Soul Scentsibility

What is Soap

2013-10-28T00:56:00.000-04:00

What is soap?

The Marriam - Webster dictionary defines soap as: a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usually by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids

b : a salt of a fatty acid and a metal

A simple definition is soap is simply a substance made of oils or fats mixed with a strong alkali. Like sodium hydroxide or pot ash.

It's amazing how "oils", alkali and water turn into a substance that cleans and form suds when wet and rubbed with water.

That being said, ALL hand made soap is made with lye - even melt and pour soap (usually known as Glycerin soap). Technically Cold Processed Opaque soap is glycerin soap but that's a conversation for another time.

So the process of turning oil and lye into soap is called SAPONIFICATION.

What is Saponification?

The web definition: a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap)

This happens in stages. Just too uninteresting to spell out here and time consuming to break down.
So in my words: when you mix the oil with the lye solution it heats up and begins to thicken. This process is Saponification. The soap can heat up to 200 degrees and will (Gel) turn translucent before it eventually cools and settles on being opaque.

Is this important to know? I think it is. I formulate my soaps by the fatty acid properties the oil has. I do believe knowing the chemistry of soap making will ultimately help you make a better bar of soap. While I didn't outline the specifics of the chemistry of soap making, it is something worthwhile to look into.

Hot Processed Soap Making - Honey Coconut Shampoo Bars

2013-09-10T14:00:00.000-04:00

Honey Coconut Shampoo Bars

I love Shampoo Bars - They are totally the best for curly hair, there are no bottles to throw out and minimal packaging to fuss with. I love that I can customize a bar of soap with oils that work for all hair types.

So pretty soon I am going to the Toronto Natural Hair Show and I wanted to sell some Shampoo Bars. So I came up this this recipe. This is my Honey Coconut Shampoo Bar. (No actual honey used). I did however use honey fragrance oil.

Oils melting in the Crock Pot

Melted oils

Oils mixed with Lye Solution

After about an hour of "cooking" with the lid on

Sticky Paste now soap in the mold :)

Soul Scentsibility Vegan Lip Butters

2013-08-08T00:08:00.004-04:00

So what is the difference between Lip Balms and Lip Butters? to be honest I couldn't really tell you from any real scientific measurement (at least not with a straight face). My idea however, is that butters are just as the name implies. Buttery balms that are high in "butter oils" and are softer than regular lip balms. So with really dry skin, I had to try my hand at making these wonderful emollients. Can I just say I love them! We now carry four variety of these wonderful little buttery goodness.
My Favorite use is as an overnight lip conditioner.

Soul Scentsibility Vegan Lip Butters

This is not the recipe I use for my vegan butters,( but pretty darn close) it was taken from http://www.humblebeeandme.com/take-that-burt/?ref=featured , but I think that this is the best recipe to give you an idea and you can modify it for your own personalized lip butter

Ingredients:

20g (0.7 oz) beeswax, or vegetable based wax like Candelilla
25g (0.88 oz) Shea Butter
15g (0.5 oz) cocoa butter
40g (1.4 oz) coconut fractionated
2g (0.1 oz) vitamin E oil

10 drops of Natural flavor oil.

I melt waxes and cocoa butter first over a low heat in a double boiler.

Once the wax is completely melted I add the liquid oil and shea butter.

Once that is melted remove from heat and stir. Once cooled enough to not burn off the fragrance, add vitamin E and flavor oil.

Pour into containers/tubes or small jars.

I found that with the added shea butter, these balms can get grainy. Should this happen it is easily fixed by running a heat gun or hair drier to melt the top a little. Let set back up before using again.

Little Miss - Outfit of the day

2013-03-13T20:17:00.000-04:00

Indroducing my 11 year old daughter, she is a little fashionista. This is her outfit she created. I knew we were in trouble when at 5 years old she stopped a ramdom woman on the street ( well actually in the mall) to tell her she liked her dress. Anyway, she has got some style.

We recently uploaded an OOTD (outfit of the day)

St. Michaels Event

2012-12-02T10:46:00.002-05:00

My Daughter looking bored!

