Soapy Friday: Almost Ready to Party!

After many, many, many tweaks and edits, my graphic designer and I have finalized a baseline template for my soap boxes. I am now shopping printing companies for production. Ultimately, these boxes will have a soft, matte finish with spot glossing...

My BFF Rosie...ready to get printed

This soap, "My BFF Rosie" is just one of NINE baseline soaps that I will launch with Ravish Soap Company later this year. This will also include matching body butters and sugar scrubs. I'm hoping to have shampoo bars too, but you know....test, test, and test.

I'm aiming for a May 31st launch, but it takes SO MUCH TIME to put all these pieces in place....including trademarks, licensing, insurance, A WEBSITE. Ugh...but I just try to think about the old saying that goes, "How do you eat an elephant?"

Soapy Friday - "Coco Loco"

Happy soapy Friday everyone! This bar of soap looks pretty ordinary, doesn't it? But NAY...it is not!

"Coco Loco" - Crazy Luxury Soap!

I present to you "Coco Loco" - made with coconut oil, cocoa butter, and coconut milk, it will make your skin feel loco soft and smooth! It's scented with an exotic, coconut-fruit fragrance blend that will make you think that you are gently swinging in a hammock between two palm trees on the beach.

It has only 6 ingredients TOTAL...no colorants, nothing extra, just crazy, creamy good stuff for your skin!

I made this soap 3 weeks ago and I can't wait to try it; it even FEELS creamy in my hand. Hope this is what I've been hoping...a super creamy, luxury bar of soap.

Soapy Friday: Rethinking Laundry Soap

Whooo...I've been busier than a one-legged paper hanger lately! My laundry cream got me thinking...although it worked fine and it was wonderful, it WAS a cream that required distilled water to make. And water means you need to use a preservative, which I wanted to avoid.

Laundry Soap Powder

So, I reformulated it back into a good-ol'-fashioned soap powder. It works just a well, it requires less ingredients (which equals less $$ to make) AND it's cheaper to package. I'm thinking ahead here, and I think there is a want and need for a more natural laundry product.

So, there's that. Also, I've been testing fragrance oils like cray around here. I'm having a love affair with Nuture Soaps and this might very well be my numero uno fragrance oil company for the future.

Testing Fragrance Oils in Cold Processed Soap

PLUS, they sent me the most awesome Ryan...I mean LOOK AT IT! They even friggin' laminated it!

"Hey Girl..."

Lastly, I sold some of my very first bars of soap last weekend! Hubby and I finally got around to having a garage sale and I decided to put out a display for my soap, body butter, and laundry soap. I friggin' sold $150 worth of my stuff ALONE! I so wish I had gotten a pic of my setup...but I was too busy and distracted. Sigh.

Anywho, things are really looking up...I'm hoping to debut my logo & business cards soon! Have a great weekend everyone!

Soapy Friday: Halloween Soaps

I've been having such a blast over the past couple of weeks making my Classic Monsters Halloween soaps...

Soapy Friday: The Vanilla Villain

Happy Friday everyone! Why is it that short, holiday weeks always feel the longest? I swear...this week went on FOR-EVER! But first, some beautiful "Toasted Vanilla" soap:

"Toasted Vanilla" 

I was out-of-town last week for work, but I did manage to make a loaf of vanilla-only scented soap when I got back. I usually blend vanilla with other fragrances, but I just bought a big bottle of "Vanilla Bean" fragrance oil (FO) and wanted to see how it stood on it's very own.

Most people have been taught to believe that vanilla - whether scent or flavor - is white or off-white. But it is NOT; it really is a dark brown in its natural state. The fragrance compound "vanillin" within vanilla scents or flavors oxidizes and eventually turns brown when it is exposed to air. Vanilla scents or flavors are typically blended with what is called "vanillin stabilizers" to keep a product from turning brown. The problem is, at least in the skin-care world, this only lasts for a few months, maybe up to a year.

When I initially made this soap, it was a creamy, off-white color - exactly what you would THINK a vanilla color should look like - but as the vanillian oxidizes with the air, my soap is slowly turning a dark brown. Eventually, each bar will turn completely dark brown throughout.

The vanillin villain going to town!

My philosophy is: Don't fight it. I think it looks like gilded chocolate cake, and IT SMELLS SO FRIGGIN' GOOD!

Good enough to eat!

Soapy Friday: 2018 Fall Soaps

The thing about making high-quality, artisan, cold-processed soap is that it needs a minimum of 4-6 weeks of curing time before it's ready to be used. So, you have to plan ahead, which means you are making fall and winter stuff in the summer.

Fall Soaps for 2018

I don't mind it. I'm sick of the hot weather and making fall and winter soap puts me in the mood for cooler times ahead.

I've made 3 different fall soaps this week, which will all be ready by early-to-mid October. I'm feeling chilly already!

"Falling Leaves"

This soap turned out EXACTLY like I was hoping it would. In fact even better. I used my triple-butter luxury recipe for this soap, and it is scented with a citrus-spiced-berry fragrance that makes me want to go pick pumpkins and Christmas trees at the same time!

Falling leaves and autumn glory

"Eucalyptus Spearmint Sea-Salt"

This is another one of my triple-butter luxury bars made with activated charcoal and white and pink Himalayan sea-salt. It has a very invigorating eucalyptus and spearmint fragrance, with hints of ozone and sea spray. This soap makes me think of taking a long walk along a winter sea shore with a wool sweater wrapped around my shoulders.

Eucalyptus Spearmint Sea Salt Soap 

"Country Bumpkin"

Not only is this soap gorgeous, it's made with real pumpkin! Pumpkin contains Vitamin A and C to help soften and sooth the skin, while boosting collagen production to prevent aging. Better than pumpkin spice, this soap smells like fresh-baked pumpkin pie with an extra dash of cinnamon!

Pumpkin Pie anyone?

Soapy Friday: Cream Laundry Soap

Ya’ll…YA’LL…I have been super busy this week making this amazeballs, natural Cream Laundry Soap. Yes. Laundry soap! 

Cream Laundry Detergent...and the angels sang

It’s made with 100% cold-processed coconut oil soap, washing soda, Borax, essential oils and fragrance oils, and it totally kicks ass! Or should I say it kicks dirty laundry’s ass! Blended with lavender and lemon essential oils, and a touch of an April clean fresh fragrance oil, it smells like heaven had a baby with a mountain stream and then bottled it up in this here jar.

Sooo lusciously creamy!

How do you use it? Why I’m glad you asked dear friend! You simply put 1-2 tablespoons of this luscious cream detergent in your washing machine drum BEFORE you throw in your clothes. Turn on your machine, and VIOLA! If you have a stain, just rub some of this amazing stuff into the stain (scrub with a toothbrush if extra bad) before washing, and step back to watch the magic.

• No more gunky liquid detergent dispensers.
  
• No more stepping on spilled powder detergent on the floor that SOMEONE didn’t clean-up. AHEM!
  
• No more enshrouding yourself with synthetic detergent residue every time you get dressed…OH AND YOU’RE A TOTAL BALLER FOR NOT POLLUTING THE PLANET!

All natural super hero

Does it work? Ya’ll…YA’LL…I’ve been a laundry nerd waaaay before I was making soap. My nemesis is grease stains. It works ya’ll. It friggin’ works like a dream. And dare I say my clothes actually FEEL softer too?

I don’t have a stitch of dirty laundry in my house, as I’ve been testing this baby all week.

Drops mic.

Soapy Friday: Planning Ahead

Happy Friday everyone! There wasn't much going on this week soap-wise...I've been playing and prepping for the upcoming holidays.

I know, I know. But when you make a product that takes 6-8 weeks to cure, you have to plan ahead.

But first...RYAN!

"Hey girl...I brought you some soaping supplies"

I ordered some highly-concentrated, cosmetic bath-and-body-safe dyes this week to play with in bath bombs. Look what I got...LOL! I love asking for pictures of Ryan Gosling whenever there is a "special request" option for online orders. LOL!

Next, onto what I'm planning to make for a Halloween-themed soap. Aren't these friggin' adorable? I made these teeny skulls out of SOAP ya'll!

3 down...1,000 to go!

Itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, little soapy skulls for me-ny!

Soapy Friday: "Taste of Honey"

Happy Friday the 13th everyone! This week has been busy soap-wise; I've been trying a few new things and making some old-standbys.

"Taste of Honey"

My "Taste of Honey" soap, an homage to Herb Alpert, is pretty much good-to-go recipe wise. I FINALLY got all the things I wanted out of that bar of soap and it's only taken me a year-and-a-half to get there.

Loaded with skin-loving sunflower oil, cocoa butter, local Virginia honey, beeswax and an intoxicating honey-almond scent, this soap is "a-buzz" with all the good things your body wants and needs. I believed in it from the very start, and that's why I kept trying.

That gel ring tho...

Other things...

I've been back at bath bombs trying new things. My Rainbow Heart bomb is loaded with a rainbow of colors and makes very pretty bath art, although I still have a way to go with getting that right too.

Trying out Rainbow Heart in the bath

I made some Unicorn Horn bath bombs and was trying out a new theory on one of my ingredients and again, discovered something new. I won't bore you with the details, but it's pretty exciting IMO.

Love how these turned out!

Have a happy & safe 13th...stay cool out there everyone!

Soapy Friday: "Beach, Please!"

Happy Friday everyone! This week I made another batch of my triple butter, cold-processed soap and have decided to name it "Beach, Please!" because, seriously...hot CUTE are these bars?!!!

"Beach, Please!"

Scented with "Coco Cabana" fragrance oil from Wholesale Supplies Plus and made with cocoa butter, mango butter, and shea butter...it's heaven at the beach! Even the "sea shells" are little, custom made soaps. Plus, some sprinkling of pink, white, and black sea salt on top gives it that extra beachy touch.

She sells sea shell soap by the seashore

I've made this before and thought my design would be better for the "water portion" but not really. Guess I'll have to try again. I LOVE the way they smell...like coconuts and Coppertone suntan lotion.

Adorbs

I'm pretty "solid" on my cold-process recipe, so I most likely will stick to making my larger loaves unless I'm trying a new design or fragrance. Gotta order some more supplies!

Soapy Friday: New Soap Studio

We still have about 1/2 dozen random boxes to unpack and we're finally at the point where we can start hanging some art on the wall. But more importantly, I MADE SOAP!

Oh, you have NO idea how I've missed this. The last time I made soap was in March...maybe late April. Anyway, here's my new soaping studio!

New "Soap Lounge" ...LOL!

It looks more like a "soap lounge" though, doesn't it? It's all cool... I can hang out there while I'm waiting for my oils to cool or heat up. But I love that it's finished, clean and bright!

I even have company! Bucky looks like he's ready to party, but he's in a rocking chair, so maybe not?

Chillin' like a villain 

It's a little messy now, as I'm still trying to find my rhythm down here, plus I made soap! I made a big log of my "Super Scrub" as I've really, really, really liked how the last batch turned out. It's funny...the first time I made this soap, I also made pickles that week. I made this soap and pickles this week too!

"Super Scrub" Soap

I thought I had enough of my fragrance oil blend to make such a large batch, but I didn't so it smells just a bit different. Kinda bummed about that, but it turned out gorgeous and it works wonders on dirty hands or bodies.

"Super Scrub" topped with Dried Calendula Petals

Soapy Friday: I'm Gelling (Sort of), Are You?

Happy Friday everyone. Posts for Ye' Olde Blog will most likely be a once-a-week thing for the next couple of months due to all the chaos of moving. We start packing this weekend.

Miss Thang is being chill, though. I know they know something is going on.

Chillin' Thang

It's Cherry Blossom time here up in D.C.! The trees are at their "peak" over today and the next day or two. It's fun to go see this amazing display of beauty....once. In order to make the most of it and the crowds, you really need to get there before sunrise. We did this the first year we moved up here.

Cherry Blossoms in D.C.

Getting excited about prospects for our new "home". It's a rental, but has very high potential for us to buy if we decide we like it and the neighborhood down the road. I mean, look at this basement! It's finished and it's ALL MINE! No carpets = a perfect soaping studio.

So many possibilities!

Speaking of soap...

I remade some of my 100% olive oil soap (aka Castille soap) and used tumeric to color it. I try to keep my olive oil soaps all natural using only essential oils (EOs) and natural colorants.

The EO blend I mixed as called "Sunset" and was a beautiful blend of grapefruit, tangerine, ylang ylang, litsea cubeba, and rose geranium. I wanted to color the soap a sort of orange/rust to compliment the citrus notes in the EO blend and look what happened:

I'm gelling...sort of

This is called a gel ring. When a soap "gels" after it is made, it heats-up either naturally or is forced to heat-up using a heating pad, insulation, or even an oven. "Gelling" a soap contributes to more saturated colors and less chance for soda ash. Soap crafters either prefer to gel all the way or not at all, as a partial gel (like in my soap) can be distracting and take away from a beautiful soap design.

Neither a good mother, nor from Marseille

In my case, I think it contributes and makes it more interesting. I tried to gel this soap by putting it on a pre-heated heating pad and then turned it off, as I was afraid it would overheat. I guess I should have left it on.

BTW, "Savon de la Bonne Mere Marseille" means "Soap from the Good Mother of Marseille" which I am neither. I need to make my own stamp.

Soapy Friday: Soaping to Relieve Stress

Happy Good Friday everyone! Easter is the farthest thing from my mind right now as I have bigger fish to fry:

Bye bye big country house

Yup. We had a contract in less than 4 days! And between all the inspections, repairs, more inspections, more repairs, work and travel for work, all I've wanted to do to relieve the stress is make soap. It really calms me down and helps channel my nervous/anxious energy.

But a couple of these help too. This is the only pic I grabbed from Fort Worth, TX...an awesome margarita. In a few weeks, I'm off to L.A.

Fort Worth Margarita

We DO have a place picked out to rent that is exactly 2.7 miles from hubby's office and it's practically perfect. So much so, we may even consider buying it if we like renting there and the community it's in. I'm not going to jinx anything though, as we are still waiting for our appraisal to come back.

If our appraisal comes back low and we have to go back to the table and renegotiate, then things could get sticky.

So, I make soap.

I've made more soap than I've taken pictures of, but I did feel confident enough about my current luxury bar recipe to remake a large, 7 lb. batch of "My BFF Rosie". It's one of my most popular bars and it's a keeper.

Big BFF Rosie

My 7 lb loaf gives me just shy of 20 bars at a time. In the future, I will be making this at 100 bars at a time or more...mark my words.

In SUPER exciting news, I've received the first logo and branding concepts from the graphic designer I hired to help me with design. I am in love. I'm not going to give anything away, but it's going to be pretty awesome; I have a gut feeling about this.

So, now I need to reorder almost ALL my supplies as I've run out. Keep soaping!

Beautiful BFF Rosies

Soapy Friday: My Little Hooters

Happy Soapy Friday everyone! Hope you are getting ready to drink some green beer tomorrow and enjoy the weekend. There will definitely be wine enjoyed somewhere, SOMETIME for me. 

Ugh. I can't even begin to explain the chaos that is going on in my life right now. Long story short, we listed our house for sale and have had a bidding war going on. So, we will be moving soon, hopefully it will be into another home that we own, but the market is so HOT right now who knows. If not, then we will rent again.

On top of that, my job wants to send me on a traveling odyssey for the rest of the year...just really bad timing. Next week, I'm in Fort Worth, TX.

Anywho, on to soap, shall we?

First, I tried to rebatch some old soap that I didn't like. I "tried" to go for a turquoise stone look that is so hot right now, but ended up with soap that looks like 1950's terrazzo tile. LOL!

Ugly soap only a mother could love...

Ugly terrazzo tile soap

Second, I wanted to retest a few theories about a certain fragrance oil (Rosemary Mint) and using mango butter in my soap. About 2 months ago, I made a beautiful green soap using this fragrance and my usual recipe that contains mango butter.

This soap smelled off after cure

When it cured and we tested it, the soap weirdly lost it's scent in the shower (but smelled great dry!) and had a more waxy, crayon scent. This has never happened before and I figured it was either two things: One, the mango butter I was using was right at its expiration date and it went bad I think, and two, the fragrance oil may not be sticking.

So I made another test batch. Both with the same fragrance (Rosemary Mint) but only one containing fresh mango butter. I wanted to test if it was the fragrance, the expired mango butter, or just mango butter itself.

Two soaps, one scent - with mango butter and one without

The conclusion: I think it is a little of all three! The fragrance really has toned down, which has allowed the "natural" soap scent to come thru. I CAN smell a difference between the non-mango butter bar and the one containing mango butter, BUT, it's not anywhere near the scent I had from my very first batch using old mango butter. In other soaps that have mango butter, I can't smell it at all.

Note to self - Use fresh mango butter always and don't use that fragrance again.

Now, finally my little hooters! Aren't these just the cutest things ever? They are perfect for medium-sized bars of soap. These were made with Lavender Lemongrass essential oils. Heaven!

Hello little hooters!

Soapy Friday: Time Waits For No One

Happy Friday everyone! There hasn't been much excitement in the soap-making department lately, as I am STILL narrowing down my "master recipe". So, you know that takes time for newly made soaps to cure and sample. Right now, I'm trying to decide if I want to include mango butter into my recipe or not.

I have; however, been having a huge LOVE affair with a fragrance oil I'm using called "Burmese Woods" from Wholesale Supplies Plus. It smells like sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, tobacco, and all things exotic. It initially smells like it would be a masculine scent, but no...it's definitely unisex.

I can't WAIT for this to finish curing so I can use it. This soap design reminds me of a kitteh cat...maybe I should name it "Tabby" ?!

RAWR! "Burmese Woods"

Other than that, I'm STILL making and testing bath bombs several times a week. I'm soooo close to getting that to exactly where I want it.

All of this boils down to tweaking just one or two ingredients.

Soapy Friday - Messing-Up and Oddities

Boy, things have been laugh-out-loud funny around here lately. For example, check out my broken heart bath bomb:

My heart is broken!

I was playing around with my recipe and felt my mixture was a "tad" too moist. This is what I had the next morning. LOL!

This morning, I went to unmold and cut my "Honey Soap" (version #10) and realized that I accidentally did not put the bubble wrap on with the bubble part facing DOWN!

LOL...insert sad trombone sound. The bubble wrap gives my honey soap that cool, honeycomb look, but it doesn't work if I put it on my raw soap the wrong way!!!

#sadtrombone

What's wrong with this picture?

The gel ring from my "Ravishing Citrus" soap mysteriously disappeared. I don't know why, but I'll take it!

Where did that gel ring go?

My "Rosemary Mint" soap smells AMAZING, but the minute you take it in the shower, the smell goes away. I don't know why this is either. Even my husband commented on this...hmmm.

Disappearing scent...why?

BUT, on a good note, I was experimenting with a tropical-beachy-type scent and made these cutie patootie Sea Shell Soaps. Love. The only thing I would differently next time is to have the bottom part blue instead of white in order to make it look more like water.

She sells sea shell soaps by the seashore...

Take me to the beach!

Beachy beauties