Imitation is flattery, right?

I recently stumbled upon the cutest soap named surfer girl from the soap store  bodygoodies. I have been working on designing a coconut soap and loved the look, so I thought I would give it a try. After all, imitation is a form of flattery, right?  Actually, I do think finding unique soaps and and attempting to recreate the techniques helps me become stronger so that I can work to develop some of my own designs.

The first step in this process is to make small round soap spheres and then coat them in a contrasting color.  In this soap, brown and white were used to give the soap a faux coconut look.  After the balls are made, you pour a layer of the first color and let it set until it is firm enough to hold the weight of the spheres.  Then, simply place the sphere in the soap – pressing a few down so that they don’t all fall in the same line.  Then pour the second color on top.  When the soap is cut – the cross section of the sphere is seen as cute little circles.

Of course, it took me three tries to even come close to what I wanted to achieve:  The first attempt I poured the soap at too hot of a temperature and the white and brown balls melted into a mushy mess.  The second attempt went better, but I was using a loaf pan (like a bread pan) and when I cut the soap into traditional slices, most of the ball affect was missing and I simply had a two toned soap.  The last attempt, I used a brownie pan and then cut into squares -  whew, this time it came out.  I just wish I could cut straight!

Overall, I am happy with the effect.  However, I am going to keep on tweaking and try to use smaller spheres.  I also want to try out a few different color combinations and I want to figure out a way to get a true cube cut.  Hopefully, the end result will be more uniquely mine. 

This soap is scented with a coconut and lime scent, but unfortunately, the coconut didn’t hold is dreamy scent very long.  I have to say, though, the lather is amazing on this bar.  As always, if anyone wants one of these bars, let me know and I will be happy to send one off to you.

Sugar Cube Scrubs

I love making bath products and I especially love the challenge of replicating/improving some of the items I see in the stores.  Recently I brought a great item at LUSH - a single use sugar scrub.   These little scrubs are fun to use and they smell like heaven!    There were only two drawbacks - the scrubs dissolve too fast so that the minute the scrub hit the water it dissolved and ran through my fingers AND the LUSH product contains baking soda and cream of tartar which stings a little when using the scrub after shaving my legs.  I did a little research and found some other recipes for single use sugar cube scrubs.  I tried a few that only used oils, cocoa butter and sugar but those recipes proved to be too rough when using on the skin.  Many of the recipes included melt and pour soap base as a binder and, even though I don’t want the scrub to become soap-like, I decided to give it a try.  It has taken quite a bit of experimentation and tweaking to make a final formula.  This is the process of developing the recipe for a single use sugar scrub.

Beginning Recipe:

• Soap
• Cocoa Butter
• Sugar
• Fragrance (I did two scents for spring: a refreshing lemongrass/coconut and a tart blackcurrent)
• Color (green for the lemongrass and coconut; pink for the blackcurrent)
• Jojoba

After mixing up the ingredients, the mixture was poured into a silicone bite size brownie pan and left for about an hour to firm up.  After unmolding the squares, I cut each into 4 cubes.   This batch set beautifully and looked and smelled amazing; however, when I tried to use them in the shower there proved to be too much soap and the cube did not dissolve in the water properly. Overall, it felt too harsh and didn’t really lather.

The melt and pour soap base should have added enough bubbles, however, with all the oils I added to make the scrub moisturizing  the overall lather was diminished.   I decided to add a surfactant called sodium lauroyl lactylate.  Sodium lauroyl lactylate is derived from milk and coconut oil and it is a safe, skin-friendly cleanser for both skin and hair.  I love it because it removes oil, dirt and bacteria without drying or irritating skin.  And it adds a TON of bubbles.   Vegetable Glycerin is a natural humectant that will draw moisture to the skin without having to use oil - so I added some.  In the end, I threw in some emulsifying wax in the hopes it would bind the mixture together better.

Rebatch 1

• Soap
• Cocoa Butter
• Sugar
• Fragrance (I did two scents for spring: a refreshing lemongrass/coconut and a tart blackcurrent)
• Color (green for the lemongrass and coconut; pink for the blackcurrent)
• Jojoba Oil

• Sodium lauroyl lactylate (a surfactant that adds lather to the product)
• Glycerin
• Emuslfying Wax (binds water and oil combinations)

This batch never set properly  and stayed too “wet” and oily to be practical.  However, it was great for use – it had a ton of lather and it felt smooth on the skin; not harsh at all.  Plus my skin felt so soft after using the scrub.  But look at that picture - there is no way I could pack these melty cubes up.  

