With the holiday season soon upon us, I've been adding to my soap inventory. Most of my soap sales come before Christmas, and I want to have lots of wonderful choices for folks who like to give Ewes Soap as gifts. I usually make two batches at a time since it saves on the cleanup and doesn't really take that much longer. It does require focus, though. I have to be careful not to mix things up as I go along, so I've learned to measure the ingredients for only one batch at a time. Otherwise, I might have to develop spontaneous problem solving skills, which isn't a bad thing, but it can mess up my original plans!
Both these batches went smoothly, and I am happy with the results. They will need to cure a full month before they are ready to use. During this time the bars harden up. Both will be available in my shop after December 3rd, just in time for the holidays.
Both these batches went smoothly, and I am happy with the results. They will need to cure a full month before they are ready to use. During this time the bars harden up. Both will be available in my shop after December 3rd, just in time for the holidays.
Spaberry For this pretty soap I used one of my favorite recipes, which has a high percentage of olive oil. Olive oil is one of the top three vegetable oils used in soap making. It's readily available and produces a gentle, mild bar of soap with creamy lather. This bar also includes coconut oil, the second primary oil used in soap making, which adds more bubble power. I also add castor oil for its moisture drawing qualities, plus it contributes stability and creaminess to the lather. Natural cocoa butter is a luxury ingredient which has special conditioning properties and adds hardness to the bar. I added dried strawberry seeds for a gentle scrubby texture. Scented with a berry type fragrance and topped with a dollop of creamy white over a layer of pink, Spaberry Ewes Soap is a berry delicious delight!
Pineapple Cilantro Although this soap includes the same oils and butter, the percentages are quite different. The olive oil is lower and the coconut, castor, and cocoa butter are higher. I added kaolin clay, too. Pineapple Cilantro Ewes Soap is formulated to be a great soap for shaving, with a dense creamy lather and a nice slip. I used the colors of a pineapple - green yellow, and brown - and attempted to imitate the characteristic texture of a pineapple. The yummy fragrance is sweet pineapple toned down with a hint of herbal cilantro. I made this soap in my slab mold which yields 12 - 4 oz bars.
After the soaps are unmolded and cut, I put them on racks on top of my refrigerator for a few days. Then I photograph them and transfer them to a large baking rack in the hallway outside my bedroom. I love catching a whiff of all the wonderful scents whenever I pass by. After the month's cure, I make labels, wrap the soap bars, take more photos, and list them in my shop. There the soaps wait until someone else takes them home.
Folks often ask me which is my favorite Ewes Soap. I honestly like them all and look forward to trying new ones in the shower each month. After all, variety is the lather of life!
What is your favorite soap scent?
Folks often ask me which is my favorite Ewes Soap. I honestly like them all and look forward to trying new ones in the shower each month. After all, variety is the lather of life!
What is your favorite soap scent?