Shared a booth with a Jewelery maker friend of mine who happens to sell the most wonderful acssessories

Waiting for the intermission crowd

Making whipped Shea Hair Butter

2012-11-28T22:38:00.001-05:00

Making Flaxseed Gel

2012-11-03T02:11:00.003-04:00

Winter/Holiday Soaps

2012-09-18T19:55:00.004-04:00

Limited Sleigh Ride CP soap for the holidays. Just made and ready to be cleaned up for packaging

Om Shanti cut and ready for packaging

2012-05-16T15:30:00.002-04:00

Soda Ash gives this soap a rustic look don't ya think

The Soap is not fully cured yet and will be ready in around 28 days.

OM SHANTI Soap in the Mold

2012-05-06T09:32:00.002-04:00

I was making one of my all time favorite soaps yesterday. OM Shanti is one of two soaps in my meditation collection. I have spent the better part of a year thinking about how this soap should look and the colours I wanted to use.

At first I thought that this should be a soft looking soap, with gradient colours, but I’m passionate and fiery inside and that is my inner peace!

OM Shanti finished and in the mold. This white mold is the small one from Bramble Berry. It holds 40 oz of soap base.

The Birds Eye View

Gender Appeal: Unisex

The Colours: Red Reef Clay and strawberry red natural colouring from New directions, Annatto (Liquid) Natural Colouring, French Yellow clay which is almost green in colour .

The base of this soap is tinged yellow from the Wheat Germ oil in the formula.
Although the yellow clay is interchangeable with Lemon yellow natural colouring from New Directions.

Fragrance: This soap smells wonderful. It’s a blend of Fragrance and essential oil that is reminiscent of top quality Indian incense.

Warm smelling with a slight hint of musk, It imparts a woodsy, earthy undertone that to me is very grounding.

Dare I say I love this blend!

Oatmeal and Almond melt and pour soap SLS free

2012-03-09T23:19:00.001-05:00

Trying my hand at Melt and Pour Soap. We have a love hate relationship ;)

Day Lite Facial Moisturizer

2012-03-08T00:13:00.000-05:00

Coco

2011-12-04T12:15:00.001-05:00

If you love Chocolate, this soap is for you! The ultimate in pampering with none of the calories or guilt!
There is even a little gold thrown in - Talk about pampering! but you know you're worth it! :)

Making Tattoo soap

2010-08-21T17:40:00.000-04:00

Making Hand Lotion/Basic

2010-06-21T01:36:00.001-04:00

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Making a “Natural Conditioner”

2010-02-09T01:17:00.003-05:00

So I was making an Aloe lotion when I added to much water, the result was a bit runny, Usable, but runny. It sort of reminded me of Conditioner. That got me thinking. What is Hair conditioner anyway, if not a runny version of hand cream.
Thank God for the internet, I looked up the ingredients of Conditioner (not for the first time and probably not my last time either). This is what I found. Most conditioners contain these types of ingredients:
Moisturizer (Humectants) Like Glycerine attract moisture to hair
Reconstructor – Protein, amino acid (wheat protein)
Acidifiers– Citric Acid
Detanglers– Haven't found the active for this yet – I read that Detanglers
are acidifiers and are polymers
Thermal protector – Not found yet
Glosser - Light reflecting like Dimethicone, Silicones
Oil – Olive, Jojoba, Safflower, cocoa and Shea butter, Banana extract
Surfactant - Keratin
Sequestrants – Soften hard water (baking soda)
Lubricants – fatty alcohols, dimethicone, panthanol etc.
Anti Static agents – Some humectants can be used.

Now, I have the watery lotion, all I have to do now is add some of these additives and test on my 8 year old daughter ( she has very long tangle prone curly hair). I will only add natural plant derived ingredients so no cones, etc. I think that I can substitute it though for veg. Glycerine. I'll take some pictures and post later. I'll also let you know what I end up putting in there.

Pictures of the process

2010-01-15T22:00:00.002-05:00

Finished Bars

Whipped - Shea & Cocoa Butter Cream

2010-01-10T14:54:00.003-05:00

Introducing Whipped

Soul Scentsibility's new Shea and Cocoa Body Butter Cream.

A little of this emollient super rich all over the body butter goes a long way.

Whipped Shea and Cocoa Butter in an base of Olive oil.

Love it.