Because the scrub worked well, the next formula is only tweaked a bit.  Natrasorb Bath is a modified starch that is designed to absorb excess oil and leave the skin feeling soft and silky.  Even better, when the starch comes into contact with water, it immediately dissolves which releases its load of oils and fragrances directly into the warm water.

  A few scoops will help to firm up the cubes. A little amount of clay was added to provide a slippery feel to the scrub when applied to the skin. 

Rebatch 2:

• Soap
• Cocoa Butter
• Sugar
• Fragrance (I did two scents for spring: a refreshing lemongrass/coconut and a tart blackcurrent)
• Color (green for the lemongrass and coconut; pink for the blackcurrent)
• Jojoba Oil

• Sodium lauroyl lactylate (a surfactant that adds lather to the product)
• Glycerin
• Natrasorb Bath

I just packed the mixture with a ton of Natrasorb and extra white sugar.  In fact, the resulting mixture was crumbly in texture - not pourable like the original soap mixture.  The dough was packed into the brownie pan (much like you would do with the bath bombs) and left for about an hour to set.  They popped out of the mold nicely and I cut about half of them into quarters, while leaving the other half to be a larger size scrub.  The finishing touch was a light coat of corn starch to keep the cubes dry .
I am very happy with the final product!  

But now I am not sure I needed the melt and pour base after all.  If anyone wants a creamy sugar scrub in a convenient single use cube - let me know.

Soaps On Hand

I love making soap and bath products and always have a lot to give away.  If anyone would like some please let me know your address and I will send out a bar or two.  Right now I have:


Hibiscus and Lemon: A mix of crisp lemon and tart hibiscus makes this soap smell like a tropical breeze. This is definitely “show off” soap with layers of pink and yellow separated by a ribbon of dried hibiscus flowers. Beautiful.




Ugly Soap: This is one ugly soap, but it is all natural with healing essential oils like sweet birch, balsam, and rosemary. It also includes rooibos tea for a gentle exfoliating action. Ugly soap has oatmeal flour to sooth irritated skin and shea butter to protect and moisturize. The scent is both herbal and woodsy. Great for the winter weather.

Sunday Morning: The scent of richly brewed coffee and a dash of coconut cream all in a super moisturizing coconut and shea butter soap. The soap is colored with natural cocoa powder which adds a trace of chocolate to the scent.

Sea Soap: This soap has a refreshing ocean scent and is loaded with sea salt and spirulina (a mineral rich sea kelp powder). This soap would also make a great hair shampoo as it includes panthenol and silk protein; plus the sea salt will add volume to your hair.

 Lavender Dream: A creamy. luxury soap scented with lavender.  I made this one with shea and mango butters for a skin softening lather.  This soap is scented with pure essential lavender oil which calms and relaxes the mind as well as soothes irritated skin.


Topsy Turvy Grapefruit Cream: This soap is one pretty pink concoction.  One half is a crisp juicy grapefruit scent in pink translucent glycerin soap and the other half is creamy vanilla in moisture rich shea butter soap.  Combined they form a bar that is both  yummy and good for your skin.

I'll send some honey your way....

Hibiscus Infused Honey:  sweet and tart with an absolutely beautiful color.

•add a little to lemonade

•stir into Tea

•drizzle over brie or goat cheese

•drizzle over Ice Cream

•try on to toast





Chipotle Infused Honey:   smokey with a slight spicy and sweet taste •great as a glaze for chicken or pork
•dip cornbread in it
•use it in a salsa
•wrap a Brie wheel with pastry and cover with the honey; bake and then drizzle some more honey on top

Lavender Infused Honey:  fragrant, slightly floral, slightly green taste – very subtle and sweet

•stir into tea

•try on English muffins

•drizzle on ice cream

•use in salads

•drizzle into greek yogurt




Basil Infused Honey:  flavored with the slightly sweet, peppery taste of fresh basil
•warm and use over brie or goat cheese
•drizzle a little on a margherita pizza
•mix into a salad dressing
•glaze carrots or other cooked vegetables
•use in a roasted pear recipe

Just let me know and I will send a jar your way.  Also, I still have a lot of honey and a lot of honey jars - so, if you would like - I can create a multitude of infused honeys using organic honey.  Just let me know what flavor you would like and I will started infusing....