The Natural Beauty Workshop

Natural Soap Colorants Gallery – Clays added at Trace by Amanda Griffin

Today, we're featuring a guest post from Amanda Griffin of the blog, Lovin' Soap.  At Lovin' Soap, Amanda shares wonderful soapmaking posts and tutorials on everything from using natural herbs as soap colorants to creating unique swirls in CP Soap.  Amanda also publishes an E-Zine on soapmaking through the site, and offers soapmaking classes in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  

Recently, Amanda posted an article showcasing all of the Clays that we include in our Clay Sampler Pack on From Nature With Love.  Amanda added our Clays to a simple cold process soap recipe and yielded a rainbow of gorgeous colors.  This article provides a valuable reference for soap makers who are interested in coloring their soaps with clay.

Natural Soap Colorants Gallery – Clays added at Trace

by Amanda Griffin 

Here are some results using cosmetic clay to color your soap naturally. From Nature with Love has an awesome Clay Sampler Pack.

Sea Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Rose Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Rhassoul Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Red Kaolin Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Red Illite Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Pink Kaolin Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Multani Mitti Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Green Illite Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

French Green Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

Yellow Illite Clay – 1/2 tsp per pound of oils added at trace

A big "thank you" to Amanda for sharing this post with us.  For more great soap making tips and tutorials, be sure to stop by her blog, Lovin' Soap!

How to Make Natural Laundry Soap

This tutorial was generously shared with us by Kristi at Life Soap Simple.  Kristi owns her own handmade soap business and publishes a lovely blog by the same name.  This week, Kristi is sharing a recipe for making Laundry Powder Soap.  Next week, we'll feature the second part of this tutorial, a recipe for handmade fabric softener and dryer sheets.  Thank you, Kristi, for sharing your tutorials with us! 

Natural Laundry Care Tutorial, Part 1: Laundry Powder

Making your own laundry powder from items readily found in your local supermarket is easy, cost effective, and better for you and the environment. Here’s what you need to make a 2 pound batch of laundry powder, enough for over 100 loads of laundry! 

Equipment

• Box grater
• Large bowl
• Gloves
• Scale
• Food Processor (optional)
• Dust Mask

Ingredients

• 1 pound Cold Process Soap (Many soap makers offer soap chunks or pre-grated soap, or you can make your own.)
• 8 ounces Borax
• 8 ounces Washing Soda
• 1 teaspoon Essential Oil* (optional)

Instructions
Using the smallest size shred on the box grater, shred the soap into a large mixing bowl.  Next, measure the powdered ingredients by weight and add them to the mixing bowl.  Wearing gloves, mix the powders by hand until they are thoroughly blended.  I also recommend wearing a dust mask, as the mixing process can generate a lot of excess dust.  If you like, you can add up to 1 teaspoon of essential oil to the mixture. 

*Essential Oil should not be used on or around babies and small children.  Research any essential oil you plan to include in your laundry soap beforehand, as some essential oils can aggravate certain medical conditions.  Individuals who are pregnant, have high blood pressure, suffer from seizures or other medical conditions should proceed with extra care. 

Notes

• Choosing Your Cold Process Soap The cold process soap you use for this recipe should not be superfatted.  The extra oils can create a film in your washing machine, and potentially leave oil spots on your clothing.
• Handling Essential Oils When using essential oils you should always wear gloves as they are highly concentrated.  They should not be used on skin in their undiluted state.
• Scent Suggestions I really love lavender, but in the winter months I lean toward tea tree oil or eucalyptus instead.  Citrus oils like orange and lime are also excellent choices.
• Using a Food Processor I suggest running your powder mix through a food processor to get it as fine as possible.This helps combine the ingredients and also dissolves better in your washing machine.

Usage & Packaging

• In wash water add 1 tablespoon of Laundry Powder per regular load, or 2 tablespoons of laundry powder for heavy or large loads.  
• A batch this size should yield enough Laundry Powder for more than one hundred loads of laundry!
• Handmade laundry soap does not create foam and bubbles like commercial detergents.  This makes it perfect for HE machines.  
• Because Laundry Powder is made with natural ingredients, it is safe for baby clothes too!*
• Store Laundry Powder in an airtight container, away from high heat or humidity.

