Lakshmi (and the Lakshmi soap) is one of my personal favorites, so guess what, you’re getting the recipe!  This is for you Andrea.  As with all of the recipes posted here on the Suds blog, this post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping.  I made the Lakshmi soap using the cold process method of soap making (see this blog post for steps and pictures).

Lakshmi Soap

Lakshmi ~ Lotus, Patchouli, & Orange Soap

Stop worrying! Invite good fortune into your life with this soap inspired by Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of love, beauty, and wealth. Crafted by the cold process method of soap-making, the Lakshmi bar is silky smooth, and the glycerin and skin-conditioning oils in the soap create a luxurious, bubbly lather that will leave your skin soft, supple, and deliciously moisturized.

  Hand made with coconut oil, organic palm oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, patchouli essential oil (wealth), orange essential oil (uplifiting), and lotus fragrance oil (beauty, fortune). Vegan.

Scent blend and soap formula by Andrea Badgley

206 g NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
550 g  distilled water
16 oz coconut oil
14 oz palm oil
2 oz shea butter
6  oz Apricot Kernel Oil
6 oz Sunflower Oil
7  oz Sweet Almond Oil

1/2 oz patchouli essential oil (EO)
3/8 oz lotus fragrance oil (FO) from the Mustard Seed Natural Living Center
3/8 oz orange EO

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars.

Measure distilled water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a non-reactive bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring.  Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with vinegar bath.

Melt solid fats (coconut, palm, and shea butters) in a stainless steel pot over medium heat.  Measure vegetable oils into large stainless steel bowl.  Pour melted fats into liquid oils and set aside.  Measure fragrances (FOs) and essential oils (EOs), cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When lye solution and vegetable oils are both between 90 and 105 degrees (you should be able to hold the bottom of bowl or beaker in your hands without it feeling like it’s going to burn you), add lye to vegetable oils.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Add FOs/EOs, and stir to blend.  Make sure at light to medium trace.

Pour into lined mold, cover, and insulate (wrap in a towel or blanket) for 12 to 14 hours.  After insulation, uncover, then unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Cure for three weeks from date of making soap (possibly longer if it took a week to cut the bars).

If you are a soap seller and plan on making this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word to my customers that you have it available.

This next recipe was my first goddess-inspired soap, and it was from the Aphrodite soap that Sacred Suds was born (you can read more about the inspiration for this soap in my Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty and Love blog post).  I had a special request for this recipe from one of Sacred Suds most devoted customers.  This post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping.  I made the Aphrodite soap using the cold process method of soap making (see this blog post for steps and pictures).

Aphrodite

Aphrodite ~ Rose, Amber, & Ylang Ylang soap

Awaken your inner goddess with this soap inspired by the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and grace (Aphrodite is known in Roman mythology as Venus). Scented with ylang ylang essential oil for beauty and love, and with amber* and rose* fragrance oils for sensuality, femininity, and self-love, this soap is as rich and sensual as Aphrodite herself. Crafted by the cold process method of soap-making, the bar itself is silky smooth, and the glycerin and skin-conditioning oils in the soap create a luxurious, bubbly lather that will leave your skin soft, supple, and deliciously moisturized. Invite love and beauty to bloom in you and all around you when you use this soap.

Scent blend and soap formula by Andrea Badgley

198 g NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
10 oz distilled water
9 oz rose water
16 oz coconut oil
14 oz palm oil
3 oz jojoba oil
12 oz olive oil
6 oz avocado oil

5/8 oz Amber Fragrance Oil (FO) from Sweetcakes
5/8 oz True Rose FO (Sweetcakes )
¼ oz Ylang Ylang EO

4 tsp jojoba oil at trace

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars.

Measure distilled water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a non-reactive bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring.  Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with vinegar bath.

Melt solid fats (coconut, palm) in a stainless steel pot over medium heat.  Measure vegetable oils into large stainless steel bowl.  Pour melted fats into liquid oils and set aside.  Measure fragrances and essential oils (EOs), cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When lye solution and vegetable oils are both between 90 and 105 degrees (you should be able to hold the bottom of bowl or beaker in your hands without it feeling like it’s going to burn you), add lye to oils.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Add extra jojoba oil, FOs/EOs, and stir to blend.  Make sure at light to medium trace.

Pour into lined mold, cover, and insulate (wrap in a towel or blanket) for 12 to 14 hours.  After insulation, uncover, then unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Cure for three weeks from date of making soap (possibly longer if it took a week to cut the bars).

If you are a soap seller and plan on making this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word to my customers that you have it available.

The Dana soap was one of Sacred Suds first soaps, and it was also one of my best selling.  It had devoted fans, some of whom would buy it by the batch, and I received a request to post the recipe.   Adele, this is for you.  This post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping.  I made the Dana soap using the cold process method of soap making (see this blog post for steps and pictures).

Dana ~ Cedar, Lavender, Peppermint, Cypress, & Vetivert Soap

Dana - Cedar, Lavender, Peppermint, Cypress, & Vetivert soap

Everything you need is within you. Manifest your dreams into reality by trusting your inner wisdom and using your natural talents with this soap inspired by Dana, Celtic mother goddess of prosperity, magic, and wisdom. Scented with essential oils of vetivert (prosperity, grounding), cypress (protection), peppermint (clarity), cedar (spirituality), and lavender (wisdom). Made with nourishing olive, coconut, and palm oils. Vegan, all-natural.

Soap formula adapted from The Soapmaker’s Companion, scent blend by Andrea Badgley

200g NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
19 oz distilled water
16 oz coconut oil
14 oz palm oil
21 oz Olive oil

1/8 oz vetivert essential oil (EO)
1/4 oz cypress EO
1/4 oz peppermint EO
3/4 oz cedarwood Virginia EO
1/2 oz lavender EO

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars.

Measure distilled water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a non-reactive bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring.  Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with vinegar bath.

Melt solid fats (coconut, palm) in a stainless steel pot over medium heat.  Measure oils into large stainless steel bowl.  Pour melted fats into liquid oils and set aside.  Measure essential oils (EOs), cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When lye solution and oils are both between 90 and 105 degrees (you should be able to hold the bottom of bowl or beaker in your hands without it feeling like it’s going to burn you), add lye to oils.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Add EOs and stir to blend.  Make sure at light to medium trace.

Pour into lined mold, cover, and insulate (wrap in a towel or blanket) for 12 to 14 hours.  After insulation, uncover, then unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Cure for three weeks from date of making soap (possibly longer if it took a week to cut the bars).

If you are a soap seller and plan on making this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word to my customers that you have it available.

A breath of wind
flicks the pages of my cheap composition book
lifts the shirts on the line,
filling them, slowly,
like sails.

The breeze recedes
and the shirts gently fall
anchored at their hems
a tiny ripple in the dangling sleeves
when the wind begins
to breathe again.

A tuft -
a dandelion seed?
or perhaps the fluff of a cottonwood -
floats and swirls
in the eddies behind the clothesline.

A quiet rustle of fresh maple leaves
the distant lilt of a child’s laughter
Jimmy Buffet’s honeyed voice
drifting from a neighbor’s open window,
as warm and summery
as the sun on my freckled arm.

I was going to write
that these
ordinary,
average,
suburban
sights and sounds
inspired my heart,
but no words would come.

And then they did.

The final soaper in my series is Tony of Rocky Top Soap Shop.  His soaps continually inspire me, and to be honest, he and Mirasol Farm will likely be my top go-to shops when I run out of soap, don’t have time to make my own, or just want a really special soap I feel I am incapable of making myself.  I hold Rocky Top Soap Shop in the highest esteem, and if you have never tried an unscented soap, now is the time.

RockyTopSoapShop

Cucumber Yogurt All Natural Soap by RockyTopSoapShop on Etsy

I cannot say enough good things about Rocky Top Soap Shop, run by Tony Laudicina up in Maine.  His was the first soap I bought after being in business for four years, because once I started making soap, I stopped buying soap. But when I found Tony’s shop, his soaps – infused with herbs and botanicals grown on his own land – were so compelling (Chamomile Oat Straw, Plantain), I started thinking about branching out beyond my own creations and trying somebody else’s soap.  I just could not get over the simplicity of the Rocky Top soaps (herbal unscented bars, each with healing properties for the skin), and how beautiful and elegant they are in their unassuming earthiness.

Chickweed and Marshmallow Root All Natural Soap by RockyTopSoapShop on Etsy

Just as I began considering buying some of Tony’s soap, I read an Etsy interview with him as a part of the Etsy Blog’s featured seller series, and after reading more about Tony and his “pursuit of a simple, self-sufficient, handmade life,” I couldn’t resist his soap garden any longer.  I bought two bars, and with choices like The Exfoliator, Chickweed Marshmallow, and Cucumber Yogurt, it was nearly impossible to choose.  I mean, who doesn’t want to try a soap made with marshmallow root?

Rosehip all natural soap by RockyTopSoapShop on Etsy

But at the time, what drew me were the Carrot Soap and the Rosehip soap.  Let me tell you, as a soapmaker myself, I was thrilled when I received my package from Tony, opened it up, and smelled the beautiful scent of pure, natural, unscented soap. It connected me instantly with the beauty of the craft of soapmaking. The sweet smell of unscented soap is right up there with the best of scent blends, and Rocky Top Soap Shop soaps took me back to the giddiness of unmolding and using my first batches of soap, before I started experimenting with essential oils.   Tony’s bars are generous, silky smooth, and full of soul, and I used them up to the very last sliver.  The Rosehip soap is a gorgeous, deep reddish/pink color, and despite the fact that it has no added scent, it has a lovely lightly sweet scent that is pure and natural. The bars are large enough that I was able to cut them in half to fit my hands, and still have a generous bar of soap.

All natural Carrot Soap by RockyTopSoapShop on Etsy

I used his carrot soap after swim practice and I swear it kept my skin healthy and supple despite abusing it with chlorine.  Tony says in his profile, “I have created a collection of soaps with herbal infused oils specific to skin care… to assist your skin in returning to its natural and healthy state of being,” and after seeing the results on my own chlorinated skin, I have to agree that he has succeeded in doing that.

Cambrian Blue Clay Soap by RockyTopSoapShop (Great for that special time of the month)

Since that initial order, I have tried several other bars from Rocky Top Soap Shop, and each is as exciting as the one before it.  I am currently using the Cambrian Blue for my face (great for that oh-so-special time of the month), and I have one bar each of Chickweed Marshmallow and Cucumber Yogurt in the shower (I couldn’t decide between them).  Each makes me feel like my skin thanks me every time I use it – the Cambrian Blue for extracting oils and dirt from my pores, the Chickweed Marshmallow for being so emollient and nourishing, the Cucumber Yogurt for soothing and moisturizing.  I also have several more bars I can’t wait to try, including a bar of the Chamomile Oat Straw that I’m saving for summer’s sunburns, a Shavin’ Soap for my husband’s sensitive face, and a Totally Pumpkin bar (for mature skin) that I’m saving for the end of summer, when all those new wrinkles want to settle in after playful days in the Virginia sunshine.

RockyTopSoapShop soaps are rich with healing ingredients and intention, and I highly recommend them.  In fact, as I write this, I’m having a hard time restraining myself from buying more.  Tony has an amazing assortment of inspiring soaps, and he even has a couple that you might want to try based on your Sacred Suds favorites.  Rocky Top Soap Shop’s Oats & Honey bar reminds me so much of Sacred Suds’ Asherah bar, an unscented oat and honey bar that sweetened the bath water, that I’m saving for the next time I take a real bath (instead of a shower).  He also has a Hemp bar that, though it is not scented with Patchouli, I think it is a natural choice for Sacred Suds customers who loved the hempy Earth bar.  You can follow Tony on Twitter @rockytopsoap.

This one’s for Hazel (and the mechanics).  I can’t seem to ride my bike without getting bike grease all over my calf, and I could never scrub it off with regular soap.  I developed this soap to get the grease off, and it works like a charm.  The bar itself acts as a scrubber, so rub it directly onto your grease-stained skin – you do not need a washcloth or any other scrubbing device with this soap.  This post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping.  I made the Lugh soap using the cold process method of soap making (see this blog post for steps and pictures).

Lugh Mechanic’s Scrub Soap

Lugh Mechanic's Degreasing Scrub Soap

Master your craft.   Immerse  yourself in your arts, your crafts, your grease-blackened machines.  Get good and dirty.  Then clean up with this mechanic’s and craftsperson’s scrubbing soap inspired by Lugh, Celtic sun god and master of all crafts. Loaded with coconut oil, olive oil, organic palm oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and castor oil, and superfatted very minimally, this is a super cleansing bar that also conditions. I developed this soap because I was sick of scrubbing unsuccessfully at bike grease stains on my calf.  This soap takes them right off.  I added cornmeal and ground sunflower seeds for exfoliation (and to keep attuned to Lugh’s sun/harvest god aspect), and orange essential oil for its de-greasing properties.  The orange, along with benzoin essential oil (a vanilla-like resin) give the bar a nice light scent.

Soap scent and formula by Andrea Badgley

216 g NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
550 g distilled water
20 oz coconut oil
8 oz palm oil
15 oz Olive Oil
5 oz Shea Butter
2 oz cocoa butter
1 oz castor oil

2 Tbs corn flour
2 Tbs coarse cornmeal
2 Tbs ground sunflower seeds
1 tsp yellow colorant (turmeric will work)

1 oz orange essential oil (EO)
¼ oz Benzoin EO (optional)

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars.

Measure distilled water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a non-reactive bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring.  Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with vinegar bath.

Melt solid fats (coconut, palm, cocoa and shea butters) in a stainless steel pot over medium heat.  Measure oils into large stainless steel bowl.  Pour melted fats into liquid oils and set aside.  Measure dry ingredients into a bowl and set aside.  Measure EO’s, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When lye solution and oils are both between 90 and 105 degrees (you should be able to hold the bottom of bowl or beaker in your hands without it feeling like it’s going to burn you), add lye to oils.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Add dry ingredients and EOs and stir to blend.  Make sure at light to medium trace.

Pour into lined mold, cover, and insulate (wrap in a towel or blanket) for 12 to 14 hours.  After insulation, uncover, then unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Cure for three weeks from date of making soap (possibly longer if it took a week to cut the bars).

If you are a soap seller and plan on making this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word to my customers that you have it available.

I got a couple of special requests for the Flora soap recipe, so Andrea and Kelli, this is for you.  The Flora soap was a popular springtime soap for Sacred Suds customers, and those who loved it REALLY loved it.  Here is the recipe if you would like to make it at home (this post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping).  I made the Flora soap using the cold process method of soap making (see this blog post for steps and pictures).  Have fun with it!

Flora Rose & Violet soap

Flora Rose & Violet handmade soap

Feel young, pretty, and care-free with this skin-softening and wrinkle-smoothing soap inspired by Flora, the Roman Goddess of Spring.  Made with rose water, shea butter, and nourishing oils of apricot kernel, avocado, jojoba, sunflower, olive, coconut, palm, and vitamin E.  Scented with fragrance oils of rose and violet.

Scent blend by and soap formula by Andrea Badgley

196 g NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
9 oz distilled water
9 oz rose water
16 oz coconut oil
14 oz palm oil
2 oz shea butter

2 oz olive oil
6 oz Apricot Kernel oil
4 oz Avocado oil
4 oz jojoba oil
3 oz sunflower oil

1 oz True Rose fragrance oil (FO) from Sweetcakes
1/4 oz Violet, Superior fragrance oil (FO) from the Mustard Seed Natural Living Center

6 g Vit E oil

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars, so the bars are approximately 1.2″ x 3.4″ x 2″.

Measure distilled water and rose water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a glass bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring. Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with vinegar bath.

Melt solid fats (coconut, palm, and shea butter) in a stainless steel pot over medium heat.  Measure oils into large stainless steel bowl.  Pour melted fats into liquid oils and set aside.  Measure FO’s, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When lye solution and oils are both between 90 and 105 degrees (you should be able to hold the bottom of bowl or beaker in your hands without it feeling like it’s going to burn you), add lye to oils.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Add EOs and stir to blend.  Make sure at light to medium trace.

Pour into lined mold, cover, and insulate (wrap in a towel or blanket) for 12 to 14 hours.  After insulation, uncover, then unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Cure for three weeks from date of making soap (possibly longer if it took a week to cut the bars).

If you are a soap seller and plan on making this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word to my customers that you have it available.

The next soapers in my series of recommended soap shops are women with whom I feel a kinship when it comes to soapmaking.  We are true kindred spirits in our philosophy and approach to ingredients, intention, and crafting, and I am thrilled to introduce them to you if you don’t already know them.  They are Casey and Olga of Mirasol Farm, and they will likely be my own personal go-to shop for when I run out of my own essential-oil soaps, don’t have time to make more, or just want one of their own unique scent blends that they have perfected and I could never improve upon (like Earl Grey).

mirasolfarm

Organic Soap Sample Pack by mirasolfarm on Etsy

If you like the spirit behind Sacred Suds, you will feel right at home in Casey and Olga’s shop, Mirasol Farm.  As they say in their shop profile(which you should absolutely read), “We are two shy homebodies in love with the mad earthly science of turning essential oils, organic oils and butters, and botanicals into skin care products that elevate the spirits.”

Litsea & Avocado organic complexion soap by mirasolfarm on Etsy

Casey and Olga have so many delicious, organic, essential-oil scented soaps in their shop, I absolutely could not make up my mind which ones to try.   It is not as easy to find essential-oil scented soaps as you might think, so to find soapers like Casey and Olga – who not only offer an extensive range of essential-oil scented soaps, but whose soaps are organic, and who make their soaps with herbal ingredients that they “grow and wildcraft” on their own organic farm – is truly remarkable.  On top of it all, their scent blends are expert, and I can tell you with confidence that if you like Sacred Suds soaps, you will LOVE Mirasol Farm soaps.  When I was trying to make selections to try, I was leaning towards the earthy and woodsy scents, like Mother Earth, Oak Moss, and Earl Grey, but Casey suggested I try a sample pack to get the full range of their soaps, and I’m so glad I did.  The earthy ones are just as rich and deep and wonderful as I thought they’d be, but thanks to the sample pack, I also had the opportunity to try some of the lighter scents, and I was absolutely blown away by them.

Lemon Chamomile organic all natural soap by mirasolfarm on Etsy

As I said, Casey and Olga’s scent blending is expert, and with each one I try, I have a new favorite.  First it was the Litsea & Avocado organic complexion soap (it smells like lemon balm!  Lemon balm, also known as sweet Melissa, is possibly my favorite scent on earth), which makes my face feel smooth, moisturized, clear, clean, and fresh, with no dried out, tight-skin feeling after using it.  It is a perfect facial soap.  Then when I tried the Lemon Chamomile, that became my favorite.  The scenting!  The fragrances of both soaps are as crisp and bright (and as happy!) as freshly squeezed lemons, and I am still blown away by the depth, crispness, and authenticity of the scents.  I tried for years to nail down a decent lemon scent, and I was never satisfied with my results.  Casey and Olga did it right, and I cannot recommend these soaps enough.

