble (add to the water phase), so unlike phenonip, it's not miscible in oil and can't be used in an all-oil produce (e.g. salt/sugar scrubs). the usage rate ranges from .5% to 1.5%, with the typical usage rate being 1% of your total formula. Cosmocil cq is composed of and should be labeled as: polyaminopropyl biguanide.

For more information about preservatives for your body products, check out this link http://home.earthlink.net/~skinesscentuals/Preserve.htm.

Candy Corn Candles Recipe

Candy corn is my favorite candy during this time of year.  So I went searching to see if there were any projects on how to make one of my favorite candies into a candle which I can display in the window when Halloween comes around.  So I found this one from Pure and Natural Soaps.  Why not give it a try.

Materials

8 oz. gel candle medium
Small clean mason jar
½ cup candy corn (Plastic novelty eyeballs or wiggly eyes can also be used for a fun look)
Black and Orange Spool-o-ribbon

Instructions

1.Melt candle gel in a large microwaveable dish at 30 second intervals until completely melted.

2.Slowly pour melted wax into mold. Allow to set for 1 minute.

3.Push candy corn or eyeballs into candle using a chopstick or skewer.

4.Refill mold to fill in holes.

5.Tie Black and Orange ribbon around base of candle.

Source: http://www.pureandnaturalsoaps.com/recipe-candycorncandles.html

What is a Salt Scrub?

Never tried a salt scrub, but you have seen them in your local store?  Wisegeek has this very basic explaination of what a salt scrub is and what it is used for.

"A salt scrub is a formulation of salt and other ingredients which is used to exfoliate dead skin from the body, leaving fresh skin behind and nourishing that skin with herbal ingredients. Salt scrubs are often sold in bath stores and drug stores so that people can apply them at home, and salt scrubs are also offered as body treatments in spas. In addition to purchasing packaged salt scrubs, consumers can also make their own, if they want to experiment with ingredients and textures.

Regular exfoliation promotes healthy, glowing skin by removing layers of detritus and dead material all at once. A number of body products are designed for exfoliation, including sugar scrubs and scrubs with ingredients like ground nutshells and loofah. Most salt scrubs should not be used on people with sensitive skin, since salt can be abrasive and harsh; you may want to test a small patch of salt scrub on your skin before doing your whole body. Users can control the level of exfoliation by altering the grain of the salt used. It is possible to find very fine salt scrubs which use carefully ground salts, along with much more coarse scrubs with large grains which will deeply penetrate, removing more dead skin.

Most salt scrubs use sea salt or Dead Sea salts, rather than rock salt mined from under the Earth. Various salts have differing amounts of trace minerals which can help to nourish the skin while it is scrubbed, and Dead Sea salts in particular are prized for their cosmetic and skin soothing value. The salts are then combined with herbal ingredients to create a desired scent or to promote healthy skin. These ingredients can include things like lavender, rosemary, orange peels, figs, lemons, lemongrass, herb blends, spices, and seaweed, though not all together.

Once the salt and herb blend is created, a salt scrub can be applied as-is or mixed with a small amount of oil to create a paste which is rubbed onto the skin. The trick with a salt scrub is only applying a small amount of salt at a time, ensuring the the skin is thoroughly scraped. A thick handful of salt can be less effective, because the grains of salt transfer their energy to each other, rather to the skin. The oil and herbal ingredients in the salt scrub help to polish the skin while it is being exfoliated.

Spas sometimes refer to salt scrubs as salt glows or polishes because they often leave the skin with a hint of a shimmer. A salt glow can also be an invigorating experience for spa clients, especially when invigorating herbal ingredients like lemons are used. After a salt scrub has been applied, a crust of salt and herbs is left on the body, and most people prefer to quickly shower to remove this layer of detritus. After showering, a moisturizing body butter, oil, or cream can be applied to nourish the skin after the brisk effects of the scrub, and in a spa a salt scrub may be followed by a body wrap or a massage, if a client requests these services."

Rose Bud Bath Melts

Here is a recipe on how to make Rose Bud Bath Melts from Nature Beauty Workshop.  This recipe make 8 - 10 bath melts.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon Jojoba Esters MP70

1/4 teaspoon Red Jojoba Wax Beads (optional)

1 ounce Babassu Oil

1 ounce Coconut Oil

1 ounce Passionfruit (Maracuja) Oil

1 tablespoon Fine Colloidal Oatmeal (sifted)

8 - 10 Pink Rose Buds

1/2 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon Rose Otto Essential Oil*

8 - 10 Small Foil Cups

Directions

Begin by covering a baking sheet or platter with wax paper or parchment paper, then set it aside. In a double boiler, gently heat the Jojoba Esters (and optionally, the Red Jojoba Wax Beads) until fully melted. Next, add the Babassu and Coconut Oils and heat until they are fully melted as well. Add the Colloidal Oatmeal to the hot mixture. This works best if it is sifted through a fine mesh strainer or flour sifter as it is added. Stir the mixture well, then remove it from heat. Add the Passionfruit Oil, and the Essential Oil and stir well. Carefully pour the mixture into the foil cups. If you fill the cups completely you should have enough for about 8 melts, but I recommend leaving a 1/4 inch or so of space in each cup. If you do this, you should have enough for about 10 cups. Allow the Melts to cool for about 5 - 10 minutes. The Melts should thicken as they cool, leaving a firm layer on the top. The time that this will take will vary depending on your room temperature. After this layer forms, carefully place on Rose Bud in each cup. Allow the Melts to set for another hour or two before attempting to move them.

Usage & Packaging

Rose Bud Bath Melts should be used one at a time. Simply unwrap the melt and pop it into a warm bath. The Essential Oil will fill the bathroom with its wonderful aroma while the moisturizing oils begin to melt in the bath water. These Bath Melts look beautiful when packaged in small candy or gift boxes. Check out your local craft supply or baking shop for small boxes. Ribbons, stickers, and even fresh flowers can be used to enhance the presentation of your melts, especially when giving them as a romantic gift!

* Red Rose Fragrance Oil makes an affordable substitute for Rose Essential Oil.

Source: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/bath_tub_treat_recipes/

Rose Infused Massage Oil Recipe

Are roses your favorite flower?  Then you should check out this Rose Infused Massage Oil recipe from The Bonnie Bath Company.This recipe from Erica is very simple and only requires a few ingredients.  Once you make this infused oil recipe you can use it for a massage oil as it was intended or use it in a body balm or lotions recipe.  If the scent of the infused oil is strong enough you just might not have to scent those recipes.

How to Make Acid-Free Paper

Scrapbookers know how it is important to use acid free paper with their scrapbooking projects.  Well, did you know that you can make your own? Would you like to try?  Then check out this article titled How to Make Acid-Free Paper from Ehow.  I am not sure what actually makes it acid free but I think by adding the ingredient calcium carbonate probably is the key.  The reason why is that I have not seen this ingredient in any other instructions on making your own paper.

But I did find another article on ehow entitled. How to Make Archive Paper by Robert Gray and he does not add that particular ingredient.  So I honestly do not know.  For anyone out there who does know the answer, please let us know.  It would be greatly appreciated.

Easy Candy Corn Soap Project

Love candy corn? For me candy corn reminds me it symbolizes the Fall season especially the celebration of Halloween.  It just would not be fitting to eat it any other time. According to my mother, it was her grandfather's favorite candy. So, I do not know if I got the taste for candy corn from him or if it is my sweet tooth in general (I think it is the latter) that I like candy corn at this time of the year.

To celebrate the upcoming season why not learn how to make this cute candy corn soap? This Candy Corn Soap Tutorial  is on the Soap Queen's blog Soap and the Finer Things would be the answer to all of your sweet tooth needs. Instead of candy, you could even make this soap and give as gifts for Halloween.

Rebatching Soap: Learn How to Handmill Soap

Most who make their soap by the hot process method will use a crockpot/slow cooker. While searching for making rebatched or handmilled soap, I found these instructions from Soap-Making-Essentials on how to make handmilled soap with a crockpot.

The author of the article had very little success making rebatched soap on the stove top and does not recommend it. So why not learn the successful way of making rebatched soap by someone who has gone through the trials and tribulations. Since I have a slow cooker dedicated to making soap, I will have to give this a try sometime. If you try this method, let us know how it went.

Rebatching Soap: Learn How to Handmill Soap is a great article to start out with. If anyone has any other handmilled soap recipes or articles to suggest, please let us know!

How To Make Dry Perfume Roll-on

From David Fisher,Your Guide to Candle & Soap Making.
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Cyclomethicone is a silicone oil that is incredibly versatile in a number of bath and body recipes. But one of the easiest, and most amazing, uses of it is as a "dry" oil spray or roll-on. Looking for easy portable aromatherapy? This will do it. Are you so in love with a particular fragrance or essential oil blend that you want to wear it with you all day? Perfect! Like I said...this stuff is pretty amazing.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes

What You Need:

Cyclomethicone
Fragrance or Essential Oil
Bottle to put it in. (Use Glass, HDPE or PET.)

Here's How:

Using it is easy.You can mix it with fragrance or essential oils anywhere from about 1:3 to 1:6 ratio - depending on how strong you want it. I generally recommend about 1:5 for roll-on fragrances.
I got these little roll-on bottles from Bramble Berry. They hold about 10 grams of liquid each.