Projects from Soapmaking The Natural Way

One of the newest additions to our online Bookstore, Soapmaking the Natural Way by Rebecca Ittner features 45 melt & pour recipes that rely on natural ingredients for color, scent, and character.  Ittner does a great job of showcasing how natural additives can be used to enhance glycerin soaps.  You'll find page after page of colorful, unique soap projects with easy to follow instructions.  Soapmaking The Natural Way would make a great book for first time soapers, or for melt & pour enthusiasts that haven't branched out into using natural additives yet.  It covers a pretty good range of Essential Oil combinations, natural exfoliants, and ingredients used for color and texture.

I tried out two recipe from the book, Milk & Honey, and Himalayan Magic.  Both recipes are from the Exfoliate section of the book, simply because exfoliating soaps are my personal favorite variety of melt & pour.  

You can see the Himalayan Magic soaps on the right, and the Milk & Honey soaps on the left.  Of the two recipe, Milk & Honey was by far my favorite.  It had a nice aroma, even before I added the Vanilla.  I cheated a bit for the sake of thrift, and used Fench Vanilla Fragrance Oil in place of Vanilla Essential Oil, but even with that concession the bars smelled very nice.  Also, since we don't carry a Shea Butter Suspension Base, as called for in the book, I used half Shea Butter Melt & Pour Base and half Suspension Melt & Pour Base.  I think the color and the texture of the soaps turned out very nicely.  They are rich, creamy, and they lather very well.  What more could you ask for in a glycerin soap?

As for the Himalayan Magic, I wasn't as impressed.  I had my concerns about the salt and soap mixing when I looked at the recipe, but decided to suspend disbelief for a moment and give it a shot.  Mixing the Himalayan Salt into the melted Soap Base went about as well as I expected, which was not very well.  The salt clumped and sank, and for the life of me I could not get it to mix, let alone suspend in the soap.  If there is a trick to this recipe, Ittner did not include it.  On the other hand, the soaps smelled wonderful.  The combination of Rose and Geranium was very pleasant, and suited the color of the soap quite well.  I should also note that although the salt did not spread out in the soap, it still looks very pretty suspended in chunks through the middle of the bars.  

I am looking forward to trying out many more of the recipes in this book.  A few that have particularly peaked my interest are: Brown Sugar & Vanilla, Ladies Citrus Shave, Orange Marmalade, and Carved Quartz.  Kristi at Fiber Fool made up her own batch of the Ladies Citrus Shave from this book.  They are gorgeous, so make sure to stop by her blog and check them out!

Have you read this book?  If so, please share your own review in the comments below!

 

Garden Glory Salt Scrub and Exfoliating Cream Soap

By now most of us have harvested the bounty of our Summer gardens.  Keep the feeling of summer all year long with these nutrient rich, exfoliating recipes, made with some of our favorite summer vegetables.  Tomato Seed Oil is rich in lycopene, carotene, and other beneficial cartenoids.  It is highly moisturizing, making it great for dry, winter skin.  Cucumber Seed Oil is a refreshing, cooling, and conditioning oil, packed with fatty acids.  Carrot Seed Oil is another skin loving ingredient.  High in Beta Carotene, Vitamin A, and E, Carrot Oil can help to heal dry, chapped skin. 

Garden Glory Salt Scrub
Makes about 6 ounces (by volume)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Pink Himalayan Pink Salt
• 1/4 cup Honey Granules
• 1 ounce Cucumber Seed Oil
• 1/2 ounce Tomato Seed Oil
• 1/2 ounce Carrot Seed Oil
• 20 - 45 drops Geranium Essential Oil

Directions
Combine the Honey Granules and Salt in a small mixing bowl, followed by the Vegetable Oils and Essential Oil.  Mix well, then transfer to clean jars.

Usage & Packaging
Salt scrubs look great in our PET Jars.  Try making small jars with our 2 oz. Flats, or larger portions with our 4 oz. flats.  

Garden Glory Exfoliating Cream Soap
Makes about 4 ounces (by volume)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Garden Glory Salt Scrub
• 1 ounce Liquid Castile Soap
• 25 drops Geranium Essential Oil

Directions
Combine the Garden Glory Salt Scrub and Liquid Castile in a small mixing bowl, and stir together.  At first, the two will not mix easily, but just keep working the mixture until it combines fully. Add the Essential Oil and mix again.  If you'd like the soap to be a little looser, add more Liquid Castile. 

Usage & Packaging
This super thick soap will not fit through a pump bottle.  Instead, try using one of our PET Jars to package it.  Scoop out a little at a time and scrub away!

How have you incorporated Garden ingredients into your handmade skin care and soap recipes?

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps

These easy Melt & Pour style soap combine rich, moisturizing Walnut Oil with super scrubby Walnut Powder.  Scented with luscious Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil, and molded in our adorable Acorn Soap Molds, Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps make great gifts.  They are great for getting your hands extra clean after cooking, gardening, or a long day's work.

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps

Ingredients

1 lb. Shea Butter Melt & Pour Base

6 teaspoons & 1 tablespoon Walnut Shell Powder, Fine

1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Specks

1 tablespoon of Walnut Oil

1/2 ounce Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil

Directions
Carefully chop the Melt & Pour Soap Base into cubes and place it into a double boiler.  Heat the Soap Base in the double boiler until it has melted completely.  Meanwhile, measure and pour 1 teaspoon of Walnut Powder, Fine into each of the soap mold cavities, spreading it out evenly across the bottom of the mold.  When the Soap Base has melted, add 1 tablespoon of Walnut Powder, and 1 tablespoon of Vanilla Bean Specks, stirring well to combine them with the base.  Next, add 1 tablespoon of Walnut Oil, and stir again.  Remove the Base from the heat and stir it for one - two minutes, until it cools slightly.  Add the Vanilla Buttercream Fragrance Oil and mix once more.  Now, take a large spoon and carefully spoon a small amount of the melted base into each of the soap mold cavities.  Stir each cavity just a little bit to help the base combine with the Walnut Powder inside.  Allow the molds to cool for just a minute or two before pouring in the rest of the melted Soap.  Once all of your soaps have been poured, allow them to cool completely before trying to move the mold, or remove the soaps.  Removing the soaps too early could damage them severely.  Once you are sure the soaps have hardened and cooled completely, turn the mold over onto a clean surface and gently tap them out.  Wrap cooled soaps immediately in cello bags to keep them from sweating.

Usage & Packaging

Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soaps look adorable in our Small Cello Bags.  Try tying them shut with a matching ribbon, and tags.  You can download free, printable tags here:  

Download Vanilla Walnut Scrubby Soap Labels

These soaps are great for exfoliation, and should be used in tough areas, such as hands, feet, and rough patches of skin.  Avoid sensitive areas, as the super scrubby power of this soap may be too harsh on delicate skin.

 

Using Additives in Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & Pour Soaps are fun and easy to make, especially when you stick to the basic elements, such as Scents, Colors, and Soap Base.  In our Holiday Projects Series we covered how to create basic Melt & Pour Soaps using those three main elements.  We often get questions regarding how to use Additives, such as Milk Powders, Herbs, or Exfoliants in Melt & Pour Soap.  Here is a little insight into including these specialty ingredients in your Melt & Pour creations.

Herbs
Many Herbs have the potential to change dramatically when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  Often, these changes are not apparent immediately, but appear within days or weeks after pouring the soap.  The most infamous for this behavior is Lavender Buds.  Lavender Buds look and smell great fresh out of the package, and can even be pretty when you first add them to your soap.  However, after a week or so they take on a brownish yellow tinge, and can bleed that color into the entire bar of soap.   Rose Buds and Petals also have a hard time retaining their beauty when fully immersed into Melt & Pour Soap.  When you are dealing with these tricky Herbs, try using them as toppings instead of embedding them completely inside your soap bars.  For example, Rose Buds look very cute peeking out of the top of soap.

Other Herbs, such as Parsley Powder, or Calendula Petals retain their color beautifully when added to Melt & Pour Soap.  These Herbs can be added at a rate of 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, depending on the appearance desired.  Experiment with small batches to get comfortable with how individual Herbs behave.  Natural ingredients, such as Herbs, often have unique quirks.

Some Herbs that work well in Melt & Pour Soap are: Alkanet Root Powder, Anatto Seeds, Beet Root Powder, Calendula Petals, Carrot Root Powder, Oat Straw Powder, Sandalwood Powder, Sea Vegetables.