Earl Grey organic vegan soap by mirasolfarm on Etsy

Next I tried the Earl Grey soap, on a gloomy, rainy day – the kind of day where you want to cozy up with a good book and a cup of tea – and I honest to goodness gasped when I lathered up with Mirasol Farm’s Earl Grey soap.  Again, the scent!  In the warm steam of the shower, it smelled even better than when I just sniffed the bar.  It had the same comforting effect on my psyche as a curling up in a dormer window with my favorite novel and a steaming cup of tea.  Honestly, the only thing that could have made it better would have been to be in the bath instead of the shower.  It really is a beautiful, comforting bar of soap.  Because on top of the masterful scenting, Mirasol Farm’s bars themselves just plain feel good.  The soap is smooth and beautiful when it’s wet, with a soft lather that makes your skin feel like silk.  And after the shower, my skin feels moisturized and supple, natural and clean.

MirasolFarm soaps have inspired me, and I haven’t even gotten through all of the samples they sent me.  I am so thankful to Casey and Olga for making and sharing these beautiful soaps.  Buy from them and you will not be disappointed.  You can follow Casey and Olga on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MirasolFarm or on Twitter @mirasolfarm.

The Witch’s soap was a favorite of many Sacred Suds customers.  Here is the recipe if you would like to make it at home (this post assumes you have soap-making knowledge.  If you are learning how to make soap, I recommend The Soapmaker’s Companion for cold process soaping or Handcrafted Soap for hot process soaping).  I made the Witch’s soap using the hot process method of soap making, but as with most soap formulas, it can be made by cold process as well.  Have fun with it!

Witch’s Soap

Witch's soap - rosemary, pine, orange, and cinnamon

Follow the way of the witch! Celebrate life, nature, and your personal intuitive and healing powers with this soap scented with rosemary (healing, love), pine (prosperity, manifesting), orange (purification, joy), and cinnamon (psychic power). Made with nourishing oils of hemp seed, castor, olive, coconut, and palm.  Vegan, all-natural.

Scent adapted from Scott Cunningham, soap formula by Andrea Badgley

7 oz NaOH (sodium hydroxide/lye)
19 oz distilled water
16 oz coconut oil
14 oz palm oil
15 oz Olive Oil
3 oz Castor Oil
3 oz unrefined Hemp seed oil (refined works also, but the unrefined hemp gives the soap a wonderful green color)
24 g rosemary essential oil (EO)
16 g pine EO
6 g orange EO
6 g cinnamon leaf EO

Prep a 2 cup vinegar bath  with 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.  This is for neutralizing lye spills, utensils, etc.

Line soap mold.  For my recipes (~4.25 lb batches) I use a wooden loaf mold my husband made.  The internal measurements are 18 inches long (the width of a roll of Reynolds Freezer Paper, which is what I use to line the molds), about 3.4 inches wide (sorry I don’t know the exact measurement – I already packed the molds away), and the soap ends up being approximately 2 inches tall.  I cut the loaf into 15 bars.

Measure distilled water into a large pyrex beaker.  Place beaker in a well ventilated area or in a utility sink.  Don safety goggles, apron, and gloves, then measure sodium hydroxide (NaOH) granules into a glass bowl.  Slowly add NaOH to the water while stirring. Stir until dissolved (I use a thick silicone spatula to stir).  Do not breathe fumes (I hold my breath while I’m stirring).  Rinse spatula and lye bowl in with some of the vinegar bath.

Measure fats and oils into crock pot.  Melt on high setting (15-20 minutes).

