Get All Lathered up

Soapy Stuff

It's Easier than you think to make soap

And Its basically free, except for traveling to Rock Candy Mountain

Sure! Here's a summarized bullet-point guide on the soap-making conversation for your friends:

Soap-Making Overview

• Base Oils:

  • Coconut Oil: Provides hardness and a good lather.

  • Almond Oil: Adds moisturizing properties.

• Additional Ingredients:

  • Arnica Oil: Soothing and anti-inflammatory.

  • Orange Oil: Adds a pleasant fragrance.

  • Ground Rose Hips: Rich in vitamins, acts as an exfoliant.

  • Dried Calendula Petals: Anti-inflammatory and healing.

  • Dried Dandelion Leaves/Flowers: Soothing and detoxifying.

  • Sea Salt: Adds minerals and exfoliation.

Mineral Additives

• Zeolites:

  • Chabazite: Gentle exfoliant, detoxifying, ideal for oily/acne-prone skin Chabazite Info.

  • Mordenite: Gentle exfoliant, absorbs toxins, beneficial for skin cleansing Mordenite Info.

  • Levyne: Gentle exfoliant, detoxifying properties similar to chabazite and mordenite Levyne Info.

• Other Minerals:

  • Calcite: Mild exfoliant, helps balance pH.

  • Scolecite: Gentle exfoliant, detoxifying Scolecite Info.

Recipe Example

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces coconut oil

• 8 ounces almond oil

• 4.8 ounces lye (sodium hydroxide)

• 12 ounces artesian well water

• 1 ounce orange essential oil

• 1-2 tablespoons chosen zeolite powder (chabazite, mordenite, or levyne)

• Ground rose hips, dried calendula petals, dried dandelion leaves/flowers, small amount of Amanita muscaria powder (optional), and sea salt

Steps:

1. Prepare Workspace: Ensure safety with gloves and goggles.

2. Mix Lye Solution: Mix lye with water and let it cool.

3. Prepare Oils: Melt coconut oil, mix with almond oil.

4. Combine Lye and Oils: Mix until trace.

5. Additives at Trace: Stir in powders and other additives.

6. Pour and Cure: Pour into molds, let set, cure for 4-6 weeks.

Foraged Ingredients

• Seawater: Collect and evaporate to use sea salt.

• Artesian Well Water: Use as an alternative to distilled water.

• Foraged Plants:

  • Dandelion, Calendula, Rose Hips, Cedar: Beneficial for skin.

  • Mullein: Soothes and heals skin.

  • Turkey Tail Mushroom: Adds unique properties Turkey Tail Info.

Additional Tips

• Testing: Make small test batches to ensure the combination of ingredients works well.

• Labeling: Clearly label soaps with ingredients and their benefits for gifting.

This guide should help you and your friends get started on making some fantastic, unique soaps! If you need more detailed information, feel free to ask

St. John’s Wort: This plant has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. You can infuse the oil with the flowers and leaves for a few weeks to extract these beneficial compounds. Use the infused oil in your soap recipe.

Lavender: Lavender is great for its calming scent and skin-soothing properties. Look for wild lavender to add dried flowers to your soap or make an infused oil.

Douglas Fir or Pine Needles: These can provide a lovely forest scent and mild exfoliation. You can infuse the oil with the needles or use finely ground needles directly in the soap.

Dandelion: Common and easy to find, dandelion has skin-soothing properties. You can infuse the oil with dandelion flowers.

Plantain (Plantago spp.): This common weed is great for its healing properties, especially for irritated skin. You can make an oil infusion with the leaves.

Yarrow: Known for its skin-healing properties, yarrow can be found in open fields and meadows. Infuse the oil with yarrow flowers for use in your soap.

Arnica vs. Tea Tree Oil in Soap Making

Both Arnica and Tea Tree Oil offer significant benefits in soap making, but their properties and uses differ. Here’s a comparison to help you decide if you need both or just one:

Arnica Oil

Properties:

• Anti-inflammatory: Arnica is well-known for its ability to reduce inflammation and soothe sore muscles and bruises.

• Healing: It’s often used to speed up the healing process for minor wounds and skin irritations.

• Skin Benefits: Arnica oil is particularly beneficial in salves and balms aimed at reducing pain and inflammation.

