Energizing Orange Soap

One of my favorite fragrances with soap is orange spice.  But it seems like my orange essential oil that I put seems to dissipates quickly. Think it may be the fact that it may not be 10 fold.  Besides the point, I found this cold process soap from The Soap Queen called Energizing Orange Soap.  The bars from this recupe smell great plus being bright and cheery/ This recipe uses 10X Orange Essential Oil and Orange Peel to give it a bright color plus the peel adds exfoliation. Marigolds are added on the top as a finishing top. Cold process soap can be intimidating. But what makes this recipe easy is that tit requires a nice thick trace.  The orange peel powder can be added directly to the soap oils prior to adding the lye or it can be added at trace and stick blended in.

Using Cosmetic Micas in Cold Process Soap – Colorant Guide–Modernsoapmaking

Cosmetic Micas are one way of coloring your melt and pour or cold process soaps.  And they surely can make your soap more beautifully vivid and bold.  They can be stunning in clear products such as melt and pour soap because the light can refract off the mica particles.  I am sorry to tell you that micas lose most of their shimmer in cold process soap because it is opaque.

Never heard of Mica?  It is a natural product, cosmetic micas are coated with colorants such as pigments and FD&C colorants.  What makes the shimmer and sheen of Micas?  It is the dual sided colorants that makes that happen.

Do you want to learn more?  In a recent posting from Modern Soapmaking called Using Cosmetic Micas in Cold Process Soap - Colorant Guide tells you all about how easy they are to use and there downfalls.   Topics in this article include:  Blending Micas to Create New Colors, Using Cosmetic Micas in Cold Process Soap Design Techniques, Mica Veins & Oil Swirls, Mica Dusting, Mica Painting,  Mica on Soap Stamps and Examples of Using Cosmetic Micas in Cold Process Soap.

Strawberries and Champagne MP Soap Loaf

Do you love to drink champagne with strawberries?  I found this
melt and pour soap loaf recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Strawberries and Champagne MP Soap Loaf.  These sophisticated yet simple bars of soap have the scent of strawberry, champagne and bright cassis.  This project is easy to do and takes only an hour to complete. Once you are done and cut the soap, you should get (8) 1" bars of soap.  This bar of soap would be a perfect favor for New Years.

How to Make Gentle Oatmeal Baby Soap

Do you have sensitive skin?  Or know someone with a baby? Here is a recipe from The Soap Queen called Gentle Oatmeal Soap that is perfect for babies or someone with sensitive.  The majority of this recipe is made with olive oil pomace that has been infused with skin-loving chamomile herbs.  Did you know that Chamomile has been used in skin care for centuries and it well know for its calming properties.  This recipe calls contains shea butter for moisture and castor for lather.  In addition, this recipe does not contain any fragrance since it came sometimes be irritating extremely skin.  If you choice to scent your soap, you may want to consider adding lavender essential oil.

Lumps of Coal Bath Bomb Recipe

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to think about Christmas. Make your list and check it twice to see who has been naughty or nice for 2016.  For those on your list who have been naughty, you can make them something really special.  And that is....drum roll...Lump of Coal Bath Bombs. This recipe from Nature's Garden contains a variety of ingredients including activated charcoal powder, Hawaiian Black Salt in both fine and course versions, plus other ingredients.  This recipe makes two large bombs.

Must-Have Cold Process Soap Tools (And Best Splurges!)

Are you just starting out make cold process soap?  Wondering what tools are must haves and what are the best splurges?  In a recent post from The Soap Queen called Must-Haves Cold Process Soap Tools (And Best Splurges!). There are basic tools like a stick blender and molds and a lot fancier tool like a comb swirl tool.   In this post, The Soap Queen goes over a variety of different categories based on the convenience they provide, versatility and value.  She does states that everybody has a different idea of what is essential, must-have, and what is a luxury item.  But the tools she covers the tools she most reaches for.  So see what she recommends and see if you need to get them yourself.

Wine Sugar Scrub Recipe

This is not the actual product

I have made scrubs with salt and oil; sugar and other ingredients. But I have never made a scrub that has red wine as an ingredient. I had to take a double take when I saw this recipe from Nature's Garden called Wine Sugar Scrub Recipe. At first it was too good to be true because I saw the cabernet fragrance oil and thought that was it but as I got closer the end of the list there it is. If you love wine then this would be a great product to make and use.