Measure essential oils, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

When oils are melted, turn crock pot to low and slowly add the lye solution to the oils.  Oils and lye do not have to be at similar temperatures for hot process soap.  Mix with stick blender til light trace.  Take to full trace.  Cover and set on low heat to cook (10-15 minutes).  Watch carefully as the lid can get blown off if the soap cooks faster than you expect it to.  Stir periodically until all soap is melted.  Make sure glycerin is mixed back in and soap is at mashed potato consistency.  Turn off crock pot and remove pot to trivet.  Stir to cool soap.  When soap is still warm but not so hot that it is steaming, add EO’s and stir to blend in completely.

Glop into lined mold, then bang mold on the floor to settle soap in.  Press to flatten with soap press.  Allow to cool and harden for 12-14 hours.  Unmold within a day or two.  Cut bars within a week.  Hot process soaps do not need to cure, and this will be ready to use the day you make it.  I usually let it cure for about a week to harden up, but since the soap is fully saponified when you mold it, the cure step is not necessary.  If you want to sue some right away, scrape your crock pot and hand mold a ball out of the scraps.  These soap balls make great hand soaps for the bathroom or kitchen.

If you are a soap seller and would like to make this soap to sell, let me know and I will spread the word.  Folks really like this one and I’m sure they’d be happy to find another place to buy it.

List-making for the move is now underway, and I am so happy I have all these gorgeous soaps to carry me away when the stress is too much.  Today I want to share some true soap artistry with you with my second soap shop recommendation, DeShawn Marie.

DeShawnMarie

Peppermint Rosemary vegan handmade soap by DeShawnMarie on Etsy

I think I’ve drooled over DeShawn Marie’s soaps for as long as I’ve been on Etsy.  Each bar is a work of art, and when it came time for me to close up shop, I knew I had to try hers out so that I could pass the word along to you.  After agonizing over which bars to choose, I finally selected four that were unlike anything I had ever made or tried, just to maximize my exposure to her soaping flair:  Lavender, Orange, and Ginger ; Lavender Patchouli ; Ginger Lemongrass ; and Vanilla Coconut.

Ginger Lemongrass handmade soap by DeShawnMarie on Etsy

Holy cow, these bars really are masterpieces.  DeShawn Marie packages each soap in an elegant gold box, and after I sniffed around all the seams to get a feel for scent, I opened each box to find a silky, pure, beautifully crafted bar of soap.  Each one feels like a gift, even if you buy it for yourself.  In the shower, the bars are luxurious and velvety, with a fluffy, satiny lather, and I think that extra fluff might come from the coconut milk that DeShawn Marie uses in every bar.  I’m using the Ginger Lemongrass right now, and I can see why it is one of DeShawn Marie’s best sellers.  The scent is crisp and invigorating, with the tiniest hint of sweetness, and the feel on your skin is like silk.

Lavender, Orange and Ginger Soap by DeShawnMarie on Etsy

The Lavender Patchouli bar is gorgeous with its sprinkling of lavender flowers on top, and the Lavender Orange scent is out of this world.  Though I sniff it nearly every day, I am saving the Vanilla Coconut for when summer arrives – it smells like a tropical beach to me, and I can’t wait to go on a mini-vacation with it every day.  And finally, DeShawn Marie was kind enough to include a sample of her new Bergamot Basil soap, and my first thought when I smelled it was “Green Man!”  If you liked Sacred Suds’ Green Man (basil and patchouli) soap, you will love the Bergamot Basil bar from DeShawn Marie.

Vanilla Coconut Handmade Vegan Soap by DeShawnMarie on Etsy

DeShawn Marie’s soaps are a truly pampering treat, making you feel like you’ve transformed your everyday shower into a spa retreat.    Here are some fun places to find and follow DeShawn Marie:

homepage: www.deshawnmarie.com

blog: handcraftedsoap.blogspot.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/deshawnmarie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DeShawnMarieSoap

Twitter: @deshawnmarie

Etsy shop:  www.etsy.com/shop/DeShawnMarie