Sakura Bloom Handmade Soap - Tiger Stripe Pour

Short & Sweet - Since I posted about the tiger stripe pour in my last post, it seemed that I should go ahead and share Sakura Bloom next.  This time, I did actually use the traditional back and forth pour lengthwise from one end of the mold to the other.

 

Japanese Cherry Blossom, Mimosa Petals, Oriental Woods, warm Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Musk

 

The pink portion was achieved by mixing neon pink with TD.  For the brown, I simply used my favorite brown colorant: Hershey's cocoa powder.



AvoFresh Handmade Soap - Tiger Stripe

This is such a delightful scent.  The technique I decided to use was a tiger stripe.  However, instead of using the usual back and forth pour down the length of the mold, I poured on just one end of the mold using sort of a modified funnel pour alternating colors with each pour.

 

The results look quite similar to the tiger strip except that the color pattern in each bar looks completely different from each other where with the tiger stripe, the patterns in each bar tend to be more similar in appearance. 

 

I suppose that you can also pour directly in the center of the mold to achieve this as well.  The bar in the front was one of the end bars.  It has a very interesting pattern that doesn't quite fit with the other bars. 

Scent: an invigorating blend of Bergamot, Lemongrass and citrus oils

 

You can't really tell from these pictures, but the white portion has a really nice shimmer!  It was achieved using Snowflake Sparkle mica from NSS.  

Making & Cutting "Skipjack" - Drop Swirl

My customers have been asking for soaps for quite some time and I've finally had the opportunity to offer a few.  Skipjack is pretty much Bay Rum & Lime.  Very fresh yet spicy.

 

 

I decided to try a drop swirl for this one.  It's my first attempt at one.  I'll definitely try this again in the future.  Check out the making video below.

 

 

Making & Cutting Skipjack

 





Demter & Orchard Grove Hadmade Soaps

For the upcoming mid-summer release, I wanted to try something different and have a continuous theme for all of the soap designs.  I don't know if I'll stick with this, but I it seemed like an interesting challenge for myself. 

 

DEMETER

 

A delicious blend of early fall berries, southern sweet tea with a sprinkling of brown sugar and spices

 

It's difficult to tell in the pictures, but if you look closely, the center has purple jojoba beads. 

 

ORCHARD GROVE

 

 

Peach and mango purees with golden honey nectar swirled with coconut cream

 

I don't have a lot to say about these!  The designs pretty much speak for themselves, lol.  I just thought I'd share anyway :0)  Till next time...xx

"Summer Song" Handmade Soap

I've been wanting to try a watermelon scent in soap for years but never really found a fragrance description that appealed to me...until now.

 

SUMMER SONG

 

 

Crisp Watermelon with notes of Strawberry and light florals on a base of Oakmoss, Cassis, White Musk & Vanilla

 

This wasn't a candy type watermelon at all but more on the fresh side with a touch of florals.  Very wear-able.

 

I don't know if I loved it enough to bring it back to the line-up next year, but they sold very well.  As usual, I suppose my customers will be making the decision for me.

 



 

Till next time. xx

 



"Silhouette" Cold Process Soap - Spoon Swirl

In the next few post, I'll be sharing a mix of soaps that are currently on the curing rack as well as a few that are in the web-shop right now that I didn't get a chance to share before.

 

SILHOUETTE

 

 

Fresh Rain and Patchouli with earthen Moss, lily of the Valley and a touch of Blood Orange

 

 

For this soap, I utilized the spoon swirl technique.  The spoon has become one of my favorite swirling tools since making the switch to tall skinny molds.

 

Swirls have been my favorite soap design for years, but I'v struggled for a while trying to figure out how not to get "butterfly" swirls in every batch when using my chopstick.  They were cute the first time but definitely weren't what I wanted to see in every batch! LOL

 

I'm getting there ♥

 



Making "Pastel" Handmade Soap

 I was listening to one of my favorite musical artist, Kenny G.'s, album entitled Silhouette, when I was inspired to make a few batches of soap named after a few of my favorite songs.  The next few post will be dedicated to them.  First up, Pastel...

 



The mouthwatering fragrance of Pineapple, Orange Juice, ripe Raspberry and Lime Zest blended with Vanilla Cream

 

 

Seaberry Hadmade Soap

This summer, by customer request, I'm bringing back Seaberry.  This wasn't a soap that I was planning to remake but here it is:

 

 

Top notes of marine water and berries with a heart of tropical flowers balanced on a base of white musk

 

 

I've been stuck on this design ever since making "Lola" a few releases ago.

So, to change things up a bit, all of the soaps in Petals' Mid-Summer Release are going to incorporate this look.   

 

 

The trick is going to be keeping the color combinations cool enough to keep the different batches interesting.  I'm up for the challenge though :0)

 



The ever elusive COCONUT...

Where, oh where has my coconut scent gone

Where, oh where could it be???

 

My goodness, coconut has got to be the most difficult scents to achieve in cold process soap.  Notice, you don't see too many straight coconut scented soaps floating around the net.  For me, this has been an extreme source of frustration for years!  I've tried them form pretty much every major supplier and while I love my suppliers for their other amazing fragrance oils, I have yet to truly be happy with a coconut scent from any of them.

 

Every summer I get a request for a straight coconut soap and every year, I have to say that it's not possible.  Coconut fragrances just can't make it through the rigors of cold process soap.  This year however, I decided to try and tackle the ever elusive coconut.

 

 

To start, I made a 3.lb batch of coconut scented hot process soap.  I cut the oaf into bars and once they were firm enough, shredded them with a cheese shredder (sorry, no picture of that step).

