Sunday 18 November 2012

Adventures in Soap Making


About six months ago we tried making Soap. It was a complete and utter disaster. After 24 hours the mixture separated and we had a hard bit at the bottom and then a very oily bit at the top. That mixture stayed there for weeks, with a little hope it might do something, but it didn't. After lots of reading, watching videos and doing the maths, we thought we'd give it another go.


Out came the ingredients and after a lot of careful measuring we were off in our second attempt. Lots of golden yellow oil and the lye water that we scorchingly hot!



Then there was the mixing. Lots and lots of mixing. I started it off by hand for half an hour and then got the big guns of the electric mixture out for another twenty. Fortunately we this time the colour change, it thickened and then the elusive trace happened. Hurrah - we might have just made it work this time!


Then there was the fun bit of added the sweetly scented oils. We made four different scents - Sweet Orange, Cinnamon, Lavender and English Rose. The kitchen smelled a treat! We sprinkled pretty things on top, Blue Lavender, Rose Petals, Cinnamon and Orange Zest. We then decanted the Soap into the containers, clamped on the lids and hid underneath a blanket for twenty four hours. I was very good and didn't peak once, honest! After the time had elapsed, we released the Soap from their containers and it had worked! We had Soap. We left it to cure for 4 weeks before chopping it up into bars.


We're going to give this away as Christmas presents this year so wrapped them individually in baking paper and Twine. I can't wait to give these beauties away - they smell divine and the bar I have used so far is quite alright!

9 comments:

Unknown said...

this is very clever. love how you've wrapped them, looks very professional!

ALoadofOldTat said...

I have never been brave enough to make soap but yours looks so nice I am almost tempted.

HomeSweetHome said...

Your soap looks amazing!
Inspiring me to have a go.....but perhaps in the New Year as I am falling way behind (already) on my Xmas making.
Have a good week
Natalie
x

Jay said...

They look like wonderful Christmas gifts - I think I can smell them from here!

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I've just brought some lovely 'homemade' soaps for Christmas pressie, they look great! :)

Lynne said...

Gosh, they look SO professional! I bet they smell gorgeous. I had to chuckle - I read ' ....and hid under a blanket for 24 hours.' I thought, surely soap making isn't that explosively dangerous. Then I re-read it and it made sense!
You should be VERY pleased with yourselves! Lx

Unknown said...

This is incredible - your soaps look and sound so perfect... shame one can't smell blogs, haha!

Perfect Christmas presents - I'd love to try this sometime (and will note the perfectionism required to get it right!)

gilly said...

Just popped over and have enjoyed reading your lovely blog. These soaps look amazing, I'm quite inspired to give soap-making a try one day.
Happy Monday xx

serendipity said...

Haven't tried soap making before, but yours looks great. I love the way you've wrapped them. xx