Why buy Soul Scentsibility

2010-01-09T10:56:00.003-05:00

So, I've been pondering the question someone raised to me recently, why buy handmade products when you can go to the store and buy the same thing, even at the dollar store. Well, R they the same?? NO, of course not.
I can't speak for other brands but since I make all of the products Soul Scentsibility sells I can safely say the Soul Scentsibility products are high end quality sans the synthetic ingredients.

How we determine what goes into our Products

More hours are spent then I care to admit looking at the ingredients that different high end brands use. The most common being Dimethicone, Methylparaben, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate all types of Parabens in general. Formaldehyde based preservatives, Mineral oil and the list could go on for miles. Now, the reason these not so great for us additives are used is because they impart some quality that the products needs, like shelf life, slip, glossy feeling, they can reduce the greasiness of the oils used etc. These synthetic ( not found in nature as is) additives are cheap and affordable to use. Cheaper then their natural counterpart anyway. The price of the finished product remains just as high as they would if the natural product were used, except those involved with the company get all the profit. So who really benefits, skin wise that is.

Now I'm not saying that using raw natural material is always the best options. But sometimes in an effort to "keep up with the Jones" we in the cosmetic industry are always looking for ways to "out last" the competition. This leads to the invention of more outrageous synthetic ingredients that did not exist 5 years ago. Do we really need all this??. So back to my original point.

Soul Scentsibility looks at the synthetic ingredients that impart some specific quality to the product and finds the natural counter part. Nothing fancy or mysterious, Just good ingredients.

That's why our products can compete in the market yet we can be true to our vision of providing quality body care products while being aware of environmental concerns.

If you want to weigh in write a comment below

You can currently find Soul Scentsibility products online at www.soulscentsibility.artfire.com

Charlene
Owner/manufacturer
Soul Scentsibility

Country Rose Bath Fizz

2009-12-08T00:26:00.002-05:00

A moisturizing and relaxing bath party! Reminds me of long drives on spring days. With the window down! Just perfect.

Rice Bran Oil

2009-10-18T19:25:00.001-04:00

So, from what I have been reading online, Rice bran oil is said to be rich in vitamin E, stimulates collagen production and relieves itchy skin. It is also said that this multipurpose oil has some sunscreen properties and is used in Japan as such. Soul Scentsibility uses Rice Bran Oil in our face and other soap bars and we continue to search for sustainable unique oils to provide our customers with the best products we can get our little hands on.

This may just be the right oil to substitute for olive oil in lotions. If it does what I have read it does then why not. Look for it coming soon.

Soul Scentsibility

Love yourself

2009-10-01T20:32:00.003-04:00

Seems simple but can be hard if you don't truly know how to, if U Love yourself first you will attract others who love you. Start by doing something wonderful for your skin.......Coming soon Soulscentsibility's sooth exfoliate body bar and Pink Love Body Bar .

Pics soon to be on Flikr, wait for it ; )

Oily Skin

2009-09-28T21:21:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been having a number of conversations about oily skin. The one thing I will say is that oil combats oil. That is to say that squeaky clean, means DRY. Especially for oily skin.

If oily skin becomes too dry it will more than likely produce more oil. Not the look we are going for. A good cleanser that doesn't dry the skin is what we want.

Soul Scentsibility is formulating a number of clay blend and nut based cleansers that are skin loving and won't dry out the skin..... Look for Soul Scentsibility's Sooth bar soap coming soon. Formulated with Almond, Tamanu and Castor oil. Great for Eczema.

About Soul Scentsibility

2009-09-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

Coconut Oil

2009-09-05T18:15:00.002-04:00

It's all about Balance people, Coconut oil has been used for many generations in some countries, not only is it good for inside the body, but it is good for outside the body.
Coconut oil and hair: It helps in healthy growth of hair healthy and damaged hair, dandruff control even if the scalp is dry. It provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair.
Skin Care: Coconut oil can helps in preventing dryness, flaking, delays wrinkles, and sagging skin Coconut oil is used for various skin problems like psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.

Properties of Coconut oil: Coconut oil when applied to skin forms a chemical barrier and promots healing of the affected area. Coconut oil is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial. It can aid and supports immune function, protecting us from a variety of cancers. Coconut oil is a natural antioxidant. It also promots a good complextion. ( haven't you noticed my skin :) )

On that note: TOO much of one thing is not always good. Coconut oil can be drying, so use with caution on your skin - do some of your own research and most of all

Live, Love, Laugh and be healthy.