Use in Soap:

• Gentle and Soothing: Best for creating soaps aimed at sensitive skin or for those looking for gentle healing properties.

• Niche: Its specific anti-inflammatory and healing properties make it ideal for soaps intended for specific therapeutic uses.

Tea Tree Oil

Properties:

• Antimicrobial: Tea tree oil is highly effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

• Antiseptic: It’s often used for its ability to cleanse and disinfect.

• Skin Benefits: Good for treating acne, oily skin, and minor cuts or infections.

Use in Soap:

• Cleansing and Disinfecting: Ideal for soaps intended for general use, especially for those looking for antimicrobial properties.

• Versatile: Can be used in a wide range of soap types, from facial cleansers to general body soap.

Comparison and Recommendation

• Focus: If your primary goal is to create a soap with strong antimicrobial and cleansing properties, Tea Tree Oil is the better choice. It’s versatile and widely recognized for its effectiveness in skincare.

• Targeted Therapy: If you’re making a soap specifically for soothing inflammation, reducing bruising, or aiding in the healing of minor wounds, Arnica Oil would be a valuable addition.

Combining Both

You can combine both oils to harness the benefits of each:

• Arnica Oil: Use in small amounts for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties.

• Tea Tree Oil: Use as the primary essential oil for its antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities.

Final Suggested Ingredient List

Keep:

• Amanita Muscaria Powder

• Orange Oil (Limonene)

• Madrona Bark

• Cedar

• Rose Hips

• Roses

• Blackberry Leaves

• Dandelion Flower and Root

• Turkey Tail Mushroom

• Tea Tree Oil (Primary essential oil for antimicrobial properties)

• Sea Water (Salt Brine)

• Artesian Well Water

• Calcite, Chabazite, Mordenite, Scolecite, Levyne (Exfoliating grit)

Optional (Consider for Specific Batches):

• Arnica Oil: Include in small amounts for specific therapeutic soaps.

Streamlined Recipe Example with Tea Tree Oil

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces coconut oil

• 8 ounces almond oil

• 4.8 ounces lye (sodium hydroxide)

• 12 ounces artesian well water

• 1 ounce orange essential oil

• 10-15 drops tea tree oil

• 1-2 tablespoons finely ground zeolite powder (chabazite, mordenite, or levyne)

• Ground rose hips, dried calendula petals, dried dandelion leaves/flowers, small amount of Amanita muscaria powder (optional), and sea salt

Steps:

1. Prepare Workspace: Ensure safety with gloves and goggles.

2. Mix Lye Solution: Mix lye with artesian well water and let it cool.

3. Prepare Oils: Melt coconut oil if solid, then mix with almond oil.

4. Combine Lye and Oils: Mix until trace.

5. Additives at Trace: Stir in powders and other additives.

6. Pour and Cure: Pour into molds, let set, cure for 4-6 weeks.

This approach ensures your soap is effective, versatile, and beneficial for a wide range of uses.

Making Your Own Rosemary Oil and Mint Sources

Rosemary Oil: You can definitely make your own rosemary oil since it's abundant in your area. Here's a simple method:

1. Harvest Fresh Rosemary: Cut sprigs of fresh rosemary, preferably in the morning when the essential oils are most concentrated.

2. Dry the Rosemary: Lay the sprigs out in a dry, warm place for a few days until they are completely dry to prevent mold growth.

3. Infuse the Oil:

   • Ingredients: Dried rosemary, a neutral carrier oil (like olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil).

   • Method: Place the dried rosemary in a glass jar and cover with the carrier oil. Seal the jar tightly.

   • Process: Place the jar in a warm, sunny spot for 2-4 weeks, shaking it gently every few days to help the infusion process.

   • Strain and Store: After the infusion period, strain the oil through a fine mesh or cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Store in a cool, dark place.

This homemade rosemary oil will carry the fresh, herbal scent of rosemary and can be used in your soap recipes.

Mint in Ellensburg: Ellensburg, WA, is indeed known for its significant mint production. Specifically, the region is known for producing a large percentage of the world's peppermint and spearmint. This makes it an excellent source for high-quality mint essential oils and fresh mint leaves, which you can use in your soap making for their refreshing scent and antimicrobial properties​ (Callisons)​​ (Rock and Concrete Products)​.