Holiday Soap Packaging Ideas

Thanksgiving is here!  If you have not started thinking about holiday gifts,you better get started.  If you are making soap for your holiday gifts but do not know how you want to package them, I found this great post from Lovin' Soap Studio on packaging ideas called Holiday Soap Packaging Ideas. There are some really great ideas.  Now I made a couple of batches of cold process soap for two people would requested me to make some soap so they could give as gifts,  I was going to put them in individual cello candy bags from Michaels but I may have to rethink it because the first idea....wrapping each in parchment paper and twisting the ends so it looks like a piece of salt water taffy.  Take a look and see if there is something you like and use for your packaging.  Good Luck!

How to Soap with Accelerating Fragrance Oils

I have only been making cold process soap for about  2 years.    I normally make my soap with essential oils.  I find that lavender essential oil seems to accelerate trace from most of the essential oils that I have used.  As for fragrance oil, I have only tried in cold process soap was Brambleberry's Holiday Ribbon Candy which worked really well.  But if there is a fragrance oil that accelerates your batch there are ways to tweak your recipe to account for acceleration that be a balancing act and to be honest it takes practice.  According to The Soap Queen, there are several aspects of the recipe you can change to make the acceleration more manageable, including changing the design and avoiding certain additives. Even if the fragrance accelerates slightly and you tweek the recipe to include more slow-moving oils that can also counteract the acceleration. But if the acceleration is extreme enough, no recipe or method can prevent it. What to learn more?  Check out the post by The Soap Queen called How to Soap with Accelerating Fragrance Oils.

Peppermint Fluff Soap Recipe

Thinking what what you can give for gifts this holiday season?  Want to give something different? On my Facebook page, I had a posting from Nature's Garden for  this Peppermint Fluff Soap that looks good enough to eat. This melt and pour soap project has a definite "Wow" factor with the swirl embed and pink fluff topping so it would be perfect for gifts or to add to your product line.  All products can be purchased from Nature's Garden. For other bath and body Christmas ideas, check out the Christmas Craft Recipes on the Nature's Garden website.

Mini Key Lime Bath Bomb Tutorial

I just mentioned that I found that Whole Foods is selling NOW Essentials Oils including Lime.  It must be kismit because I found this recipe from The Soap Queen for bath bombs called Mini Key Lime Bath Bombs. This is very easy recipe and no time to make. Once you finish making this recipe you will have 40-60 pieces so you can create several presents for the holiday season.

NOW Brand Essential Oils

This morning I went to Sprouts to get some Almond Oil for a reed diffuser project I found in the recent issue of Willow and Sage.  I really did not want to purchase 16 oz so I decided to check out Whole Foods which is very close to Sprouts.  Well I did find a smaller size of Almond Oil but better yet I found out that Whole Foods is selling the one ounce size of NOW Brand of essential oils.  Better yet, I saw that they have lime which I am always looking for.  So now I have a second source of NOW essential oils.

Sparkling Prosecco CP Soap Cupcakes

Here is a really elegant bath treat that would be really great to make for the New Year.  It is a cold process soap that looks like a cupcake.  This recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus is called Sparking Prosecco Soap Cupcakes.  These soaps smell like vanilla cake with buttercream icing with hints of citrus and prosecco.  This is a more advanced technique than a straight bar of cold processed soap.  It should take two hours and resulting in 12 soap cupcakes.

Cosmic Cotton Candy Soap Tutorial

When I saw this melt and pour recipe called Cosmic Cotton Candy Soap from The Soap Queen made me think of getting cotton candy at the county fair.  This is an intermediate level project but it is not really difficult but it does require an understanding of how melt and  pour behave at different temperatures.  This would be a perfect gift for a girl's party.

Dessert Inspired Bath DIY Projects

I have a major sweet tooth.  So seeing bath product made to look like sweets is totally awesome.  So I wanted to shared this posting from The Soap Queen called Dessert Inspired Bath DIY Projects for you to look at.  You may get some ideas to make for holiday gifts.

Blackcurrant Wine Layered MP Soap Loaf

Here is a really cool melt and pour soap loaf project from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Blackcurrant Wine Layered MP Soap Loaf.  This recipe is pretty easy to make even though it is rated as moderate level.  It smells great and makes the perfect party favor for adults.

