Sunday, August 7, 2016

Soap making




I have been experimenting with making soap. It's been fun and challenging using various fragrances, lavender and rose essential oils and colours.
Wearing protective gear, safety glasses, face mask and gloves, makes me look and feel like I could be on CSI,  investigating a Crime Scene.
You may wonder why I have decided to make my own soap when you can buy it so readily at the Supermarket or Chemist, well I like that it contains no harsh chemicals or dyes.


Olive oil, pink French clay and coconut oil are some of the list of ingredients, which is gentle and makes your skin feel lovely and soft.
Lye (caustic soda) is the ingredient that you have to be very careful with and the need for the protective gear and there is absolutely no way to make soap without this. The stamp I had made in England to press into the soap
The soap is placed on a drying rack for about 6 months to cure and after that, there is not any lye remaining in the soap.



I remember when I was a little girl my parents used to always make their own soap - they would use a large kerosene tin for the mould and when it was cured, Mum would cut it up into large bars and use it for washing the dishes.
Have you ever tried making soap? would be interested to hear if you make your own soap

Hope you are having a happy weekend and wishing you a wonderful new week ahead
hugs
Carolyn   

27 comments:

  1. Like self made soap....i have some ...it smell wonderful....love Ria happy day x ❤️

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dearest Carolyn,
    your homemade soaps look very classy - and "very French" - and they smell probably wonderful (am I right?)! I am very pleased that you make your soap yourself. Your soap-DIY also would fit very well with my Linkup A NEW LIFE. (The next Linkup starts on August 15th. Are you in? Would be fine.?!) I myself have never made soap - so far I have not enough time to try everything that interests me - but maybe one day!?!?
    Hugs, Traude
    http://rostrose.blogspot.com/2016/08/petit-dejeuner-in-lavendeltonen.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dearest Carolyn,
    those Soaps look wonderful!
    I never have tried making soap, bt I have selfmade soaps here, swapped with a Bloggerlady ;O)
    Hope, you had a lovely weekend, wishing you a wonderful new week,
    Much Love and hugs to you, my dear friend,
    Claudia xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. I use handmade soap almost exclusively but I've never tried to make it. I bet your whole house smelled amazing! Hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your homemade soap looks lovely, I can imagine the rose and lavender fragrance, great. That stamp on it looks so professional, very nice.
    By the way I never made my own soap.
    Regards, Janneke

    ReplyDelete
  6. They are looking so beautiful, and lovely, dear Carolyn, and oh I love the color tones !! I have never tried, but have often wished to try, whom knows, maybe one day, and what you show, surely gives me great desire to try !!
    Thank you for your so beautiful post, my friend.
    Hugs,Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi deAr friend !! Como me gustan los jabones de colores y si tienen aromas mucho mejor ..espero que tengas un buen comienzo de semana
    Cariños

    ReplyDelete
  8. No, but I have always wanted to try it. The bars you make are just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My husband makes soap with all natural ingredients. My favorite is one with tea tree and lemon oil. The smell is wonderful and the yellow color is very soft pastel. It feels so much nicer than typical store bought soap. I love your pink soaps.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your soaps look so pretty; they must be a joy to use.
    I've though about but never made soaps!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Carolyn,
    What a fun project. I have never made my own before.
    Big hug
    Giac

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such lovely soap you did, dear Carolyn!
    Ant they should smell so good! :D
    xxx
    S
    http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it

    ReplyDelete
  13. i have never tried making soap, I buy all natural soap from a local shop. I have made candles though,

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carolyn your soap looks so pretty and I can imagine the scent is amazing as well. I have never tried my hand at making soap but purchase it when I see it for sale at local markets.
    Enjoy...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Carolyn, your soap is so pretty. I was thinking they would make gorgeous Christmas presents if you wrapped them in some pretty paper or lace. I’ve never made soap, but I did help my mum make butter when I was a girl. We used wooden butter pats to shape the butter and stamp a pattern in it. xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to have a go at making soap. Is it easy and does it need lots of equipment and ingredients? Maybe you'll write a tutorial?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      Would be happy to write a tutorial and take some photos the next time I make a batch.
      Thanks for your visit.

      Delete
  17. What fun to make your own soap. I have been thinking of doing this myself as I become more aware of the harsh chemicals used in various products. I bet it smells divine.

    Thank you so much for your very sweet comments about my father-in-law's passing. I appreciate them so much.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your beautiful soaps. It`s so special to make things like this yourself.
    Hugs from here

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your soap looks wonderful. It is always one of the things I have wanted to try making but the caustic soda has always put me off. You don't see so much soap these days as it seems to be have been replaced by hand gel. The manufacturers have realised they can make more profit that way but it is just not the same as homemade soap. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love 'real' soap. Those colours are so pretty, I can imagine the smell. x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dearest Carolyn,
    Oh my, you've done such an outstanding job at making skin-friendly and safe soaps. Indeed, nowadays we have to be very careful with any cosmetics or skin and hair care products! No cancer causing ingredients...
    You did well it looks like and no, I myself have never found the time for doing this.
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  22. Dear Carolyn, your soap looks lovely and I can imagine it must smell so sweet with all organic ingredients. I have only made the 'melt and pour' soaps, but that was fun, too. There is nothing like having pure soap to wash with and give as gifts. Hugs xo Karen

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your soaps look lovely and I'm sure they're wonderful, dear Carolyn. I've never made soap yet. I'm always a bit afraid of harmful chemicals you have to be careful with. Maybe I will try it one day.
    xo Julia

    ReplyDelete
  24. Now these soaps are very special ...

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx