The Potting Shed

DaveUSA

(I always forget you folks are fast asleep while I'm still awake over here on my side of things. . .)

So I've decided to start new projects of things I'd like to do once retirement comes around and I've decided that soap making will be my first new thing to try. Besides, with my mom's birthday coming up soon, it could make a nice gift that she can always use. But of course, I've got lots of questions!

For this first attempt I'm going to cheat a bit and use melt and pour base until I get the hang of it. My first question - is it better to use a single fragrance or mix a few? Of course, that would lead to wuestion #2 what goes together (I'm worried my combinations might not be nice as I think!)

Also, I'm not to sure what to do about color - classic white, clear, or add some coloring depending on the fragrance?

Also, should I use glycerin base, goat's milk, shea butter, and what's the difference anyway?

Dave in USA

Leonie2 · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:21 am Post subject:

The fragrance you choose will depend very much on what you or your mother likes. Personally I love the smell of lavender oil and would be very happy to have a soap frangranced with only this, whilst other people may not like the smell of lavender at all. There are a lot of ready mixed frangrance oils (synthetically made) which can make choosing a fragrance easier than mixing your own, and a lot cheaper too. Examples of ready mixed fragrances can range from fruity smells like citrus and mango to sea breeze and forest to floral fragrances and many more.

But then there are essential oils to choose from too and they bring with them all sorts of properties. For example Rosemary essential oil has antiseptic properties so would be a good addition to a gardeners soap for washing hands that are perhaps cut with thorns. Fragrances are classified into aroma groups: base note, middle note and top note. It's good when mixing fragranes to include an oil from each group.

If you blend your own fragrances the best way to experiment I've found is to scale down the ratios to one drop. For example 1 drop of X oil, 2 drops of Y oil, 1 drop of Z oil. Drop the oils onto a piece of kitchen towel or tissue paper and seal in a glass jar or similar. Leave for 10 minutes and have a smell. Seal and leave for an hour and smell again. Seal and leave overnight. The oils take a while to infuse with each other and the fragrance you smell at first can develop into something quite different an hour later. Doing this is very much experimenting and unless you already have a supply of oils it can be quite costly.

Have a look on Google for fragrance blends. I found a site recently when I was trying to invent a new blend for the summer soap I made for the soap swap. I've linked the site below, but there must be many more out there with "menus" for blending fragrances. I've also listed a site that details the profiles/properties of various essential oils, and another site that gives information about each oil and what other oils it combines well with.

Ultimately it's all down to experimentation which for me is part of the fun of soapmaking.

http://www.aworldofaromatherapy.com/essential-oils-atoz.htm

http://www.aromaweb.com/essentialoils/default.asp

http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_summer-scents.html

Colour again is a personal choice, but a white bar of soap always looks nice if you're unsure of a colour. You're not only limited to colours though, think also about fillers - a few dried calendula petals will give your soap a sunshine look with it's golden strands.

I'm not sure about the melt and pour bases, you'd need to seek that information out from the seller. Goats milk is moisturising so perhaps that one would give you a moisture boosting soap.

DaveUSA · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject:

The melt and pour bases have already been rendered hence one just melts, adds fragrances and color, pour into mold and let them set up. The base can even be gently melted in a microwave oven rather than the double broiler.

I'm thinking she would like the lavendar scent and something citrius would also be refreshing too. I'm guessing I'd better stick to single fragrances or ready made mixes until I get me feet planted on the ground with this. Same for putting little surprises (like flowers) into the mix!

Thanks for the advise and Good Morning or Afternoon as the case may be!

lottie · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 12:21 am Post subject:

Dave - Glad to hear that you have been inspired already - and are making soap.

Lavender is a wonderful fragrance, your recipe should give you the amounts to use depending on how much melt and pour you use of course.

I made a lovely cream with lavender and tree tree oil as the fragrance and for their properties.

It was easy peasy to make - so making some cream is also one to add to your list - makes great presents too.

Let us know how you get on with the melt and pour - and if you have a chance to take a photo that would be brilliant.

Guess you are sitting down now, feet up, having had supper - and we are all in bed asleep - except me, but that is where I am heading - a busy and productive weekend I hope.

Kathy · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 1:45 pm Post subject:

I can vouch for Lottie's cream, she sent me some and it's wonderful stuff, even my 19yr old son pinches it (Greenman on this forum).

lottie · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

I am going to have to make a new batch soon - its getting quite popular. I am going to work out what to add or subtract to make it a bit softer I think. Laughing

DaveUSA · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:06 am Post subject:

Well, the order is off via the Internet, so I expect to be having a go at soap making for the weekend. I decided on the lavendar, lemon, orange, and peppermint oils along with shea butter, goat's milk, and some general base. If all goes smoothly, I'll be making some peppermint bars for Charlie and Max - the mischievous Labs - when the smell too muck like the river muck!

lottie · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:38 am Post subject: