Tuesday, February 8, 2011

What is "the Ultimate" in soap?

I wanted to make a soap that was special. I might have gone overboard a bit...

Over the past week I have collected ingredients. Today I finally managed to find the last one - raw, undyed, unbleached, un spun silk.

This soap has everything I could possibly think of to make it so good for you - it's practically a visit to the beautician and a holiday on a tropical island, all rolled into one.

It has over 20 different ingredients

olive oil
ricebran oil
sunflower oil
soy bean oil
coconut oil
castor oil
evening primrose oil
macadamia oil
jojoba oil
sesame oil
sweet almond oil
shea butter
coco butter
mango butter
glycerine
vitamin E
grape seed extract
silk
water
French pink clay
and of course, the thing that you need to make it all into soap - lye.

When I was mixing this I only used my blender for a few seconds, then I hand stirred it for about fifteen minutes, used the blender for a few seconds, hand stirred, etc. This took much longer then usual, but I wanted to get it as smooth as possible, and have 100% control of the thickness. Two hours in the kitchen in February in Brisbane - I must be mad! I'm certainly hot!

But I think it will all be worth it.

It's now in the oven, where it will sit with the heat on very low for the next three hours. This will add to the mellowing as well. Tomorrow afternoon I'll take it out and look at it.

I admit it, I'm excited!