Soap Making, Oils and Recipes
If you’ve ever had a run-in with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, you know that itch is no joke. It’s the kind of relentless irritation that makes you want to scrub your skin raw—except that’s the worst thing you can do. What you need is a gentle, calming cleanser that helps draw out the irritant … Read More ...
David Fisher has posted great information on using natural exfoliants like pumice, rose hips, and calendula in your soap making. He has broken down the exfoliants into three categories: most common, unique, and sounds interesting – to try someday. There are also links to recipes using some of the exfoliants so you can try using … Read More ...
Sherrie of Birch Bark Soap has created a great tutorial on making round or loofah soaps for The Soap Bar. Find the instructions here. While this is for cold process soap, it can be easily modified for melt and pour soap crafters.… Read More ...
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera)
From Oils by Nature
From the Latin words “vinifera” (wine bearing) and “vitis” (vine)…
The grapeseed plant is actually a deciduous climbing vine that ranges in length from 70 to 100 feet. There are more than 3,000 varieties, and none contain more than two seeds.
Grapeseed Oil is thought to have … Read More ...
SoapyHollow has posted a great tutorial on how to make your own molds for soapmaking. Sometimes you have a fantastic idea in your head, but can’t find the mold to make it work. This tutorial will help you make all of those ideas a reality! SoapyHollow makes gem and shell molds as examples.… Read More ...
Earth Clay Soap Recipe – Melt and Pour
From the Soap Making Forum
1 lb. vegetable glycerin soap
1 T. Clay
2 T. Jojoba Oil
1/4 Cup Distilled Water
Colorant and Scent
Be sure to mix the clay separately. I put the T. of clay in a dish and spoon a small amount of the … Read More ...
Zesty Calendula cold process soap
From Miller’s Homemade Soaps
32 ounces soybean oil
32 ounces vegetable shortening (Crisco)
14 ounces olive oil
10 ounces coconut oil
1 ounce of stearic acid (optional)
28 ounces cold water
12 ounces lye crystals
Temperatures were around 110 degrees.
Add at trace:
3/4 oz. Citronella EO
1/2 oz. Bergamot … Read More ...
Rosemary Essential Oil from Wavelengths Natural Health
Botanical (Latin) Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Extraction: steam distillation, Part of Plant: flowers
Aromatic Qualities: herbaceous, minty, woody
Possible Uses:
acne, arteriosclerosis, asthma, bronchitis, candida, cellulite, circulation – poor, colds, colitis, dandruff, dermatitis, dysmenorrhea, dyspepsia, eczema, fatigue, flatulence, flu, fluid retention, gout, hair – oily, hair – promotes growth, … Read More ...
White Beeswax (Cera Alba) from Oils by Nature
From the words “Cera” (waxy) and “Alba” (white)…
For every 100 pounds of honey produced, only about one to two pounds of Beeswax is obtained.
Beeswax that is thousands of years old differs little from new Beeswax. It does not oxidize and is unaffected by mildew, salt … Read More ...
This fun knitted soap sack from Sarah White is a great way to package up a homemade (or store bought) soap to give as a gift. Find the instructions here.… Read More ...
Jojoba Butter profile from Oils by Nature
Jojoba Butter (Simmondsia Chinensis)
Jojoba Butter (Oil) comes from a shrub that grows well in the arid and semi-dry regions of southern California, Arizona and northwest Mexico. The Jojoba plant begins bearing seeds once it reaches its fifth year of maturity.
Highly regarded by Native Americans for its … Read More ...
This super cute goldfish in a bag soap is a great project to make with your kids (or friends!) one weekend. It requires a few more ingredients than the average melt and pour project, but the results are so fun that it’s worth it! Find all the instructions here.… Read More ...
Debra McDuffee has some pretty ideas on how to package your handmade cold process soap. Visit here for the inspiration.… Read More ...
I love this funnel soap tutorial! The swirls are an interesting take on the “usual” swirls we usually see in cold process soapmaking. This tutorial is written as a cold process soap tutorial, but can easily be adapted by the melt and pour soapmaker using two separate M&P batches and a loaf mold. Find the … Read More ...
Hemp oil
has wonderful skin nourishing properties and is easily absorbed into the skin. Make this great cold process Hemp Body Bar Soap from Ponte Vedra to help fight skin problems, excessively dry skin, or for its anti-aging properties.… Read More ...