Valentine's Day Whipping Cream Soap - Ooh, la la...

I've been trying to come up with some kinky ideas for a soapy Valentine's Day.  My latest is a lightly scented soap made from whipping cream.  It's turned out to be rather sticky before it's wet.  Once you lather it, however, it's beautiful!  

Milk-based soaps are really good for your skin, and because this one is made from basically the thickest milk around, whipping cream, it too is super creamy.  Believe it or not, it's great for your face.  It's also super for shaving.  If you saw this basket in your local gift shop, would you be compelled to pick up a bar?  Might you buy it for your Beau or Sheila?  What are your thoughts?   

Dragon's Blood

The bright red resin from the sap of a tree, dragons blood is used as an incense, a dye and an herbal medicine. There are several different sources for this red resin, many of them from very different trees in different parts of the world. Dragons blood is also very popular among practitioners of neo-paganism and witchcraft, who use it in various rituals. Don't freak out, it won't shrink your head!

Originally, Stradivarius used one variety to stain and protect his violins.  A different variety is highly sought after for its amazing antioxidant properties.  This is the variety I covet.   

Its mysterious, alluring aroma is difficult to describe. With warming notes of amber, incense, Madagascar vanilla and patchouli, the Dragon's Blood Fragrance Oil is lightened up with layers of romantic notes such as rose, jasmine and lilac. Top notes are the colorful, light touches of blood orange and grapefruit.  If ever a fragrance made you want to go out and get a tattoo, this one is it.

Dragon's Blood soap will be available in my online shop once it has cured.  I hate waiting!

Spare the plastics! But then what?

For the past week I've been beating the pavement,
trying to interest small shops in Manhattan Beach to sell my soap.  Nobody has come back to me yet, which is understandable considering that I'm attempting to sell at the worst time of year - just after Christmas.

Comments from retailers have been valuable and I've made adjustments accordingly.  However, this afternoon a shop owner told me that my packaging is 'darn cute', but that it will go grubby after only 10 people handle it.  I'm trying desperately to keep my packaging free from plastics, but I'm not sure that is going to be possible.  

On my square soaps, I am currently using jute and twine, with paper card stock and labeling.  It allows the customer to partially see the product, and most especially SMELL it.  Seeing and smelling are critical. 

On my circular soaps I am folding over a coffee filter and wrapping it in twine.

How can I grubby-proof my packaging without going with plastic?

Aromatherapy and Perfumery - A Natural Progression

Making soap has opened me up to the world of fragrance and aromatherapy.  Soon I will be combining the benefits of natural essence oils into my soaps.  Not only will it smell heavenly, it will have a distinct purpose as it relates to nurturing your skin.

Combining these essence oils with carrier oils such as avocado butter and sweet almond oil, more mature skin will stand a fighting chance.  (And it really works!)  How exciting is that?  

All of these wonderful combinations of oils will be offered as serums and perfumes as well.

As with soap, we are once again at the mercy of time.  It takes an awfully long time for these products to mature and be ready for prime time. Waiting is a torturous process for me, but will attempt to pacify myself by working on the more mundane business end of all of this.  Off to find customers...  

~Sandy 

I'm up, I'm up, I'm up....!

What an ordeal it was to get this thing finally launched yesterday... Sheesh! Now I can go back and do what I love doing ---> making soap! 

---> Go check it out

Here's your sweet lavender...

"Here’s your sweet lavender,

"sixteen sprigs a penny,

"that you’ll find my ladies,

"will smell as sweet as any."

Lavender Sellers’s Cry, London England CA 1900

I am drowning in lavender, but making the best of it. (It's a tough job). Tonight Kiddo and I made these very luxurious bath fizzies. Like everything, good stuff is worth waiting for. At least I think so... Kiddo couldn't wait and is using three of them as we speak. From the bathroom I hear squeals of joy and amazement. (Next science experiment covered).

Her impatience is her own loss, however. Mine are going to dry out and last much longer. I will enjoy them on Friday night with the glass of wine I'll be allowing myself after overindulging for the holidays. I can't wait!

If they're as good as I think they're going to be, I'll post the recipe...

A Failed Batch!

I have started using a new type of oil in my soaps called Palm Kernel Oil.  It is solid at room temperature, therefore, needs to be heated up before I can mix it with other ingredients.  No biggie.  So I'm beginning to add all my pre-measured ingredients: liquid oil, solid oil and sodium hydroxide (lye), all together in a giant stainless pot. I start whizzing it around with my mixer and suddenly it seizes up... goes all curdled, like burnt milk, and thickens to the point of nearly stopping the mixer.  I'm freaking out because it's only moments before I'm going to have a solid 5 pound bar of soap stuck in a pot.

I quickly grab a spatula and pack it into the mold like putty... only to find that it completely liquifies back to normal within a minute or so.  I'm sure there's a good scientific reason for this, but at the moment I'm completely puzzled.

So now I have a mess of goo which is not properly mixed already in the mold.  What to do?  I can't pour it back, so I bring the stick blender to the mold and have another go at it.  Just as I start feeling like Smarty Pants,  my mixer sucks in the mold's paper liner and completely purees it into the soap mixture.

My paper soap loaf is now curing for a couple days before I can try extracting it.  Anybody want to try a bar?

Hand Milled Soap With Lavender Buds

I am just crazy about lavender!  My gardening pal gave me bunches of lovely dried lavender that was harvested out of her garden over the summer.  It's so fragrant!  I couldn't resist making this hand-milled soap.  It's almost ready to go and will be included on my website when I launch it later this month.

How would you package this?

Palm Kernal Soap Made From Manhattan Beach Sea Water

I've created a recipe for a soap that Manhattan Beach residence and tourists should enjoy... it's made from Manhattan Beach ocean water.  Keeping with my eco-friendly packaging, (no plastics), how would you package this soap, and what would you expect it to smell like?