So...a 1:5 ratio of fragrance to Cyclomethicone would give you:

1 gram of fragrance
5 grams of Cyclomethicone To keep the math easy, let's figure on filling 6 bottles full. To do that, you'll need:
10 grams of fragrance oil
50 grams of cyclomethicone

Important note: Measure the cyclomethicone first and then add the fragrance or essential oil. For some reason doing it the other way makes the mixture cloudy. Measuring the cyclomethicone first and adding the fragrance to it keeps it clear.

Measure the cyclomethicone and then add the fragrance or essential oil. Mix it gently, and pour it into your bottles.

That's it! See...I told you it was easy!

Tips:

Cyclomethicone can stain some fabrics. Be careful of it on certain clothes or linens.

Make sure the skin you are applying the mixture to is clean. The cyclomethicone acts as a protective "layer" on the skin, sealing all of the good oils...but also any "bad" stuff in.

If you're using a particularly strong fragrance oil, use a higher ratio. If you're using a light essential oil blend - or want a strong product - use a higher one.

What You Need:
Cyclomethicone
Fragrance or Essential Oil
Bottle to put it in. (Use Glass, HDPE or PET.)

Suggested Reading
More About Cyclomethicone
Related Articles

How to Make an Energizing Essential Oil Blend
How to Make a Relaxing Essential Oil Blend
Create Your Own Scent Blends - How to Blend Essential &...
What Is Aromatherapy?Best Essential Oil Books for Soap and Candle Making

Source: http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/bathbody/ht/dryperfumeroll.htm

Hydrosols

Have you heard of the term Hydrosols and do not know what it is?  Then read the following on how From Nature With Love  describes what it is.

"The term hydrosol is derived from the Latin words hydro and sol, meaning "water solution." When plant material, such as the roots, barks, flowers, leaves, stems and seeds, is steam distilled to obtain an essential oil, certain chemical constituents of the plant first build up in the water. Only after they reach their maximum solubility in water, do they start to collect in a separate layer on the surface of the water (the essential oil). Many of the water-soluble plant compounds and some of the oil-soluble compounds wind up in the distillation water.

A hydrosol is the pure, distillate water that remains after essential oils are steam distilled from the original plant material. Hydrosols are usually clear and have the appearance and consistency of water. Their aroma is generally, but not always, similar to that of the essential oil, but the aroma is usually much more subtle. Hydrosols contain very small amounts of the essential oil. They also contain water-soluble components of the plant material that may not be present in the essential oil. The aroma, therefore, may differ somewhat from the plant’s essential oil. Some hydrosols do smell surprisingly different from the essential oil. Some hydrosols, such as Yarrow, have an unpleasant odor, making them more difficult to use.

Hydrosols are gaining importance in aromatherapy because they offer an opportunity to use a well-diluted potency of a particular plant’s essential oil for therapeutic purposes. The highly concentrated compounds found in essential oils may often be too strong for the human body, and therefore may be rejected or ineffective. Hydrosols on the other hand, are well-diluted water-soluble compounds, which are easily assimilated and absorbed by the body. Hydrosols are generally safer for use in babies and individuals with depressed immune systems.

Hydrosols are also known as hydrolates. Hydrosols are also sometimes incorrectly referred to as floral waters. Floral waters are typically aromatic waters made with the use of fragrance oils (see our Floral Water category, but do not contain the natural therapeutic properties that hydrosols contain. Hydrosols cannot be made by solubilizing essential oils in water.

Unfortunately, pure hydrosols do not have the strong anti-bacterial properties that essential oils possess and therefore they are subject to rapid degradation. Hydrosols are often collected over long periods of time during which contamination may occur and subsequent handling and storage conditions may further reduce shelf life. Assuming that a hydrosol is collected in the most sterile manner and promptly sealed, stored and transported in a cool environment, it may have a shelf life of 6 months to 2 years unopened. Keeping a hydrosol stored in such pristine conditions, however, is rarely the case. We believe that the dangers of using a hydrosol harboring bacterial colonies far outweigh the negative effects of adding food grade ethyl alcohol to the hydrosols to preserve shelf life. Our European hydrosols are preserved with ethyl alcohol as required by law. Our witch hazel hydrosol is preserved with Germaben and is not suitable for internal use.

Use hydrosols in toners, creams, lotions, body sprays, room sprays and in place of water in most formulations. They will impart both fragrance and therapeutic benefits to your products. Hydrosols are also wonderful when used as wetting agents in clay facials. An anti-bacterial preservative will be needed to preserve your products that contain hydrosols."

If you are interested in purchasing a particular hydrosol, From Nature With Love sells a variety of conventional hydrosols including Clary Sage, Jasmine, Lemon Balm (Melissa), and many others.  They also sell a variety of organic hydorosols to select from.