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cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 04 2:42 pm    Post subject: Soap! Reply with quote
    

Time to make Christmas presents again.

I'm considering soap this year. My basic olive oil and sunflower oil recipe, but flavoured with something 'Christmas' ish.

Any thoughts? I was thinking about an infusion of allspice berries in the sunflower oil, with the berries then also ground up in the soap.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 04 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

So what is the basic recipe?

jema

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 04 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What about a christmas spice one? I don't know which spices you can use from an irritant point of view though

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 04 2:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Basic recipe is as for any cold processed soap.

Look up the saponification values of the fats you are using, multiply the volumes by the saponification values to get how much lye you need, make up the lye in something like twice its own weight in water, get it all warm and mix it together. Stir once in a while till it reaches soft trace, add a spoonfull of vitamin e oil and whatever flavours/scent oils you want, and pour into greased moulds. Leave to set, cut into bars, wrap in an old towel and put in the back of the airing cupboard till you remember to look at it again. When you touch the tip of your tongue to it and it doesn't tingle, it's ready.

I can give you the more specific details if you like.

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 04 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tahir; precisely. I think I'll be fine with allspice, but I'm not totally certain.

m



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 5
Location: ireland
PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 04 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

well, it'll be better than Old Spice anyway.

Can you melt down cheap soaps and add your own herbs/smellies? I read this in a book somewhere, but haven't heard of it anywhere else. It was saying to melt in a pan over boiling water, like when you might melt chocolate.

m

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 04 11:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes, that's a good way of getting better soaps without the possible dangers and complications of making and using lye. Says her with a very large bucket of wood ash in the shed..............
Get a good pure soap or glycerine one, grate it fairly finely and melt over a pan of hot water. Add your bits (I made a successful one with calendula leaves, and one with rosemary, plus some others), stir well, and pour into moulds. Leave to harden , then turn out and dry for a week or two.
All sorts of things can be used as moulds, to give some interesting shapes.

mrutty



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1578

PostPosted: Sun Nov 07, 04 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

m wrote:
well, it'll be better than Old Spice anyway.

Can you melt down cheap soaps and add your own herbs/smellies? I read this in a book somewhere, but haven't heard of it anywhere else. It was saying to melt in a pan over boiling water, like when you might melt chocolate.

m

Yeah, mother used to get all the old bits of soap and melt them down every few months. We had an old jelly mould that she used. Had to be the only family in the world that had rabbit shaped soap

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 04 12:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I save all the wee soapy bits and melt them back together again. No trabbit shaped, though........but it's a thought

m



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 5
Location: ireland
PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 04 7:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

brilliant, dog bone jelly molds will come in usefull! Will try that this week, cheers,
m

16011996



Joined: 15 Nov 2004
Posts: 2
Location: Lancashire
PostPosted: Mon Nov 15, 04 12:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i have been doing this for a while, using up all the bits of soap. i use ice cream tray for little travel sized pieces too.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 15, 04 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Welcome on board 1601 (if I may call you that) hope you enjoy it here

m



Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 5
Location: ireland
PostPosted: Tue Nov 16, 04 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Don;t do what I did today, don't boil the soap!
Just heat it very gently for sometimes up to 4 or 5 hours, evidently.

otherwise it becomes very unpleasant.

m

Sarah D



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

PostPosted: Tue Nov 16, 04 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You don't say..........................
Will you have another go?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Nov 16, 04 5:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

m wrote:
it becomes very unpleasant.


Does it get abusive?

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