Clays
Clay can lend extra cleansing ability, exfoliation, and color to your Melt & Pour Soaps.  Make sure to choose your Clay carefully, taking into consideration each Clay's strength.  Kaolin and Rose Clay are the gentlest Clays, while Illite Clay or Bentonite can be too harsh for sensitive skin.  Clay can be added to Melt & Pour Soap at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound.  The easiest way to add Clay to your Soap is to wet it with a small amount of Distilled Water prior to adding it to your Soap Base.  Creating a smooth paste with the Clay and Water will help keep the Clay from clumping when you add it to the Soap.  While Clays can help lend color to Soap, keep in mind that the resulting colors will be slighlty different than they dry Clay.  Expect earthy, dusky tones from added Clay.

Milk Powders
Milk and Honey Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soaps for their skin conditioning properties.  Keep in mind that the addition of these ingredients may shorten the shelf life of your Soaps.  Like most Additives, Milk Powders can be added to Melt & Pour Soap Base at a rate of 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap.  To add the Milk Powder, mix it with a small amount of warm water to form a slurry or paste.  Add the paste to your Melt & Pour Base and stir well to make sure it is fully dispersed.

Exfoliants
There are many different types of Exfoliants that can be added to Melt & Pour Soap.  To choose the right one, consider the texture and behavior of each Exfoliant.  The biggest challenge you are likely to encounter when working with these Exfoliants is their habit of either floating or sinking in soaps.  Using Suspension Melt & Pour Soap Base can sometimes help alleviate this issue.  Exfoliants are generally added at around 1 - 2 tablespoons per pound of soap, but you may want to add more or less to achieve the texture you are looking for.

Fruit Seeds and Fibers provide gentle exfoliation, but can alter the appearance of your soap.  Fruit Fibers will lend subtle color to Melt & Pour Soaps, but not always the color that you expect.  For example, Blueberry Fruit Fiber tends to make Opaque Soap Base slighlty gray, while Cranberry Fruit Fiber adds a gentle, pink tinge.  Fruit Seeds can look adroable in Melt & Pour Soaps, but they are particularly prone to floating or sinking when added to Melt & Pour Soap Base.

Jojoba Wax Beads come in a wide range of bright, beautiful colors, and provide gentle exfoliation.  They are very tempting to use in Melt & Pour Soap, but they can also be very tricky to work with.  If Jojoba Wax Beads are added directly to hot Soap Base they are likely to melt, changing the color of the soap, as well as making it much harder, with less lather.  In order to add Jojoba Wax Beads to Melt & Pour Soap they must either be added at a very low temperature, which can be quite challenging, or they must be used as a topping on soap bars and logs.

Grain Powders, such as Oat Flour, Oatmeal, Rice Bran Powder, or Adzuki Bean Powder provide a range of gentle exfoliation.  It may be helpful to mix the very fine powders, such as Oat Flour or Adzuki Bean Powder with a small amount of water before adding them to the Base, as they can have a hard time dispersing when added directly.

 Seed Powders and Nut Meals are generally the harshest Exfoliants.  These more instense Exfoliants are great for Gardener's Soaps, Mechanic's Soaps, and Pedicure Soaps. Use these Exfoliants with care.  Too much Exfoliant can cause the soap to be hard to use, while too little Exfoliant can cause them to feel harsh and scratchy.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps

Kibby, our CEO, and I dreamed up these funny little soaps while brain storming for another project.  Ever since our conversation that day I have wanted to experiment with this idea.  I had envisioned this recipe being one of those ideas that sound great in conversation, but prove to be nothing but trouble in practice.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when they worked out on the very first try!  In this unique recipe, we've used shredded Coconut and Opaque Melt & Pour Soap to make Coconut Macaroon Soaps.  To give the soaps a little extra stability, I dipped them in Soap that was colored with Cocoa Powder.  I was impressed when the test batch took on a recognizable shape, and was pleased as pop to find that this soap is also really pleasant to use.  The scrubbie Coconut Flakes make this a great hand soap for the kitchen, or for the bath.  I can't wait to make up a big batch of these little cookie soaps to give away as gifts.  I think my friends and family would find them to be simply delightful.

I had had my doubts about this experiment while it was still just a theory, but am totally hooked on them now that I've made a batch.  While they aren't totally natural, they are tons of fun, handmade, and are certainly unique!  Did I mention that they also smell incredible?  I would love to see some photos if anyone else takes a crack at making these soaps.  Please feel free to email me or leave a comment with any questions that you may have.

Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps
Makes about 8 - 10 small soaps or 4 - 6 large soaps

Ingrdients
10 ounces Coconut Opaque Melt & Pour Soap Base
1 cup Shredded Coconut
2 teaspoons Cocoa Powder
2 teaspoons Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragance Oil
1/4 ounce - 1/2 ounce Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil

Directions
Cover a baking seet with waxed paper and set it aside.  Chop and melt 8 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap in a double boiler. If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 10 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, stir in 1 cup of Shredded Coconut and remove the base from the heat.  Quickly add the Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil and begin to stir.  Stir the mixture constantly until it begins to cool and congeal.  This is the tricky part.  You'll need to scoop out about 1 tablespoon of the mixture as soon as it is cool enough to handle.  Mold the soap into a ball using the palms of your hands, and then press it gently onto the wax paper covered baking sheet.  You want to soap to remain round on top, but to be flat on the bottom.  Repeat this step with the remaining soap.  To keep the soap at the ideal temperature you may want to transfer the double boiler back onto the heat periodically, or simply keep the double boiler in the pot of warm water, leaving the stove burner off.  Once you are finished shaping the balls of soap, wash and dry your double boiler in preperation for the next phase.  Cut and melt 2 more ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base.  If you are using Melt & Pour Base from FromNatureWithLove.com, this will work out to about 2.5 cubes.  As soon as the Base has melted, add 2 teaspoons of Cocoa Powder and stir well.  (Tip: To help break up tiny clumps in the Cocoa Powder you can pre-mix it with a small amount of vegetable oil prior to adding it to the Soap Base.)  Take the melted Base off of the heat source, and add 2 teaspoons of Dark Chocolate Supreme Fragrance Oil.  Mix well.  Using a pair of tongs, carefully lower the bottom of each Soap Ball into the melted Soap Base.  After the bottom half is coated, transfer it back to the baking sheet, then grab the next soap ball.  Continue this process until each soap ball has been coated 2-3 times.  Allow the Coconut Macaroon Scrubbie Soaps about 30 minutes to fully cool and set before packaging.  These look adorable in Cello Bags, or presented in bakery containers.  Since Glycerin Soaps can have a tendancy to sweat, I recommend packaging these soaps individually in plastic wrap before placing them in another container such as a cello bag or bakery box.

On a more personal note, I thought some of my fellow crafters and soapers would get a kick out of the little notes that I leave for my hubby when I create especially delicious looking soaps or bath treats.  Unfortunately for my dear Mr. S., he has a bad habit of biting into things before he asks what they are.  Has anyone else had this problem with hungry members of the household?

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap

Melt & Pour Soap is a quick, easy, and nearly fool proof project that you can whip up for your friends, families, and co-workers in mass.  Your charming, handmade soaps are sure to be a big hit when created with some of our fantastic molds and ingredients.

The Soap Base
Melt & Pour Soap Base is a transparent, glycerin soap, which has been specifically designed for melting and reshaping.  Unfortunately, ordinary glycerin soaps will not behave this way, so you'll need to use soap that has been made specifically for this purpose.  Sold on FromNatureWithLove.com in 2 lb. blocks, Melt & Pour Soap is available in many varieties.  You can choose the most basic Clear or Opaque Soap Bases, or choose a specialty soap such as Goat's Milk Soap, Olive Oil Soap, or Aloe Vera Soap.  Melt & Pour Soaps are also available in a wide range of pre-colored bases.  These are great for crafters who only want to make a limited amount of soap, and don't want to invest in purchasing Color Additives.  Click here to see our full range of Melt & Pour Soap Bases.

Molds
While there are many household objects that can be used as make-shift Melt & Pour Soap molds, you may want to invest in a high quality, plastic mold for making soaps.  FromNatureWithLove.com carries a great line of soap molds.

Saddle Soap Molds have a classic shape that can be used for almost any scent or color.

Our Star Soap Molds are adorable. They would be perfect for kid's holiday soaps.

These lovely Dove Soap Molds portray a very peaceful image.

You can also re-use containers such as potato chip cans, orange juice cartons, or milk cartons as melt & pour soap molds.  Just make sure whatever you are using has been cleaned out very well.  You can also use items such as silicone bakeware, or flexible ice cube trays to make melt & pour soap, but we wouldn't recommend using any of these items for food after you've used them for soap.  Set these items aside just for soapmaking.

