Catmint...who knew?

I just love happy surprises, don't you?  Although I tend to go about many projects "bass-ackwards" as my Dad used to say,  often times there are happy & interesting details discovered along the way!

For instance, this "Catmint-as-soap colorant" experiment of mine:  I only decided to use it because I can't identify Nettle, as many of my wise soap sisters can...plus, I have 7 HUGE plants in front of my porch.   I knew that it was non-toxic, that you could put it into tea.  That was the extent of my knowledge.

 However, after steeping, grinding and adding it to my soap, I then decided to do some additional research.   I've learned since that Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) made into a tea is great to help you fall asleep!  It also has the same component that drives cats crazy in Catnip. (Maybe that's why the neighbor's cat risks life and limb to come to our yard?)  Check out this link for all the info:  http://www.djroger.com/catmint.htm

Probably more than you want to know about this lovely plant, eh?  I guess the happiest surprise is the lovely green that it seems to have given my soap!  I'm anxious to see how the color looks when the soap is cut, as well as how it "holds" in the final product.  I've scented this HP batch with cornmint EO, so it should be a very refreshing & cooling soap. 

Hoping to cut & photograph it this weekend.

 

A "Nutty" Giveaway!

I am a LOVER of fragrance...always have been.   Please don't misunderstand the jist of this post; I adore cold process soap.  Love the moisturizing, love the colors and swirls.  Love the artistry.  However,  I'm really diggin' on this Hot Process thing -mainly because the FRAGRANCE is fantastic! (Gotta work on getting the bars harder, though.)

The fragrances remain so intense and true in the finished bar, that I am hooked...hooked, I tell you!  I've always wanted to do a soap that was truly Almond.  I love that smell.  Well, I've finally found an essential oil blend (previous post) in almond, and a technique (hot process) that doesn't destroy it. Yippee!

I just cut these bars this a.m., and I'm going to try one in a few (gotta hurry this post or I'll be late) but they smell the best, to me, of all the soaps I've made in the last 8 years!  They aren't really "pretty" per se, but I can see the beauty in these babies...and I can surely smell the beauty! :)

I may have to do a giveaway or send my soapin' buds samples or something...I have to share this scent!
What do you think about a "Nutty" giveaway?  Maybe Almond Soap, Bath Salts & Solid Perfume (been experimenting with that, too)   O.K., I talked myself into it.  "A Nutty Giveaway" it shall be.
Just comment to enter, and I'll have my son draw the winner out of a bowl....how about on Friday?
Yes, we'll do it Friday.

There you have it!  Good Luck, Buddies!

Hot Process Soap -A First Attempt (post#3)

Back again!  Here's the soap, ready for EOs.

I mixed in Vanilla Absolute and Lavender Essential Oil.  The smell was almost intoxicating because of the warmth of the soap!  Yummmmm!  The whole house smells great.   The tutorial warns that you must work quickly....the "drier" pieces don't want to stick to the "mass".  You have to bang the molds on the counter to hopefully avoid any air pockets.   I think it will be very rustic and primitive looking when it's out of the molds and cut.

Here's the "bubbly clean-up" photo.  I'm just running water into the crock...looks like soap to me! I can't wait 'til tomorrow to unmold, cut and try this soap!

This Hot Process was really fun.  I'll still keep making cold process...it's become so much "easier" after 8 years!  This is, I think, a valuable process to learn.  I believe it could be very beneficial to add a few HP varieties to my inventory.  Such a nice, quick turnaround.  I think next time I may add a bit more water to my recipe and see if the final step of putting it into the molds is easier.

I would love to hear comments/suggestions from any HPers (or CPers for that matter) out there!

I'll post final HP pics tomorrow.    Happy Skin, all!