Fragrance Testing

I have recently done a  test batch to test fragrance oils from WSP, using a my goat milk soap recipe.

 

Please note there was no ricing or acceleration in any of the samples tested.  Please

 keep in mind that oils that contain vanilla will discolor your soaps.

 

 

This is my unscented goat milk soap. The rest of the scents tested are compared to this.

 

 

1:  Orange Cream Vanilla:  My daughter and I agree that it smells like a Smarties Candy.  It discolors to a medium Tan.

2: Caribbean Chocolate:  I didn't think this smelled like chocolate but has a nutty scent. Discolors to a medium brown.

3: Cool Cucumber: Has a spicy floral scent.  I was actually expecting cucumber.   There is no discoloration

4:  Cranberry Fizz:  Smells like Cranberry Jell-O.  Discolors to a light caramel color.

 

 

 

5: Green Apple: Scent has a hint of apple. No discoloration

6: Lemongrass Green Tea:  scent has a hint of lemongrass and has some spicy undertones.  No discoloration.

7: Fresh Brewed Coffee: Does smell like coffee.  Discolors to a medium tan.

8: Purely Peppermint:  Smells like peppermint. Discolors to light tan

 

 

 

9: Citronella Essential Oil:  Smells just like Citronella.  No discoloration

10:  Chocolate Mousse: Smells like chocolate pudding.  Discolors to a medium brown.

11: Café Latte:  Reminds me of Mocha. Discolors to dark brown.

12: Vanilla Swirl: Has a sweet vanilla scent.  Discolors to medium brown.

 

 

 

13: Revitalizing Rosemary Mint: minty scent with a hint of rosemary. No discoloration

14: Raspberry Lemonade:  Sweet fruity lemonade scent. Discolors to a light tan color.

15: Sage and Citrus: Has a nice fruity sage scent.  Discolors to light brown.  However, when I use this fragrance with colorants, the colors came out perfect.

16: Pink Sugar: Has a nice sweet scent, however, there is another Pink Sugar that smells like cotton candy and that was the one I was looking for.   Discolors to dark brown.

 

 

 

17: Baby Powder:  I love the scent of baby powder. This is not it. It's not a bad smell, but not the one I was looking for. Discolors to a light tan.

18: Fresh Linen: I like this scent. It does have a fresh scent, but I almost smell a hint of pepper.  There is not discoloration.

19: Apple Pecan Sage:  Smells like fresh apple pie.  Discolors to a dark brown.

20: Oatmeal and Honey:  I can almost smell the brown sugar in the oatmeal.  Discolors to a dark brown.

 

 

21: Rain Forrest: I like this scent, but really can't describe what it smells like. Discolors to a light tan.

22: Fig Leaf:  Has a nice woodsy scent. Discolors to a dark brown.

23:  Fresh Cut Roses:  Smells of rose with earthy undertones. Discolors to yellow

 

 

 

OMH!

Oatmeal Milk and Honey

 

 

 

This is one of my favorite soaps.

 

 

I love making goat milk soaps.  But, when you make milk soaps, you have to freeze your soaps before adding the lye or you will scorch your milk.  I also recommend an ice water bath to keep your milk/lye cold to avoid scorching your milk as well.

 

Remember...safety first!!  ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES AND GOGGLES!!  And keep your skin covered.  Accidents can and do happen.

 

 

This is the lye I like to use. It is a food grade bead lye. It dissolves easily and is easy to use.

 

 

When I run out, I go to a local hardware store and buy this.

 

 

This is after my first addition of lye.  You can see the little round beads. You have to add the lye slowly with milk soap  in order to keep it white.  If you add the lye too quickly, your milk will get too hot and scorch, and will turn yellow - orange, and have a bad smell, like ammonia.

 

This is after all the lye has been added.

 

My milk/lye mixture is starting to thicken and is like a thin pudding

 

 

 

My oatmeal.  I don't measure it, I just kind of eyeball it.  I put it in the blender and turn this into a fine meal.

 

 

My oatmeal will be added later.

 

What's Oatmeal Milk and Honey soap without raw honey.

 

 

My oils are heated in a bowl over a sauce pan to melt my solid oils

 

 

Then poured into the pitcher.   You want the oils to cool and the milk/lye to warm up to room temperature.

 

This is my milk/lye mixture. See how thick it is?  Saponifation has started and is turning the fat in the milk into soap.

 

 

Milk added to oils.

 

Now to stick blend.

 

 

Once this reaches light trace, add the honey....

 

 

Then add the oatmeal and incorporate with the stick blender

 

Wen I make this soap, I like to line my mold with bubble wrap

 

After the soap is poured

 

I cover with more bubble wrap

 

This soap wants to gel...especially with the honey in it, and I don't want it to gel.  I usually stick it in the freezer. Instead if taking up the space, I decided to stick it in the snow instead,   When I picked this mold up, I was surprised at how hot it had gotten already.

 

 

I will keep this outside until I get out of work tomorrow afternoon, then cut it.

this is the beef fat I ground up last night, put in the pot.  I added 4 cups of water, and put the heat on medium

 

 

 

 

 

Once I saw this, I turn it to low.  and let it simmer

 

Mixing on occasion

 

 

 

 

....for most of the day. If you have the heat too high, you will scorch the fat. With will not make for good soap.

 

By now, most of the water is evaporated...

 

And you can strain the fat.  I usually use cheese cloth for this but realized a little too late that I didn't have any, so I had to use my regular strainer.

 

This is what is left that you will throw away.

 

You can see the bits on the bottom of the bowl.

 

 

This is what is thrown away.

 

 

 

After you clean the pot, you pour the fat back into the pot with more water, and let this simmer more.  You do not want to let all the water evaporate. Pour it back into the bowl and let cool (I put it out on the snow)

 

I will show you tomorrow what it looks like when it is done.

 

 

Today, I went to the grocery store and picked up some beef fat scraps that they are going to throw out.  I use this to render down for tallow to use in my soap. The tallow makes soap very hard and white.  I also make a laundry bar that is half lard, half tallow

 that I grate down and make laundry detergent.

 

 

 

 

This is what the beef fat looks like in the package. I know, it does look pretty gross.

 

 

I chop it up and put it in my blender or you can also use a food processor or meat grinder. I want to get a meat grinder for this process as it will be less messy.

 

 

What doesn't chop up you can cut into very small pieces with a knife.

 

When I chop it up, I remove all the meat from the fat, and my dog gets a bit of a treat.

 

This is my minced beef fat.  It is in a gallon sized ziplock bag.

 

This is the meat scraps I took off the fat, which will be added to my dogs dinner for a few days. 



My minced fat is now in the refrigerator,   I will do the rendering tomorrow.

Welcome to Soap Of Solomon.

I started making soap when none of the products on the market helped my daughters very dry skin. I tend to stick with soap made with raw, organic goat milk rather than water. The goat milk makes a very creamy soap.  Where some soap makers use 1/2 water. 1/2 goat milk, I use 100% goat milk.

I am also making quality body butters and solid lotions, made with natural shea and cocoa butters. 

I am planning on opening the store on February 1, 2014.

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