Coloring Melt & Pour Soap
There are several methods of adding color to Melt & Pour Soaps.  Using pre-colored Melt & Pour Soap Base would definitely be the easiest way to do this, but you can also add color by hand.  This allows you to be a little more creative and spontaneous during your soapmaking.

• FD&C Liquid Dyes - These water based, brightly colored, liquid dyes provide bright, easy to customize colors.  These dyes are very easy to use and can be added directly to the soap base, drop by drop.  FD&C Dyes can also be mixed and matched to produce new and unique shades of color.  It should be noted, though, that FD&C colors can bleed into one another when used in layers.
• Oxides & Ultramarines - These dry, powdered colorants are mineral based.  They provide deep, matte color and are a bit trickeier to use in Melt & Pour Soap than liquid dyes.  In order to incorporate Oxides and Ultramarines into Melt & Pour Soap Base it must first be mixed with a small amount of oil.  Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap).  Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed.  When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.
• Pearlecent Micas - Available in a very wide range of colors, Pearlescent Micas provide shimmering colors to Melt & Pour Soaps.  These mineral based powders have been colored using a wide variety of additives, tints, and minerals to produce such a wide range of colors.  Pearlescent Micas can be added directly to Melt & Pour Soap Base, but they tend to clump quite a bit when this is done.  Like Ultramarines and Oxides, Pearlescent Micas disperse easier when they are first added to a small amount of oil.  Add a very small amount of powder to a small mixing bowl or cup (starting at around 1/4 tsp for every pound of soap).  Add a few drops of a Carrier Oil, such as Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil, and mix the powder into a slurry, adding additional drops of oil as needed.  When the powder has formed a smooth paste you can add it to your soap base.

Scenting Melt & Pour Soap
Melt & Pour Soaps can be scented with natural ingredients such as Essential Oils or Absolutes, or they can be scented using synthetic Fragrance Oils.  Which ingredient you choose depends on your personal preference, and the preferences of those you are giving the soaps to.

Essential Oils & Absolutes - Since Essential Oils and Absolutes contain active ingredients, they have the ability to add beneficial properties to your soaps.  However, these same active ingredients can also make your soaps dangerous if used incorrectly, or by people with certain health conditions.  Most skin safe Essential Oils can be used in Melt & Pour Soaps at about .5 oz. per pound of soap. However, it is very important that you research any Essential Oil thoroughly before adding it to your soaps.  Many Essential Oils will have usage rates particular to that oil. Heed the expert advice that you find during your research and never take a guess when it comes to using these potent natural ingredients.

Fragrance Oils - While Fragrance Oils are not natural, they have been specifically designed for use in soaps, and skin care products.  They are easy to use and come in a very wide range of scents.  Fragrance Oils can be used at a rate of about .5 to 1 ounce per pound of soap.  Add less Fragrance Oil when working with spicy scents such as Cinnamon.  Fragrance Oils can still contain components that may irritate the skin.

Click here to check out our complete selection.  You may also want to try one of our Fragrance Oil Samplers.  These variety packs let you sample several Fragrance Oils at once.

How to Make Melt & Pour Soap

1. Using a sharp kitchen knife, carefully chop the Melt & Pour Soap Base into cubes.
2. Melt the cubes in a double boiler over medium to high heat.  Make sure the soap is completely melted before moving on.
3. Pour the soap from the double boiler into a small mixing bowl or pyrex dish.  We've found that using a pre-warmed pyrex dish can be very helpful.
4. Add the color to your melted soap base first. This will allow the soap to cool slightly before adding your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil. Add the Color Additive of your choice using the directions above.
5. Next, add your Fragrance Oil or Essential Oil and stir well.  Don;t stir too quickly though, as that will cause bubbles to form in the soap.
6. Carefully pour the melted soap base into a mold.  Spritzing the surface of the soap with alcohol can help stop bubbles from forming on the top.
7. Allow your soaps to cool completely before attempting to un-mold them. Trying to take them out too early can ruin your soaps. When they have cooled, simply turn the mold over and gently press on the outside of the mold to release the soaps. If you are having trouble, try putting the mold in the freezer for 1-2 minutes before trying again.
8. Wrap your soaps in plastic wrap or tightly sealed Cello Bags as soon as they are fully cooled.  Humidity in the air can cause the glycerin in your soaps to sweat, creating small beads of moisture on the soap's surface. Keep your soaps as dry as possible to avoid this happening. If your soaps do sweat, simply wipe them off with a warm, slightly damp paper towel. You can add a few drops of alcohol to the towel for a smooth finish.
9. Make sure you label your soaps with all the ingredients they contain before giving them to friends and family.  You should include the ingredients in the Melt & Pour Soap Base, and the ingredients you've added.

