Soap using natual ingredients was the brief we had for this weeks challenge from Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soap works. OK.....What to do, I already use local olive oil, beef render that I make from our cattle, or neighbouring ones, natural clays or herb and spice infusions for colour, and essential oils. Well I thought here is my chance to try some other food additive that I have been wanting to try, maybe carrot puree, or banana like Amy did. It took me about 1/2 a second to dismiss those thoughts, after the last three batches of soap, (well two actually because the castile behaved exactly how castile behaves and is now a beautiful bar of soap), My next thought was go back to basics and a tried and true recipe that I am comfortable with. So as I have recently started a part time milking job for a neighbour I have a regular supply of fresh milk and I am nearly out of milk and honey soap. Sounds perfect, I mixed milk, honey and yoghurt with my lye, and then melted some bees wax with olive oil, after these were mixed and traced I added almond meal because I love the luxury gentle exfoliting it adds to the soap, and then I added an egg white, just because. I didn't add any fragrance because I love the gentle honey smell that comes through the soap when it has cured. So at the end of the day it wasn't a massively challenging recipe but I have lost my nerve a bit so it was challenging enough just to step back up and make soap again. And then it was a challenge for me to keep the milk, yoghurt and honey mix cool enough that it didn't burn, I have been able to do one and two of those but not all three as successfully as I just did, I have also never added any part of an egg before, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out. But for now I am happy with how it set and cut up. And as the saying goes nothing succeeds like success, so now I am keen to get back soaping again
As always, thank you to Amy for putting in so much time and effort to creating these challenges, I have found these last 5 that I have been part of so much fun,and I have learnt so much from the other participants. Dont forget to check out the other great soaps here.
Beautiful! I love the line and all your wonderful ingredients sound like a very luxurious bar. Thank you for all you've shared.
ReplyDeleteReally nice soap! I am also a fan of milk and yoghurt in soaps, the soaps are really rich !
ReplyDeleteHope to 'see' you again !
Take care!
Hi Louisa,
ReplyDeleteYes, a really lovely soap. It's just as I like soap to be too, natural, and with the beeswax and honey, yummmm - very nice face soap. xx Linda
Nothing succeeds like success. Isn't THAT the truth!! This is a beautiful soap, Louisa and my hat's off to you for including milk, yogurt and honey - almond meal and egg white - AND a cocoa line. I just had 3-1/2 lbs of beeswax arrive yesterday from a local beekeeper in Rushford, Minnesota. I'm keeping a pound of it and my daughter is going to make beeswax modeling compound for her daughter with the rest. I've never used it before, but it sounds like you've had good success adding the wax and honey to your milk soap. I have some frozen goats milk waiting - wish me luck. I'll look forward to keeping up with you via your blog and I hope you'll visit mine when time allows. All my best, Suzy
ReplyDeleteMmmm I'm going to make a soap with honey this week too. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous soap, Louisa!! You really loaded it up with all the good stuff! I'm sure you will enjoy using this one very much! Thank you for participating in the challenges - it's been a joy to have you!! Hopefully I'll find time to do more at a later time. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments ladies.
ReplyDeleteSuzy you will be fine, bees wax makes soaping different, it sets up fast, but it is SO beautiful to use.
Linda I can't wait to try avocado soap now.
Natalia, I will definately be "dropping over to your place" and every body elses too.
Jennifer, definitely lovely.
How good were these challenges, not just to get us to try different things but I have been so inspired by every body elses soaps too. Now I have got a HUGE list of soaps I want to make. And I have got new friends to keep me inspired too. Win win I reckon.
Looks fabulous! I think you really stepped up to the plate on this challenge, I love it!
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