I decided a few months ago I would not be opening an ETSY store or even adding soap to our list of products on our farm's web site, and I am real happy about that decision. No pressure to produce large amounts, instead I can just soap as my supply in our tiny farm store ebbs and flows and as I get a few orders here and there from this blog. The whole process remains for me...a blissful hobby that pays for itself, most of the time.
This last week I continued to play with all natural additives, going back to a combination of Spirolina and Wheat Grass Powder powder and a little bit of Orange Peel Powder. I really love doing geometric inbeds or is it embeds? Indents? Inbreeds? Anyway I like taking old pieces of soap and sticking them in new soap. In fact, this bar involved hot process soap balls added to cold process soap and then cut again into squares and rectangles and placed in another batch of cold process soap.
"Frustrated sculptor", a blog follower once called me, really its more manic-depressive farm wife with a stick wand.
I also have finally settled on one recipe for most of my bars. Here it is for your newbies who want to copy it. (For you experienced, elderly, ancient and nearly desiccated soapers:if you see a way I could improve this recipe: hit me baby, I love input when it comes to soap)
Babasuu Oil 25%
Palm Oil or Lard 25%
Rice Bran Oil 25%
Castor Oil 5%
Sunflower Oil 10%
Canola Oil 25%
And regarding the lard, I Use the lard from our critically endangered Red Wattle Hogs. (Only 2000 in the world) We respect these animals and want their numbers to grow so we like to use as much of their gifts as possible to promote the breed. Yes, it may seem odd, but to save them we do believe you must eat them. My lard soaps are super hard and last forever. I love them.
But some of our customers do not eat meat and buy only our milk and would never touch a bar of soap made with lard. Others buy both milk and meat and either kind of soap, and then there is the really fun group who are totally appalled by the soap with lard in it but have no problems buying tons of our bacon.
Oh how I love people.
You're a funny lady! I've made soap using lard before and it was lovely. I don't make it to sell though, most folks around here want animal-fat-free soaps.
ReplyDeleteand then there are those who walk by a bar of soap, turn their nose upwards and say: pfft! soap! I would never wash my skin with soap. I'm serious...happened just the other day..soap makers are still having to convince some folks that handmade soap (if done properly) won't make your skin fall off in dry sheets. I've never used soap made with lard, but now I know what it's like to cleanse myself with breast milk soap
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of online orders, I'd like to make one :)
ReplyDeleteYep, I agree ~ making soap is good!
ReplyDeleteInnerearth, it is funny the lard thing. I suppose I would be oppossed to it if these wonderful pigs were killed only for their lard but since we use just about every part of their body...oh well, to each his own fat beliefs!
ReplyDeleteCocobong, I would have no problem using breast milk soap other than I am so immature I know I would giggle thru my whole shower and I am a BIG advocate of nursing. I think my son was 13 when I stopped, or close to that.
Rev. Would you like abar of the above soap? It is $4 each plus shipping which is $5 for 1-5 bars. Obviuosly best to buy more than one bar. Just send me your email and what you would like to opies99@gmail.com along with your mailing address. Many thanks
Crazy. As you would know, soap is fun and therapeutic!
That is such a lovely looking soap Donna! I love using rice bran oil at up to 25% too ~ it gives a silky feel to the lather imho.
ReplyDeleteI haven't used babassu, lard or canola so I can't comment about the feel of them in soap. I have just started using sunflower oil in soap at about 10% of my recipe and really like it too.
I bet your soap's lather feels very soft on your skin :)
Topcat, it is soft and bubbly but I would like the lather to be creamier. If I were rich I would play with soap recipes all day. I think it is a hoot to play with bubbles.
ReplyDelete