Ordering Supplies

Melt & Pour Base: It takes roughly 4 ounces of Melt & Pour Soap Base to make 1 bar of soap. For every two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order, you'll get about 8 bars of soap. (If you are using a mold with very large cavities, you may need to fill them only 1/2 or 2/3  full in order to produce 4 ounce bars.)

Fragrance Oils: You can use .5 to 1 ounce of Fragrance Oil per pound of soap, so you should order 1 to 2 ounces of Fragrance Oil for every 2 lb. block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Essential Oils: Most Essential Oils should be used at about .5 oz. per pound of Soap Base. If you are using Essential Oils, order 1 ounce of Essential Oil per two pound block of Melt & Pour Soap you order.

Color Additives: Unless you are making huge quantities of soap you should do fine if you order the smallest sizes available of any colorants you'd like to use. For example, a 1 ounce bottle of FD&C Dye or a 1/2 ounce bag of Mica will be more than enough for a single project.

Don't forget to use discount code: NBWS4277 during online checkout to receive an additional 5% off qualifying items.

Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap

A classic ingredient in provincial cooking, Lavender makes a perfect aroma for the kitchen.  This gentle kitchen soap is made with all natural Liquid Castile and a blend of fragrant Lavender Essential Oil and antiseptic Naiouli Essential Oil.  This gentle hand soap can help to disinfect and refresh your hands after cooking or cleaning.

Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
4 ounces Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base
1 teaspooon Lavender Bulgaria Essential Oil
1/8  teaspoon Naiouli Essential Oil

Directions & Packaging
In a small mixing bowl or cup combine Aloe Castile Shower Gel Base and Essential Oils. Stir the mixture well before pouring it into a bottle with a Pump or Disc Cap. Brushed Almunimum Bottles are a my recommended choice for this soap, but it would also look nice in a PET Plastic Bottle. Lavender Lover's Kitchen Soap makes a great gift when accompanied by Lavender Lover's Body Polish.

Super Scrub Hand Wash

The men in my life tend to come home from work with hands so dirty they don't just defy belief, they defy soap!  Wash as they may, sometimes dirt, grease, paint, and other tenacious substances require more than a gentle hand washing to be eliminated.  Chock full of exfoliating Walnut Shell Powder and Green Illite Clay, this all natural Castille based liquid soap scrub is sure to help even the grubbiest hands get clean.

Super Scrub Hand Wash

Ingredients
Aloe Castille Shower Gel Base - 2 Ounces
Liquid Castille Soap Base - 2 Ounces
Green Illite Clay - 2 Tablespoons
Walnut Shell Powder, Fine - 2 Tablespoons
Orange Essential Oil - 1/2 teaspoon or 3 ml
Peppermint Essential Oil - 1/2 teaspoon or 3 ml
1 - 2 Teaspoons of Distilled Water

Instructions
Add 2 Tablespoons of Green Illite Clay to a small bowl.  Slowly add the water to the clay, mixing constantly.  After the water is evenly distributed in the clay, slowly add the Liquid Castille Soap Base, mixing constantly.  When the clay has been fully dispersed (without any clumps) add the Aloe Castille Shower Gel Base. Next, add the Walnut Shell Powder and the Essential Oils.  Mix well, then carefully pour the mixture into a 4 ounce bottle with either a pump or a disc cap. 

Packaging & Usage
I packaged this recipe in a 4 ounce PET Boston Round Bottle with a Black Pump.  The pump does stick now and then, but overall the mixture flows through the pump easily.  You could also try packaging this soap scrub in a PET or HDPE Bottle with a Snap or Disc Cap.  To use, simply massage a small amount onto wet hands before rinsing away.  The scrub should help to release tenacious dirt and grime while leaving the hands feeling clean and refreshed.