Using Rosemary and Mint in Soap:

For your future project, combining rosemary and mint can create a wonderfully refreshing and invigorating soap. Here's a recipe to consider:

Rosemary and Mint Soap Recipe: Ingredients:

• 16 ounces coconut oil

• 8 ounces olive oil

• 8 ounces almond oil

• 4.8 ounces lye (sodium hydroxide)

• 12 ounces distilled water (or artesian well water)

• 1 ounce homemade rosemary oil

• 1 ounce peppermint essential oil

• Optional: dried rosemary leaves or mint leaves for decoration and texture

Steps:

1. Prepare Workspace: Ensure safety with gloves and goggles.

2. Mix the Lye Solution: Carefully mix lye with water and let it cool.

3. Prepare the Oils: Melt the coconut oil if solid, then mix with olive oil, almond oil, and rosemary oil. Let cool to 100-120°F.

4. Combine Lye and Oils: When both the lye solution and oils are at the correct temperature, mix them together until trace.

5. Add Essential Oils: Stir in the peppermint essential oil.

6. Optional Additives: Stir in dried rosemary or mint leaves for added texture.

7. Pour and Set: Pour the soap mixture into a mold and let it set for 24-48 hours.

8. Cut and Cure: Once set, cut the soap into bars and allow them to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, dry place.

Festive Two-Batch Soap Idea:

To make a colorful, festive soap:

1. Small Colored Batch:

   • Use a small amount of soap mixture, color it with Indian Paintbrush or Acacia confusa, and let it set.

   • Cut this colored soap into small chunks.

2. Main Batch:

   • Prepare the main soap batch.

   • Pour half of the mixture into the mold, add the colored chunks, and then pour the rest of the soap mixture on top.

   • Gently swirl for a marbled effect.

This technique will create a beautiful, festive soap with natural colors and your favorite scents.

By using locally sourced and homemade ingredients, you'll create unique, personal soaps that are great for gifts or personal use. If you need more details or have other questions, feel free to ask!

Yes, you can make cold infusions or use gentle heat to speed up the infusion process. Here are two methods for infusing oils with herbs:

Cold Infusion Method:

1. Prepare the Herbs: Dry the herbs thoroughly to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

2. Combine Herbs and Oil: Place the dried herbs in a glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil of your choice (such as olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil).

3. Infusion Period: Seal the jar tightly and place it in a warm, sunny spot.

4. Shake Periodically: Shake the jar gently every few days to help with the infusion process.

5. Infusion Time: Allow the herbs to infuse for about 4-6 weeks.

6. Strain: After the infusion period, strain the oil through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the herb particles.

7. Store: Store the infused oil in a clean, dark glass bottle, away from direct sunlight.

Gentle Heat Infusion Method:

1. Prepare the Herbs: Dry the herbs thoroughly.

2. Combine Herbs and Oil: Place the dried herbs in a glass jar and cover them with the carrier oil.

3. Gently Heat: Place the jar in a pot of water on the stove, making a double boiler setup. Heat the water gently, keeping it below boiling, and allow the oil to warm for several hours (2-3 hours is usually sufficient).

4. Shake and Rest: Remove the jar from the heat, let it cool, and then store it in a warm, dark place for a week or more, shaking it occasionally.

5. Strain and Store: After the infusion period, strain the oil and store it in a clean, dark glass bottle.

Tips for Both Methods:

• Herb-to-Oil Ratio: Generally, use about 1 part herbs to 2-3 parts oil by volume.

• Quality Control: Ensure the herbs are completely dry to prevent mold and spoilage.

• Storage: Store the final infused oil in a cool, dark place to maintain its quality and extend its shelf life.

Common Herbs for Infusion:

• Rosemary: Great for stimulating hair growth and providing a refreshing scent.

• Mint: Offers a cooling effect and refreshing aroma.

• Lavender: Known for its calming and soothing properties.

Using Infused Oils in Soap:

Once you have your infused oils, you can use them in your soap recipes just like any other oil. They will bring the added benefits and scents of the herbs directly into your soap, enhancing its therapeutic qualities and sensory experience.

By making your own infused oils, you ensure they are fresh and tailored to your preferences, adding a personal touch to your soap-making projects. If you have any more questions or need further guidance, feel free to ask!