The Soap Dish Vol. 1
Welcome to the Soap Dish! Vol 1 Jan 23
I am Anna Lane and I hope together we can learn many things pertaining to soap, bath bombs, and the ingredients we use to make them. I will have monthly articles and recipes on how to make a variety of bath and body products, and schedule in person classes several times a year. As this section evolves, I hope I can answer any questions you may have or give insight on how to use herbs and flowers in your recipes. When my granddaughter and I started this adventure in 2007, we were just looking for a hobby we could do together. We made melt and pour soap, bath bombs, creams and bath salts. We went to local fairs and sold our creations. Since then, my granddaughter has grown up and lost interest in the creative part. She still goes to the Peddler’s Faires and helps out her old grandma, though. In the meantime, I’ve discovered the cold process technique of soap making and love it! I still make my melt and pour soap, but my main product since about 2009 is the cold process soap.
Today, I will share a recipe for melt and pour soap that’s one of my favorites. Since that’s where I started, it seems right to start with that kind of recipe. One of the things I love about melt and pour soap is that there are many different kinds of premade soap bases to start your recipe. This recipe below will use a shea butter base soap. These soap bases can be purchased online, at your local Michaels, Hobby Lobby or whatever craft supplier you have in your area. You can leave your finished product unscented or look for some fragrance oil or essential oils to add to the base. The bases are usually available in a 2 lb block which can make quite a bit of soap, depending on the type of mold you use. If you have a silicone cupcake pan, you can use that. I collected 1/2-pint milk cartons for my first molds. Later, I used square cake pans lined with freezer paper. (For ease of unmolding.) Be creative, you can use virtually anything that you have on hand. Let’s get to the recipe.
LavenderBud Soap
1 2lb block of shea butter base
1 oz of lavender fragrance oil or essential oil
1/2 cup of dry lavender buds (you can change the fragrance and flowers to your liking)
Cut your soap block into 1-inch pieces to make it easier to melt in the microwave. Make sure to use a microwave safe container. Melt your soap for one minute and then 30 seconds at a time after, until your soap is fully melted. Stir the soap each time you check it. Be careful! The melted soap is very hot. Mix in your fragrance and flowers, if you are using them. Now, carefully pour your soap into your mold of choice. If your soap has air bubbles on top, you can spray the top with rubbing alcohol. I don’t worry about the bubbles; I sprinkle a little lavender on the top too. Make sure you allow the soap to sit undisturbed until the soap is fully cooled or it will be difficult to unmold. Congratulations, you just made a beautiful soap!
You can see this is an easy way to make soap. We all use soap every day, so why not make it yourself and turn an everyday necessity into a delightful experience.
Let me know how your soap comes out. You can send pictures and comments by clicking here https://annalane5957@gmail.com
