A new soap
I have just released a new soap, Winterfield. I love coming up with new soap ingredient or essential oil combinations and with this soap, I chose to go for a classic Mediterranean scent, lavender and rosemary. As I was releasing the soap in winter, I wanted it to have a 'comforting' feel, so I used extra rich and creamy oils including avocado, apricot kernel and hemp seed oils, to achieve a lovely smooth lather - perfect to counter the drying effects of a hot shower. Winterfield is gently coloured with green clay.
So, please feel free to visit the store to purchase some Winterfield of your own. Otherwise, you can follow my Facebook page (you may wish to select the setting to receive all of my notifications as otherwise you may find Facebook is something of a brat, not liking to share everything it should) to keep up to date with which markets I'll be at and when.
Making Spring Sherbert - A New Soap
Last week, I made a batch of soap using a generous proportion of avocado oil. I was happy with the result, though I have yet to test it. Avocado oil holds the promise of adding an extra special quality to soap but it does tint the soap a very soft green. I don't have a problem with this; I think I should use it as a feature, but with this batch of soap I had also added a yellow swirl, which just disappeared in the green. The final cut bars look a bit blurry. Ok, but not the best.
So today I remade this recipe, this time exchanging the avocado oil with cocoa butter. Cocoa butter tends to make a soap creamy, a favourite quality of mine for soap. I started, as usual, with olive oil. The olive oil I used was a new sort, and it smelled of freshly cut grass. This made me happy, because I wanted the soap to be a fresh springy number. Sadly, this smell doesn't stay in the final soap, so the pleasure was one that can't be shared.
I also used apricot kernel oil, a super oil for your skin. A touch of rice bran oil for that vitamin E goodness and I'm done.
The scent I used here is lavender and lemongrass, which when combined offers up a dreamy spring-fresh perfume. Lavender is a sophisticated scent, though many have rather homely associations with it. The dry sweetness of lemongrass is refined and uplifting. Here, with the lavender, the lemongrass sparkles - a fizzing floral lift. Thus, Shanghai Lil & the Scarlet Fez's new soap is born - Spring Sherbert!
Here are some process shots showing cocoa butter, essential oils, the soap mix and the poured results:
Spring Sherbert, like all Shanghai Lil & the Scarlet Fez soaps, is 100% natural, vegan and super luxurious!
Smokey Joe is Back in Town
Freshly cut off the block, here is the result of yesterday's batch of soap, using avocado oil (and olive, coconut, caster and rice bran oils!). This is a personal favourite; I find it is very gentle on my skin, which is prone to dryness. The lather is creamy and rich. The scent is cade and vetiver. Smokey Joe!
The Gathering of the Oils
A new delivery of oils has arrived. I know, it's very exciting. New to the Shanghai Lil & the Scarlet Fez fold is avocado oil. I plan to include this in this morning's batch of soap. Avocado oil is high in vitamins A, D and E and is ideal for sensitive skins. A large part of the oil is unsaponifiable, which means it does not react with the lye during the saponification process, leaving a higher percentage of the avocado oil in the final soap. This is good news for your skin. I mustered the oils for a quick snap to show you the wonderful range of colours:
