St Clements soap (n)

Leonie2 · St Clements soap (n)

n
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Posted: 11 Mar 2006 06:29 pm Post subject: St Clements soap

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Well, what a difference.
Made this using sunflower oil rather than the ubiquitous vegetable oil, because I had sunflower in the drawer. Weighed oil, and had 240g not the 285g which was needed. Consulted saponification values and the value for lard was almost the same as sunflower, so threw caution to the wind and substituted the 45g I needed.
Used the palm oil in the recipe which I got from Asda last week. It's a bright orange gloop in a jar when I actually opened it and stuck the spoon in.
Attempted to chop off a chunk of beeswax..... hee hee Lottie, I can see the problem you had with it. In the end I sliced off small chunks/slices whiich worked well. It was the last thing in the mixed pan of palm, sunflower, coconut and lard to melt and having it in "flakes" worked well.
Meleted it all, followed the recipe, and it did get to trace in just ten minutes. Added orange and lemon peel and for smelliness added oil of bergamot which we had for using in fagrance oil burner. Only thing that was missing was the orangeflower water, I just used extra tap water to make up the volume.
Managed to pour it into large plastic kitchen storage container just before it went solid. Less than an hour from start to finish.
I'll chop it up into more random bars this time so it will look more home- made.
It's kept it's fairly astonishing orange colour so far, so I didn't use the turmeric.

Right, what can I make next.....
Addicted?
Moi?

n

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nanny
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Posted: 11 Mar 2006 06:43 pm Post subject:

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wow n

you're very brave, i haven't attempted anything other than basic yet

good luck, if worst comes to worst i reckon it'll be good spread on bread
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n
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Posted: 11 Mar 2006 06:50 pm Post subject:

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It does look very edible, nanny.
Could be a large cooling box of carrot and coriander.....

It really was tons easier than the basic one.

n

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Jesse
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Posted: 11 Mar 2006 06:58 pm Post subject:

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I've never made the basic recipe but it seems a few have had problems with it. The soap you made today sounds lovely n, and the colour will more than likely fade over a few weeks.

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Kathy
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Posted: 11 Mar 2006 07:52 pm Post subject:

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Well done n, pleased it worked better this time. I've just been looking at My Melinda Cross book and fancy making the shampoo bar this time.

Could the problems with the basic recipe be to do with temperatures, could it even be the slight difference in heat on the hob, I don't know. I have a gas hob and had no problems at all using the vegetarian basic with Pura solid block of vegetable oil.
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n
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 06:25 pm Post subject:

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This is the current soap store.
The yellow/orange soap is the st clements with bits of peel in it.
The pale purple one is lavender, and the oaty looking one is oatmeal!
Note that OH made the oat one and the large pot shaped one is for him.... so he says.

n

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Jesse
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 06:57 pm Post subject:

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those look great n, I particularly like the orange ones...like the chunkiness of the bars

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n
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 09:39 pm Post subject:

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They're about 2 cm thick and about 7x7 square.
I made them in an IKEA plastic freezer tub and cut it after 24 hours.
A couple have cracked a bit at the edges but so far so good.
I wanted a chunky soap, rather than the flatter bath soap the moulds produced which I felt would make them get used up more quickly because of the bigger surface area.
And you can see the astonishing colour you get with the palm oil, there isn't any other colour added to it and it hasn't faded at all so far.

n

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Jesse
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

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is that from palm oil n? What colour was it t start with? I've got palm oil and it's white and it made a white bar of soap, perhaps mine is a bleached one, I bought it quite a while ago before it mattered to me about refining processes etc.

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n
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 10:15 pm Post subject:

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It was the jar I got in Asda.
I didn't deliberately go for unrefined oil, it was the only one there was.
Jar is glass, but if I could work out how to send you some......
n

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Jesse
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

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thanks n, I don't need any though as i've got half a bucket full sitting in the shed still The palm oil I have is actually a solid rather than a liquid.

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Kathy
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Posted: 16 Mar 2006 11:04 pm Post subject:

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Looks great n, well done.
Does Mr n need a large bar then...............
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Lottie
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 08:05 am Post subject:

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I so want to make that soap n. I don't think that I will even bother with the basic after seeing St Clements.

I keep reading the Melinda Coss book and drooling, then get Cross rather than Coss cos I can't get the palm or cocoanut oil.

I will just have to buy it from the web and pay the postage. Now that I can see how wonderful it is it will be worth the expense.

I just kept thinking - what if I spend all this money and it doesn't work!

When you start out a new hobby there is always a big initial outlay isn't there though.

Right, next week, oranges and lemons.

Actually seeing your stash of soap has now motivated me to go for it.

Visual always works for me rather than the word!
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Kathy
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 08:26 am Post subject:

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Lottie, this was my shopping list.

1 block pura veg oil - 56p
1 pkt Caustic soda - £3.00 (it was less than this but can't remember exact amount)
1 bottle pure essential lavender oil, £3.59
Calendula grown myself
Lavender grown myself
I used a milk carton for the mould.

This made 40 bars of soap. My usual soap costs me 99p per bar (pure with no "nasties"). I have also been grating it and using it in my washing machine. So, this really wasn't an expensive outlay for for a huge return.
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alison
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 11:46 am Post subject:

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Lottie

You can buy coconut oil in superdrug. about £1 for 250g.

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Lottie
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 12:02 pm Post subject:

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Thank you Alison

The problem I have is that I am miles from a town.

The nearest Superdrug is a small one and is about 15 miles away, and the market town is not a big one that you can look around for other things! They had a health food shop (tiny) and like the one I tried in another town, couldn't get anything except the odd aromatherapy oils. The trouble I had getting the hydroxide was unbelievable and the thermometers I ended up having to buy on line.

I do really try hard and phone around, but there's not the same sort of shops.

But I just love living here and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. We have village shops, for food, butchers, interior design, salvage yard (posh not rag and bone), newsagent, little post office cum odds and ends shop, tea rooms, pub, antiques, pharmacy, which is great. Not knocking it at all.

But to pay petrol to do between a 20 and 30 mile around trip we have to make it worth our while.

Guess that's what I miss most at times. Not being able to walk into town to get everything you want or drive for 10 minutes out of town for all the B&Q type stores.

But I think that I have the right combination for our needs here, so really am not complaining.

Must dash to print off the scone recipe got side tracked and the bread will be ready to go in the oven now.

Time flies on here.
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GREENWIZARD
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 12:12 pm Post subject:

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those soaps look amazing n ~~~almost good enough to eat
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Greenlady
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 12:31 pm Post subject:

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GREENWIZARD wrote:
those soaps look amazing n ~~~almost good enough to eat

I couldnt agree more Greenwizard, well done N! I've just used the last of my mums homemade soap she sent down, I bought shop soap and its just not the same!
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Jesse
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 12:32 pm Post subject:

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Lottie aren't there lots of other recipes in the book you can make without using coconut oil or palm oil? I think the thing is to make soaps using ingredients that are easily available to you, you can still achieve colour by using colourants and fillers.

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Leanne
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 12:44 pm Post subject:

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kathy- 40 bars? i didnt count mine but i am sure i never got that many! my moulds quite large , what dimenions are your soaps please?
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Lottie
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 02:58 pm Post subject:

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Kathy did you turn your lavender to oil?

I have lavender oil and a few others. I am trying to build up a collection gradually.

Calendula I can grow but not till the summer.

Will get some seeds for that, then can save them for next year.

Might give you basic one a go - too then.

Just have to be in a soap making day mood.

Once I have done the first batch there will be no stopping me.

I want to do soap on a rope, anyone any ideas what soap and what rope and how.

Want it hang it up in the shower. My son would love one too.

Still on the 'making all my Christmas presents' theme here.
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Kathy
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Posted: 17 Mar 2006 04:17 pm Post subject:

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Leanne, the first lot was the mistake I boiled, I used those cardboard drinks cups you get for takeaway, sliced 1/2" thick and this gets grated for laundry. The next 2 batches I used a 1ltr milk carton and sliced about 1/2 " thick. So it was 3 batches in the one go really!

Lottie, I did use some of my home made lavender oil (lavender and olive oil infused) but I also bought some pure essential oil too as the home made oil doesn't have such a strong perfume. If you manage to get the caustic soda and fat, it is really simple to do the basic one with whatever essential oil you have handy. Not sure about the soap on a rope though, I'll let someone else try that first!!
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Lottie
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Posted: 02 Apr 2006 08:16 pm Post subject:

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Well I made the St Clements with the yellow palm oil that n kindly got for me. I tead up and there is yellow and white palm oil.

I too did not use tumeric as the yellow is lovely and bright and it smells divine.

I left mine for 24 hours and it was soft, so I am leaving the big block for another 24 hours before I cut it. I used a goats milk carton.

I am going to post pictures when I have cut the big block.

It has given me a lot more confidence to try others. I am a bit puzzled about working out the soporific amounts.

i.e. swapping cocoa butter for cocoa oil which have different values - that sort of thing.

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Jesse
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Posted: 02 Apr 2006 08:21 pm Post subject:

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I'm looking forward to seeing your pics Lottie. Don't worry if the soap is a little soft, it will harden as it cures. I haven't made the recipe in the M Coss book for st clements but the soap I did the other week came out quite soft and already it's hardened up quite a bit.

If you're not sure at working out sap values, just post the quantities and types of oils you are wanting to use and I'm sure one of us can double check the figures for you.

Well done on making your first batch of soap!

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Lottie
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Posted: 02 Apr 2006 10:47 pm Post subject:

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That's great - thank you - I will take you up on that offer. Am itching to use up some of this shea butter and cocoa butter that I have got.

I am hooked now - want to make different sorts of soaps and creams etc for birthday and Christmas baskets.

Anybody made bath bombs? Or melts? Any one have a good simple recipe for a man's soap. I fancy making soaps on ropes.

I reckon if I get a round mould or buy a bit of pipe I could use that.

Make a hole in the middle with an apple corer and get some twine or something. Worth a try.
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Jesse
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Posted: 02 Apr 2006 11:01 pm Post subject:

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I think you can buy the proper moulds for soap on a rope, sure i've seen them somewhere. rather than coring a hole into the soap after setting I'd be inclined to find a mould that will allow you to insert the rope whilst the soap is in liquid state, tie a knot at the end of the rope (the part that sets inside the soap) so that it doesn't slip out of the soap.

for men's soaps you could use a basic recipe and fragrance with masculine essential oils.. scandalwood, cedarwood, pine, rosewood/ho wood....the recipe in the M Coss book, I think she calls it dream castile soap, made with olive oil and she uses a mix of essential oils including rosewood and some others which I can't remember now, well that mix of essential oils gives a lovely wintery spicy fragrance which is lovely to use in winter, OH liked the smell of that soap too.

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Lottie
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Posted: 03 Apr 2006 09:42 am Post subject:

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Here are my blocks of St Clements that I cut up at 7am this morning, not a very good photo and not as nice looking as n's but my first effort and I am pleased with them. They are chunky like n's and the dark bits are the zest. I wasn't brave enough to stack them up like n as they are still softish. Does anyone know if you can halve the ingredients for soap or do you have to make the whole lot and then split it up into two batches like n did and add things at trace?

Here are my blocks of St Clements that I cut up at 7am this morning, not a very good photo and not as nice looking as n's but my first effort and I am pleased with them. They are chunky like n's and the dark bits are the zest. I wasn't brave enough to stack them up like n as they are still softish. Does anyone know if you can halve the ingredients for soap or do you have to make the whole lot and then split it up into two batches like n did and add things at trace?

These are the ones I had trouble with yesterday getting out of the mould. So I smoothed them with my gloved fingers and pressed a slice of dried orange into some of them - just as a surface decoration. When the soap is dried I will melt some beeswax and pour onto the slice to seal it I think.

I am raring to go to make some more, but I must plant some seeds and make bread today, so the soap will have to wait for a rainy day.

I will have to see if I can find the rope soap moulds that would be great. If anyone finds some before me, I would be so grateful for the link

Thanks for all your encouragement to get me going. I need a shove in the right direction.
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Lottie
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Posted: 03 Apr 2006 09:51 am Post subject:

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Jesse wrote:
I think you can buy the proper moulds for soap on a rope, sure i've seen them somewhere. rather than coring a hole into the soap after setting I'd be inclined to find a mould that will allow you to insert the rope whilst the soap is in liquid state, tie a knot at the end of the rope (the part that sets inside the soap) so that it doesn't slip out of the soap.

for men's soaps you could use a basic recipe and fragrance with masculine essential oils.. scandalwood, cedarwood, pine, rosewood/ho wood....the recipe in the M Coss book, I think she calls it dream castile soap, made with olive oil and she uses a mix of essential oils including rosewood and some others which I can't remember now, well that mix of essential oils gives a lovely wintery spicy fragrance which is lovely to use in winter, OH liked the smell of that soap too.

Thanks Jesse

I can see that I will have to buy quite a stock of essential oils. a good investment no doubt. If I get a couple at a time it won't be so bad though.

I will make the one your OH liked then for my sons for part of their
Christmas presents.

My motor bike racing son needs a tough soap to get the oil and grease off his hands when he was here and as mine are all gentle they were too soft, so he had to resort to washing up liquid. So a toughie for dirty jobs will suit him too.
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Jesse
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Posted: 03 Apr 2006 10:20 am Post subject:

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the dream castile soap, when I made it anyway, was a soft soap. perhaps use the essential oils from that recipe for fragrance but use a different recipe for the soap, the baby soap makes quite a hard bar of soap which I prefer.

Your soap looks lovely Lottie, I see what you mean about it looking soft, I'm sure it will harden up as it cures. I like the orange slices

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GREENWIZARD
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Posted: 03 Apr 2006 12:07 pm Post subject:

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wow L
for your 1st attempt they look pretty good to me
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Lottie
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Posted: 03 Apr 2006 02:03 pm Post subject:

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Thanks GW. I did follow the recipe to the letter so they should cure alright.

I have shut them away in a drawer in my garden shed/studio and will forget about them for 6 weeks.

I might have had time to make some more by then.

Are you going to have a go, or are you one of those who have already.

I am so thrilled with my book mark I just keep looking at it. It will be kept pristine for Luke.

Shall I post a piccie or did you take one?
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GREENWIZARD
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Posted: 05 Apr 2006 10:00 pm Post subject:

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thought i'd try some creams first L...........build up confidence
no L i didn't take a piccie .....was in too much of a hurry to post it off to you
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Lottie
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Posted: 05 Apr 2006 10:15 pm Post subject:

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What cream did you make? What recipe? Do tell.

I made a cream first too, with beeswax, shea butter, cocoa oil and essential oils
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Jesse
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Posted: 08 Apr 2006 09:30 pm Post subject:

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