An Old Favorite

My all-time favorite scent...ever? Me think so...

 Black Raspberry Vanilla

I wish they made bubblegum in this flavor

I shall expand this scent throughout my product line

Let's Have Cupcakes!

Cupcakes are wonderful. Cupcakes are delicious. Cupcakes are....LIFE!

I decided to make a little fun, holiday/any day soap to celebrate CUPCAKES! Who doesn't love a cupcake? Wait, don't answer that...

A Sample Box Soap

 

I'm getting my feet wet again. I have not made any soap since August! Caribbean Queen is one of my favorite, yet most challenging soaps to make. I love the scent-very tropical and fruity. The technique on the other hand, requires a quick hand. This is only my second time making this particular soap because I incorporate 4 different colors. However, in this photo, you can really only see 3, maybe 3-1/2 lol...I used yellow for the base, then swirled green, purple, and what was supposed to be a pinkish/red, but it turned out lavender, so it looks like purple, lavender, and green.

But it's all good! It smells heavenly, and it's for a sample box I'm participating in this month.

Just A Few Pics

I made 2 batches over the weekend! Major feat...seriously. I'll post the deets when I cut and photograph them:)

Top 50 Baby!

This blog has been given new life! I received an email the other day, and to my complete surprise, I was informed that I was named one of the top 50 soap making blogs by Nature's Garden. If you don't know Nature's Garden, you better get your life, and go visit! I buy many, many of my supplies there, and I must say that this post was totally unsolicited. I perused the list, and I am in excellent company:)

I'm really honored because my blog has been collecting dust for most of the year, but I'm back baby! I have been in the lab kitchen cookin up some new goodies, so I'll be back to posting at least twice a week if not more. I've been re-tweaking my formulas, and brainstorming new ideas. My head hurts...

Thanks again to Deborah and the team at NG for this dubious honor. I've once again been inspired and motivated...

Bath and Body Oil Redux

 

I'm getting my groove baaaaaaaaaack! I am in the process of creating a batch of soap for a sample box I'm participating in, and I've decided to revamp almost all of my product line. It's out with the old and in with the new. First up, it's my bath and body oils. I freaking love these! They are uber versatile, and seriously lightweight. They soak into your skin like a sponge. They don't feel heavy or sticky and the scent lingers for what seems like eternity. You'll lift your arm, and you're like "Oh, what's that smelling so garsh darn delicious?" Then you'll go, "Oh, that's ME!!!!"

Firstly, I changed the bottle. Four ounces just wasn't cutting it. I have one customer who buys 2-3 bottles at a time per month! I lover her:) Now, I'm offering them in 6 oz bottles. Two ounces doesn't sound like a big difference, but with these, it's like getting a free gift. You only need a little to go a long way. This concoction spreads like butter...

old 4 oz bottle

 Secondly, I'm offering a few more scents, and an unscented version. I have to keep reminding myself that not everyone likes or can wear fragrance. I love how these oils are so crystal clear. There's no clouding even when the fragrance is added!

New 6 oz bottles

Lastly, these are multi-purpose oils. Who says you have to use em just for the bath or as a body moisturizer? Use them on your cuticles and your hair. The unscented version can also be used to oil cleanse your face. Here's the lowdown on the ingredients:

• Avocado Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Vitamin E (as a natural preserver)

I've yapped enough. Check them out here!

Oh, Hello!

Oh my gosh, this blog used to be my baby. I have neglected my baby. I'm sorry baby...but mama need a life too!

The last year and a half has been one of personal growth and exploration. I used this blog and this craft as a means of therapy for all the shit I was going through. Now, that I've had a breakthrough, I don't need the crutch as much anymore. I still love to make soap and goodies, but it's no longer consumed my life like it did for a 3-year span. Matter of fact, I haven't made a batch of soap since February or March? Oh, I take that back, I did do some shower favors last month, but I don't count that because that was a special order. I mean I haven't made a soap for the shop since winter.

I admit that I miss it. I just ordered a bunch of oils, and my hands are itchin to make some soap. I'll post some pics next week:)

African Black Soap

 I've always been curious about African Black Soap. I read on all kinds of forums how wonderful it is for the skin, specifically, problem skin which I was born with it seems, so I decided that I wanted to make some. But when I read how the soap is actually made, I was like "How in the hell am I supposed to do that???" So I gave up....

Well lo and behold, one of my favorite suppliers, Elements Bath and Body offered an additive called coconut carbon, which is purportedly one of the active ingredients in the making of African black soap, I jumped on it. Of course, I was hoping my soap would look traditionally like this:

But this is my result:

Duh...of course, it's gonna be black. The coconut carbon is a fine, powdery substance, much like activated charcoal, and a little goes a long way. I scented this batch in a blend of eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils and sprinkled some dried calendula on top just because...I can't wait to personally test this soap. I love the medicinal smell of it. I wish I would have made these in my cubed mold though. Maybe next time...