 

Finally, I made a regular size batch of soap and added my coconut fragrance.  Mixed to a nice thick trace and added the shredded soap.  My thought here was that since hot process soap can retain the scent, adding the strongly scented hp coconut soap shreds to the main batch would allow the fragrance to carry through without interference from the cp method.

 

 

I added a bit of cocoa powder to the base to create the brown and TD to the top since I knew it was going to go beige on me.  So far (2 1/2 weeks into the cure)  the HP shreds still have their scent.  The rest...meh.  Hubby and I are both getting a mild chocolate scent but not much of anything else.  This was going to be called "coconut cream" but at this point the bars have more of a light toasty coconut type scent.  Most likely there will be a name change coming.

 

 

I'm not sure how I feel about this one guys.  I'll do an update later.  A few cp soaper reviews stated that this particular fragrance oil improves with cure and smells like coconut milk once you actually get the bar into the shower. I keep a chunk on my nightstand and sniff it constantly. The scent is definitely present it's just not screaming coconut to my nose. 

Customer feedback will determine whether I give this a go again or not.

Till next time ♥

 

UPDATE - almost 4 weeks into the cure, the scent has bounced back.  It's like a coconut milk scent.  I don't detect cocoa anymore and am very happy with the results!

FYI: soap-makers, this is Natures Garden Creamy Coconut but I'm sure the process will work with most other suppliers as well ;0)

 



Making "Purple Rain" Handmade Soap

I've said it before and I'll continue saying it: I L♥VE purple.  Like, really love it and will happily take advantage of any opportunity to use it in soap. 

 

 

PURPLE RAIN

A unique blend of Sweet Orange and Lemon with a fresh and calming heart of Lavender on a woodsy base with Orange Blossoms

 

It still amazing how far supplies for the Soapmaking community has come.  When I first started soaping, the use of stick blenders was still catching on!  Just over a year ago, I was posting about my struggles to achieve a true, strong, vibrant purple in cold process soap.

 

Here's my first attempt at this soap from 2013:

 

 

As you can see, my purple pigment morphed in to a pink. 

 

 

I'm so happy to have found such wonderful cold process stable micas.

 

Here's the making video :0)

 

 

"LOLA" Handmade Soap - ITP Swirl

Back in March ( I think)  Petals launched her Spring Release.  This was a very fun release to prepare for because I was working with several new fragrances.  I was extra fun, because my mom was here  in the states for a visit at the time and we sat together for hours planning designs and color schemes.  I love it when she visits...sigh.

 

LOLA

A sassy and flirty fruity blend of summer Berries, Orange Zest and Sparkling Pink Moscato 

 

To start, I went with a bubble gum pink base.  Then added a gold mica line.  For the center portion, I did an ITP (in-the-pot) Swirl.  I used a soft green base with more of the pink and a touch of yellow.

 

 

I do my ITP swirls in the opposite direction of most soap-makers.  A classmate asked me back in the 7th grade "Why do you always have to do the opposite of what everyone else is doing?"  I couldn't answer that question then and still can't answer it now, LOL! 

 

 

I've always sort of just done things my own way - it just happens to be opposite of everyone else, ha, ha.  No point in changing that now ;0)

In this case, I simply like the wave-like patterns created when the pour is horizontal better.

The top has the remaining pink batter, textured with some iridescent glitter. 

 

Sundance - In the Pot Swirl

SUNDANCE

 

A Citrusy blend of Yuzu, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Tangerine, Satsuma, warm notes of Cloves and candied Lemon Drops

 

The in-the-pot or ITP swirl is probably my favorite go-to swirling method when I don't know what else to do.  It's difficult for even someone as finicky as I am, to be unhappy with the end results of this method.

 

 

It's pretty darn near impossible to mess up an ITP swirl.  I love changing the direction of the pour between passes.

 

 

It creates all kinds of interesting patterns and swirls and creates a result a bit different from the traditional ITP look.

 

These will be cured and in the shop just in time for Spring ♥

http://petalsbathboutique.bigcartel.com/

MISBEHAVIN' is finally behavin'

This fragrance has been in a part of Petals Bath Boutique for years!  It's gone through a few name changes (see: Purple Hooters & Pishsalver Potion) and countless design changes. 

 

MISBEHAVIN'

 

A sparkling fruity accord of juicy strawberries, raspberries and citrus pulp on a bed of soft sexy florals

 

 

The last few changes have been variations that always involved purple and pink.  I settled on the name "Misbehavin" because the colors in first purple and pink batch morphed so badly, that I was angry, frustrated, compelled created a name to match my emotions.

 

 

I think that now I have finally settled on the perfect blend of colorants and a design that makes me happy. 

 

 

Below is a video of this latest batch being made.

 

 

Madcap Handmade Soap

This soap was one of the first batches that I made for my Mid-Winter Release that went live right before Valentines Day.  These are sold out now, but my blog is not just for sharing but is also sort of an online diary of my Soapmaking journey, so I need to log these things in.  I hope you don't mind indulging me as I play catch up!

MADCAP

 An alluring unisex fragrance with top notes of Oakmoss and sensuous Sandalwood supported by Tonka Bean and fresh Citrus on a base of precious Amber and soft musk

 

It's been so much fun playing with my mica's, pigments and oxides.  I've been mixing and blending all sorts of cool colors from almost every supplier, LOL.  I really wish that I had done a video for making this soap.  It was suppose to be a "tiger stripe" swirl, but the batter started to set up and I had to improvise and this was the result. 

 

The colors are teal, purple, white, melon and silver.  I blended to create the silver and melon portions.  I have no name for this abstract design; particularly because I seriously doubt that I could ever replicate it!  I just KNEW that this batch was going to be a botch but the end result turned out better than what I could have ever planned :0)