Blog of Soap

Soap Ball

2010-10-01T19:50:00.000+12:00

These are some of my favorite soaps to make. Soap balls.

They are somewhat time consuming as you can't let each layer cool too long nor can you pour the next layer on too soon or they will mix. The layers take varying amounts of time too because of the different thicknesses.

Typically I will scent all of the colors the same scent as getting the blending just right with this many layers would be very challenging. If that's your specialty, then go for it!

There may be other ways to do this but the way I learned is by using a tennis ball. The first thing you do is cut the tennis ball in half and clean out the inside. Other than that there is no prep needed.

I start out by choosing my colors and then mixing and scenting them all at once. Then, as I use each color, I reheat it, pour it, spritz with alcohol and wait. I find 10-20 minutes per layer is good. Sometimes I even feel it carefully to decide if its ready for the next layer.

Before pouring the next layer, I angle the ball haves by leaning them against something or tucking something under the edge just enough so the layers are at angles from each other. Don't forget to spritz the bottom layer with alcohol before you pour the next one or they will separate when they cool.

This continues until you have both sides filled to the top (a little over is ok too) and they are both ready for one last layer. Actually you only pour the last layer on one side but you will spritz both sides, pour one thin layer on one and then turn the other half on top to form the ball. You can either hold these this way or wrap a rubber band around them and allow to cool for several hours.

Removing the soap from the mold can be a bit tricky. If you aren't careful you will pry the halves apart when unmolding. The technique that has worked best for me so far is to hold the ball so that the seam runs through the middle, untouched. Kind of like you are holding the Earth by the poles and the equator runs round the middle. Then using your fingernails I'm not sure if a tool could be used here without damaging the soap; if you have insight into this, please leave a comment. I slowly work the edges all the way around on both sides of the seam and then pull progressively harder while maintaining the grip on the top and bottom of the mold until you can tell that the ball is ready to come out.

Any excess can be trimmed and a quick run under the sink will smooth out any minor flaws. There are so many options! Clear, solid, a mix of both. I have a goal to make one look just like a marble. Wish me luck!

Mango Mojito

2010-09-17T23:45:00.001+12:00

Recipe: Mango Mojito

Enough Clear Glyceryn Soap Base to fill mold
2 Tbsp Roses Mango Mojito Mix
Sprinkle of Bramble Berry Gold Sparkle Mica

Review: Juice is not a great ingredient for soap. For one the scent is not even strong enough to cover up the generic scent of the base.

The other main downfall is that adding juice causes the soap to solidify much slower than usual. In essence, it's too soft.

I love the color, but that's is with this recipe.

Pumpkin Bar

2010-09-08T07:00:00.011+12:00

Recipe: Pumpkin Bar

Enough Oatmeal soap base to fill mold
1/2 tsp honey
1 tsp white clay
1/2 tsp red clay
dash of Bramble Berry Arabian Spice
1/2 tsp Pumpkin Fragrance Oil

For this recipe I used a rounded mold.

The oatmeal soap base was melted in the microwave by cooking on high for 10 seconds, stirring and continuing this way until thoroughly melted. Once melted, the honey, scents, and clays were added, mixed and then cooked for another few seconds and then stirred one more time.

In the bottom of the mold I sprinkled just a touch of cinnamon, then poured the mixture in the mold and left it to set.

Review: Pumpkin Bar

This recipe was reviewed by four people. Most liked the way it looked but the only scent they could really identify was the cinnamon. The clay clumped and the next time I try this recipe I will mix a small amount of base on the side with the clay and then add that into the remaining mixture. Hopefully this will result in a smoother finished product.

Some fine tuning is necessary.

Getting Started

2010-09-07T23:18:00.002+12:00

So my soap base finally arrived and I gathered all of my existing supplies:

I have a few scents, some molds, food coloring, the alcohol spray used to remove the bubbles and clarify the soap after molding, as well as a bit of clay and lemongrass and a few other organic additions for adding to the texture of my creations.

My last soap making experience was quite a few years ago and didn't turn out too bad. This time however I was far too excited and didn't plan well resulting in this; my first new attempt at soaping:

As you can see, I made a mess. I attempted a Pumpkin Bar that didn't quite knock my socks off. See the link for the recipe and review. This is where I'm glad the cleanup is easy.

I've made a few lame first attempts out of excitement and now see how crucial planning is. Until I master the techniques again, I need to slow down, make some plans and invest in a few more ingredients. Funny how I remember the good results but managed to forget how long it took to start getting respectable finished products. I'll post my recipes and how they turn out, maybe you can avoid wasting materials from my mistakes but also, maybe we can learn and grow to the point where all of our soap making is a success!

The Waiting Is The Hardest Part

2010-08-30T22:51:00.001+12:00

Most of the time, living on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean is pretty wonderful. We have beautiful beaches, wonderful weather and 12 hours of sunshine every single day. There is plenty of time for recreation as we spend almost no time commuting and cooking revolves heavily around the barbecue and your catch from the weekend before.

One of the biggest negatives is our lack of commodities and the amount of time it takes to get anything shipped here. Then there is the problem of certain items just can't be shipped here and the ridiculous number of companies that refuse to ship via the Postal Service. It can be very frustrating.

I'm currently waiting for some new soap bases to arrive, I probably have yet another week to wait but I'll start checking the mail tomorrow with my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, I'm thinking of ideas. Some thoughts floating around are tea and citrus and clay type soaps. Some with grated lemon and lime and grapefruit. Possibly some mango and pineapple variations as well. I have a few scented oils but I'll have to smuggle more in my luggage next time I leave the island because that's one of the items that can't come in the mail and I'll probably have to start ordering very large quantities of base to keep me from having to wait when I run out.

Right now I'm trying to decide how to create sailboat soap. Anyone have any ideas?

Finding A Crafting Space

2010-08-26T22:26:00.002+12:00

One of the great things about melt and pour soap making is that it doesn't really take up a lot of space. I suppose it could get out of control if you have thousands of molds and scents to store but for casual soap making purposes, all you really need are some drawers for storage and a table to work on.

The main factor on where you actually mix, melt, and pour your ingredients into a finished product is how you melt the base. If you prefer to use the stove, you need for these items to be close to the kitchen or at least easily transportable. If you decide to use a microwave, which is a perfectly acceptable option, you can use just about any space available. Your choice may be focused on ease of cleanup, or ease of use; whatever is most comfortable and convenient for you.

While you may have dyes that can cause a bigger mess, an advantage to soap crafting is the ease of cleanup. Literally, you can apply some water and elbow grease and that's the extent of it. No muss, no fuss.

For my situation, my spare/craft room is upstairs away from the kitchen. I'm hoping to graduate to having my own dedicated microwave for making soap but for now I will be hauling my equipment back and forth to the kitchen. That's ok. It's not heavy and I have a set of plastic drawers
I use for storage so I can just pull out the drawers, make a batch and then put the whole drawer back when I'm done.

One day, I dream of a dedicated crafting space but like most, this is more of a dream than a reality so I'll make due with what I have!

A Journey In Soap Making

2010-08-24T22:35:00.001+12:00

In the past I dabbled with soap-making and it was a lot of fun. For Christmas one year I made bath gift baskets with custom soaps for everyone I know. Please, don't let me fool you into thinking that I'm going through the whole lye and ash process because I'm just a bit too lazy for that. I find melt and pour soap making perfectly satisfying in the flexibility and variety that it offers.

The reason the adventure is going to be different this time is because I am currently living on a tiny island in the Pacific. We have no supplies here, my only hope for getting supplies is through the US Postal Service. The minimum wait time is two weeks and it could possibly take longer. But I've been extremely inspired as of late and I even dug out the smattering of supplies that I dragged 6000+ miles from Montana when I moved here a year and a half ago.

My main focus is going to be kitchen soaps to start with. I have many ideas for food inspired mixtures like lime and cilantro, lemon zest, pink grapefruit, etc. Pumpkin has always been a passion for me, maybe I'll make it my specialty and try to perfect it into something really awesome! We shall see! Given my current location, island soaps with pineapple, coconut and other exotic scents and designs will definitely be in order.

Tips And Hints

2010-01-01T00:01:00.002+12:00

To eliminate clumping when using clay, melt your soap base in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Place the clay in a separate dish, spooning in a small amount of the melted soap and mix it into a paste, then add it back to the soap base.