Adding snakeskin to soap!? Eww. Just the thought of snakes creeps some folks out, let alone actually seeing one. Why would anyone in their right mind add snakeskin to soap, and why would anyone want to wash with that soap?
Admit it, if you can get past the ick factor, snakeskin soap does sound rather fascinating, doesn't it? And for those who do like these cold-blooded slithery reptiles, a soap made with snakeskin might be another cool snake-related item to have. After all, snakeskin boots, belts, and purses are considered a valuable high end product with particular appeal. Why not snakeskin soap?
Admit it, if you can get past the ick factor, snakeskin soap does sound rather fascinating, doesn't it? And for those who do like these cold-blooded slithery reptiles, a soap made with snakeskin might be another cool snake-related item to have. After all, snakeskin boots, belts, and purses are considered a valuable high end product with particular appeal. Why not snakeskin soap?
Ophidian Forest Soap
Not long ago, I found a shed snakeskin stuck in a bush in my front garden bed. Having learned that snakeskin could be used in soap, I decided to give it a try. Over the years, I have seen harmless black snakes in the yard now and then. They don't bother me, and I don't bother them.
Snakes shed their skin one to four times a year. This process, called molting, removes the old, worn skin to reveal a fresh skin underneath. The old skin is left behind and disintegrates or is eaten by other critters. Snakeskin is mainly composed of a fibrous structural protein called keratin, which provides structure to hair, nails, feathers, claws, scales, and hooves, and horns. The silk fibers that are produced by insects and spiders are also composed of keratin. Keratin is insoluble in water.
So what does this have to do with soap making? Many soap makers, including myself, add silk fibers to the lye water when making soap. The fibers are dissolved in the extremely hot lye water, but the keratin protein remains, and this protein adds a lovely silky feel to the lather of the soap bar. Silk in soap is a luxury ingredient. Snakeskin in soap is also a luxury ingredient, with its similar properties.
Snakes shed their skin one to four times a year. This process, called molting, removes the old, worn skin to reveal a fresh skin underneath. The old skin is left behind and disintegrates or is eaten by other critters. Snakeskin is mainly composed of a fibrous structural protein called keratin, which provides structure to hair, nails, feathers, claws, scales, and hooves, and horns. The silk fibers that are produced by insects and spiders are also composed of keratin. Keratin is insoluble in water.
So what does this have to do with soap making? Many soap makers, including myself, add silk fibers to the lye water when making soap. The fibers are dissolved in the extremely hot lye water, but the keratin protein remains, and this protein adds a lovely silky feel to the lather of the soap bar. Silk in soap is a luxury ingredient. Snakeskin in soap is also a luxury ingredient, with its similar properties.
This curled snakeskin reminds me of a T Rex!
Still interested to learn more? Here's how to add snakeskin to handmade soap.
1. Tear off a piece, or use the whole snakeskin. I used a 12 inch segment.
2. Add the snakeskin to the amount of water needed to make the batch of soap.
3. Stir the measured lye into the water. Best to do this in a well ventilated area because melting snakeskin stinks. But it's no more stinky than when using goat milk.
4. When cooled to an appropriate temperature, pour the lye water through a strainer into the oils. This catches any visible dark bits of material that might show in the finished soap.
5. Stir the soap batter to trace and pour into a mold.
Easy peasy! That wasn't scary at all now, was it? And the results will have a definite high end appeal to some potential customers. Ophidian Forest handmade soap is scented with a fragrance oil with notes of wild cypress, ozone, makrut lime, sea salt, oud, elemi, leather, amber, ocean moss, and frankincense that is fresh, woody, and masculine. It will be available for sale in my little soap shop the first week of February 2021.
1. Tear off a piece, or use the whole snakeskin. I used a 12 inch segment.
2. Add the snakeskin to the amount of water needed to make the batch of soap.
3. Stir the measured lye into the water. Best to do this in a well ventilated area because melting snakeskin stinks. But it's no more stinky than when using goat milk.
4. When cooled to an appropriate temperature, pour the lye water through a strainer into the oils. This catches any visible dark bits of material that might show in the finished soap.
5. Stir the soap batter to trace and pour into a mold.
Easy peasy! That wasn't scary at all now, was it? And the results will have a definite high end appeal to some potential customers. Ophidian Forest handmade soap is scented with a fragrance oil with notes of wild cypress, ozone, makrut lime, sea salt, oud, elemi, leather, amber, ocean moss, and frankincense that is fresh, woody, and masculine. It will be available for sale in my little soap shop the first week of February 2021.
Snakeskin soap has silky lather
By the way, ophidian is another word for snake. The inspiration for my Ophidian Forest soap came from seeing a large black snake in a wooded forest in western Pennsylvania several years ago. He didn't bother me and I didn't bother him, but I did take a picture.
A big black snake in the woods
I have a little more snakeskin left and plan to make more snakeskin soap. Finding a shed snakeskin in the yard doesn't happen very often, so I'll continue to stick with silk fibers until another snakeskin comes my way. If you happen to have a snakeskin and would like a custom batch of soap made with it, contact me. I'd enjoy making a batch for you!
Limited edition Ophidian Forest Soap from The Lathered Lamb
A snake in the woods is quite a sight. Snakeskin in soap is pretty cool, too! What do you think?
~ Debbie
~ Debbie
