To Friends I Know - mostly by e-mail :]
Enough of you have asked me offline about my soapmaking and what
ingredients I use. I have decide to compile any previous e-mails and
bookmarks so that others can enjoy FULLY VEGETABLE BASED SOAP!!!
First off, my list of ingredients (depends upon the recipe):
olive oil
coconut oil
vegetable oil
castor oil
almond oil
wheatgerm oil
coconut butter
vegetable shortening
vitamin E
vegetable glycerin (non-animal type)
aloe vera
lemon juice
tea tree oil and essential oils of all kinds
oatmeal almond or other nut meal
cinnamon, clove, ginger and other spices
turmeric and other ingredients for natural color
Other oils can include:
hemp seed oil
nut oils
grape seed oil
palm oil
most all other plant oils
other ingredients can also include:
fine sand or pumice
fine crushed nut shells
corn meal
wheat bran
loofa
French clay
powdered kelp or other seaweed
lavender, calendula and other dried flowers
sage, rosemary and other spices
cucumber, carrot, avocado, lettuce and others
lemon, strawberry, apricot, kiwi and other fruits
fruit rind
shea butter
coffee
honey or milk (not vegan)
The other 2 critical ingredients used are water and lye. I choose sodium
hydroxide lye since it is more convenient (sold by my local hardware
store). I am saving enough wood ashes to make potassium hydroxide lye
for a batch! This summer I hope to save rainwater but my well water may
have to do (let's see, acid rain vs hardwater)!
The 2 books I recommend and use are:
The Complete Soapmaker by Norma Coney
1996 Sterling/Lark Sterling Publishing, NY
ISBN 0-8069-4868-X
128 page hardcover loaded with excellent photos and descriptions
The photos give a great demonstration on technique and materials needed
(you will need a scale, thermometers, large non-aluminum pots, etc.) and
the finished soaps she makes are truly displayed and captured in an
artistic manner. The author fully explains methods, including
hand-milling, troubleshooting techniques, use of molds and how to
package, plus recipes, much more. Vegan warning: not for the squeamish,
if you don't want to see animal fats, avoid pages 16 & 17!
The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch
1995 Storey Publishing/Storey Communications, Pownal, Vermont
ISBN 0-88266-888-9
182 page paperback loaded with vegetable based options and a great
explanation why you should avoiding toxins and store brand soaps in the
first place.
The author's methods are a bit more advanced yet she easily explains the
science of soap in simple detail! Preference for single stage
(non-milled) soaps; great conversion info to allow you to customize your
own ingredients (oils, lye, etc), troubleshooting section, supply
sources, mini-soapmaking stories interspersed. Great compendium.
Occasional references to tallow, goat milk, etc.
====================
What I do:
I use organic when affordable (this can triple a price of an individual
ingredient) and I am looking toward bulk buying of ingredients in
general. I have been approached as to teaching classes and I may do so
soon.
In short, I make small batches as great gifts NOW though friends always
want more. $130 makes ~50 bars (my cost labor excluded) with the
following essential oils:
CITRUS: lemongrass, lemon and lavender (I can add dried lemonbalm leaf)
AWAKE: peppermint mostly with spearmint and other mints
HEALING: eucalyptus, tea tree, camphor
WINTER: cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, sweet orange, some lemon
ZEST: mostly fennel and sweet orange and ???
Dave
green remodeler, hand drummer, organic farmer, veggie soapmaker
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