New from old(er)

Lots of blowing snow today.  Instead of driving the highway into Wasilla to work, I preferred to live another day.  Staying home and will make up the day later.

An update on the carrot soaps I made a few weeks ago.  All INCREDIBLE soap!  So luscious on the skin.  But… batch three had lather just a bit more yellow than I wanted.  (batch three below)

So, even though I loved the striking look of this soap, I decided to rebatch it.  Rebatching soap involves shredding or grating it and melting down to add more ingredients or use in another soap.  Since I wanted to tone down the yellow, I added the shredded soap to a new batch of luxurious plain soap.  Then the whole shebang sat in the crockpot to soften and meld together.  Still very beautiful, just different.  Annatto seed and carrots are what give it this beautiful color.  I like it better now!

Testing Soap Additives

People in soaping groups are always looking for info on how soap additives behave and the right amount to use.  I tested some additives today to see how these perform and  if I want to incorporate them into my soaping work.

My recipe is olive oil 70%, palm kernel oil 23%, and apricot kernel oil 7% with a 6% superfat.   My soaping temperature was about 100 – 105.  Totally awesome recipe and it stays fluid for the 10 – 15 minutes it took me to measure and mix the samples.

Additives tested:

• Indigo
• kelp
• vanilla powder
• pearly white mica (Brambleberry)
• honey powder
• carrot powder
• anatto powder
• alkanet
• marshmallow powder
• mica dribble
• control (no additive)

Each additive was a measured 1/4 tsp per (about) 4 oz batter.  The one exception was one kelp at 1/4 tsp and one at 1/2 tsp.   Additives were added dry to batter and whisked in, except a couple that wanted to clump were stick-blended.   The honey powder was mixed with a little water (1/2 tsp) and then batter added and mixed.

My shop is not heated so these will not gell and none are fragranced.  I should have done another round of samples and gelled them; a job for another day!

Here are pics of just poured soap samples.

Tomorrow I’ll unmold and take more pictures.  Then, a four week cure and, after that, I’ll lather up and see how they do when used.

Slaving away making soap!

I am working on restocking some of my popular soaps.  Here are a couple recently made.  The Denali Granite, Lavender Rosemary Mint and Talkeetna Rain.  Pick a favorite?  Can’t do it!  I love them all!  All available second week of April.