Pumpkin Souffle Cold Process Soap Tutorial

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.  I found this recipe for Pumpkin Souffle Cold Process Soap from The Soap Queen.  It is very unique recipe that makes a great favor for any holiday.

Red Berry Melt & Pour Soap Tart Tutorial

These melt and pour soap tarts from The Soap Queen looking good enough to eat.  Want to save the calories and make these soaps?  Then check out the instructions for Red Berry Melt & Pour Soap Tarts. This an intermediate project that takes about 1-2 hours to make and when you are finished, you should get six soaps to give as gifts or use yourself.

Blackcurrant Wine Bath Fizzies

Do you like to soak in the tub with bath fizzies?  I found this recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Blackcurrant Wine Bath Fizzies that will make you feel like you are walking through a vineyard. The fragrance notes include sparkling grapefruit, crisp apple, sugared blackcurrant, crisp apple, and aged oak.  What really makes this bath fizzy really special is the rose soap embed.  Once the bath fizzy disappears, you can use it to wash with.

Prosecco Whipped Body Butter

Love using a body butter?  Here is a great recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Prosecco Whipped Body Butter.  It has notes of sparkling Prosecco, sugared hibiscus, rhubarb and apricot nectar make this body butter a delight.  No worries, it is very easy to make in no time.

Pink Champagne Bath Salts

Would you like to treat yourself to a soak to escape from a hard day?  Try this recipe from Wholesale Supplies Plus called Pink Champagne Bath Salts.  This recipe is make with Pink Sea Salt with some added sparkle and scented with fresh apricot, winter berries, rich brandy and champagne.  What really makes this as a gift is the mini bottles.  How cute is that!

Pedicure Set - Foot Sugar Scrub and Foot Soak

On Saturday, I taught a class at the Red Morton Community Center on how to make four different types of scrubs - Single Use Sugar Scrubs, Lip Scrub, Whipped Sugar Scrub and a Body Scrub made with salt.  There was one lady who wanted to make a scrub for her feet because she had a great experience getting her feet pampered. So when I saw this Pedicure Set- Foot Sugar Scrub and Foot Soak from Wholesale Supplies Plus, I thought of her.  And thought I would post it for her to hopefully see.  And hope you would like to try it yourself.

Horse Sculpted Layers Soap Tutorial

Over the years I took a lot of classes at The Nova Studio.  One of them happened to be class on how to do embedded shapes in cold process soap.  I have always done it in melt and pour soap and I never thought it could be done in cold process soap.  When I saw this tutorial on Horse Sculpted Layers Soap, I was totally wowed.  I thought maybe there was a mold with the silhouette, but it is an actual template. I could never be that accurate.I have always used flexible silicone ice cube trays for any embeds for my melt and pour soap and I have not tried yet  making any for cold process soap.

The Pros & Cons of Soapmaking Methods (Cold Process, Melt & Pour, Hot Process and Rebatch)

Back in 2002 was when I learned how to make soap by the melt and pour method.  Then I found Lori Nova of The Nova Studio and I took classes from her on how to make soap by the cold process method and the hot process method. I thought I was going to lean toward the hot process method.  Quite some time had passed before I decided to try the cold process method by using SoapQuick from Mission Peak Soap in Fremont. If you are new to soap making want to learn more the pros and cons of soap making methods, The Soap Queen recent posted a blog titled The Pros and Cons of Soapmaking Methods (Cold Process, Melt & Pour, Hot Process and Rebatch).

Snowdrop Hot Process Soap Tutorial

According to The Soap Queen, Hot process is a great soapmaking method when you want to enjoy your soap quickly. The main difference between hot process and cold process soap is that hot process soap is “cooked,” which speeds up the saponification process. This results in a loaf of soap that can be cut and enjoyed the same day. That being said, I always recommend a couple weeks of cure time to help water excess water evaporate and create an even firmer and longer lasting bar. And Hot process is usually made in a slow cooker, but can also be done in a double boiler.  If you want to try a small batch of hot process soap, then try a recent post of a recipe called Snowdrop Hot Process Soap.

How to Make Foaming Bath Salts

I have heard of bath fizzy bombs, but I do not think I ever heard of foaming bath salt until I saw the instructions from Rustic Escentuals Crafting Library called How to Make Foaming Bath Salts.